Ed gave us some final instructions and a big congratulations to Laurel Shortell who was running her 100th consecutive WMAC snowshoe race. Ed noted that the side trails were blocked off with yellow tape and noted that people have gone under before and "someone will today". I hoped it wouldn't be me. With that over 100 including some fast road runners, took off for the 3.5 miles of racing. Ed had to re-route the course due to construction in the Glen, but most of the course was the same as last year.
We hit the bridge about 2 minutes into the race with JJ leading and Miller, Hammett, and Tim Van Orden, trailing closely. Miller moved into the lead for part of teh climb with JJ taking over about 1 mile into the race. JJ took over for good and Miller, Hammett, and TiVo had some back and forth (but leg speed prevailed over the steady downhill).
As far as my race went....I felt like I was sprinting all-out to the bridge. I was in 6th as we started the climb but was passed almost immediately by Ross Krause (Wildman race winner). I closed the gap as the climb continued and passed him back along with Tim Mahoney. I could see TiVo close and pass Miller (who was power-walking) and I was able to get within a couple of steps of them as we crested the climb. That was it for me as we began to drop like mad on the fast snowmobile trails. For some reason I thought htere was one more climb, but I must have been thinking of another version of the course. I had a brief flashback as I passed the spot where Matt Cartier and JJ had passed me last year, but no one closed on me today.
I did make a brief detour off course with less than 1/2 mile to go. Bombing down the last descent, I was the tape blocking the trail and saw the bridge we had to cross but thought we had at least another 1/2 mile or so before we'd cross it. I scanned left and saw red flags, so I took a sharp left and began climbing. I didn't realize this was the way we'd headed out at the start! Fortunately someone at the bridge yelled for me to come back and I only lost about 15 seconds. I really worked the last climb as Krause had closed on me during my move off course. I didn't want to lose my hard earned position. I ended up holding on but got schooled by TiVo in the 40+ category. JJ took his third consecutive win (in WMAC races) and Greg had a solid 2010 showing. Mark alos had a very strong second half in his first snowshoe race and sounded like he'd give it a go again some time. 120 finishers was a great showing for a race at the very edge of MA. :-)
We headed out for another 3 miles warm-down then moved on.
1 | JIM | JOHNSON | 32 | Male | CMS Polar Bears | 25:31 | 6:42 |
2 | MARK | MILLER | 29 | Male | BAA | 26:21 | 6:56 |
3 | GREG | HAMMETT | 32 | Male | CMS Polar Bears | 26:45 | 7:02 |
4 | TIM | VANORDEN | 41 | Male | CMS Polar Bears | 27:02 | 7:06 |
5 | DAVE | DUNHAM | 45 | Male | CMS Polar Bears | 27:48 | 7:18 |
6 | ROSS | KRAUSE | 30 | Male | 28:09 | 7:24 | |
7 | TIM | MAHONEY | 30 | Male | CMS Polar Bears | 28:18 | 7:26 |
8 | PAUL | BAZANCHUCK | 55 | Male | WMM | 30:33 | 8:02 |
We did the 1,200' climb in 31 minutes (including 5 minutes on top and 5 minutes putting on snowshoes), then had a blast coming down in 12 minutes of slidding and running (and taking a couple of massive spills). After that we drove to Guilderland to see if they really had snow. There was nothing on the gorund as we drove up so it was a huge surprise to find the field behind the school had snow. We checked out a little bit of the trail, which had enough snow to hold a race, and then headed to our hotel. Satisfied that we'd be racing on Sunday we hit the hot tub for a soak and the 99 for some grub.
On race morn we were among the first to arrive. After checkin in and making sure the race was on we hit the road for a 3 mile warm-up. I felt okay, nothing any more sore than normal, although it took almost the whole 3 miles for my foot to loosen up. I got in some strides and bumped into TiVo who mentioned some fast local road runner who would be in the the mix. I was not worried, my goal was to keep Tim in sight for as long as possible. I go on snowshoes and checked out the bushwack section (to avoid some bare ground we'd zip through the woods about 200 meters into the race!).
We got warnings from 4 minutes out, and I got a spot on the inside of the course. JJ got a lousy start and said "this is my worst start ever" as he blew by me 100m into the race. We hit the woods with Justin Bishop leading with JJ and TiVo right on his tail. I was already off the back and wheezing as I tried to stay on my feet. After 1/2 mile we turned onto the worst part of the course, it had a couple of 50m patches that were bare, which lasted for about 1/2 mile. The rest of the course was fine, if you enjoyed fast flat racing (not me). I'll take a long slow slog over the fast stuff any day.
Justin led for most of the race with JJ and TiVo keeping him moving. With about 3/4 mile to go JJ made his move and took his fourth consecutive WMAC victory and his second win at the Brave the Blizzard. Tivo nearly got Justin as they all came in within 13 seconds. I rolled in later that day to take fourth for the second consecutive year. I ran as hard as I could but all in all the first double SS weekend of the year was a disappointment. I think everyone who finished in front of me should finish in front of me but in both races I though I'd be able to maintain a much better percentage behind.
1 | Jim | Johnson | M | 32 | 24:44 | 06:41 |
2 | Justin | Bishop | M | 28 | 24:53 | 06:44 |
3 | Tim | VanOrden | M | 41 | 24:57 | 06:45 |
4 | Dave | Dunham | M | 45 | 26:58 | 07:17 |
5 | Ahmed | Elasser | M | 47 | 27:39 | 07:28 |
Bring it on.....
Here are the hardcore runners who did both races
Greylock | Greylock | Blizzard | Blizzard | Total | Total | ||||
Place | Time | Place | Time | Place | Time | ||||
| Jim | Johnson | M | 32 | 1 | 0:25:31 | 1 | 0:24:44 | 2 | 0:50:15 |
| Tim | VanOrden | M | 41 | 4 | 0:27:02 | 3 | 0:24:57 | 7 | 0:51:59 |
| Dave | Dunham | M | 45 | 5 | 0:27:48 | 4 | 0:26:58 | 9 | 0:54:46 |
| Brian | Northan | M | 34 | 14 | 0:32:00 | 9 | 0:30:11 | 23 | 1:02:11 |
| Rich | Teal | M | 31 | 15 | 0:34:30 | 10 | 0:30:13 | 25 | 1:04:43 |
| Glen | Tryson | M | 56 | 39 | 0:38:06 | 19 | 0:34:30 | 58 | 1:12:36 |
| Jeff | Clark | M | 52 | 25 | 0:38:33 | 43 | 0:35:07 | 68 | 1:13:40 |
| Ian | Hutchinson | M | 45 | 44 | 0:38:43 | 29 | 0:35:44 | 73 | 1:14:27 |
| David | Shumpert | M | 39 | 57 | 0:42:25 | 33 | 0:37:06 | 90 | 1:19:31 |
| Vincent | Kirby | M | 53 | 75 | 0:45:06 | 59 | 0:42:25 | 134 | 1:27:31 |
| Laura | Clark | F | 62 | 81 | 0:47:01 | 96 | 0:50:49 | 177 | 1:37:50 |
| Laurel | Shortell | F | 43 | 98 | 0:51:26 | 88 | 0:48:48 | 186 | 1:40:14 |
| Jeff | Clark | M | 63 | 114 | 1:04:30 | 125 | 1:06:19 | 239 | 2:10:49 |
Me on the summit of Berlin Mountain
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