Friday, January 25, 2013

Streaking at the Sidehiller Snowshoe race!

So who are the hardcore Sidehiller racers?  Of the 340 total finishers, 167 have done it once, 36 twice, 13 three times, 4 four times.  Chris Dunn (acidotic) and Laurel Shortell (WMAC) have finished five of the six possible times.  Six people have finished all six races!  Bob Dion, Denise Dion, Dave Dunham, Jeff Hattem, Bill Morse, and Kevin Tilton are the only people to have finished in each Sidehiller race.

Here is a little history of the race…

The first year (2005) saw 28 finishers with Richard Bolt (CMS) taking the victory 1:39 ahead of teammate Ben Nephew.  Tim Livingston finished in third place, but had the distinction of being the only finisher to race in singlet and shorts!  Race director Paul Kirsch took a top ten finish (8th place) and I walked the course taking 26th place.  I had only started running a few days before the race after missing 6 weeks with a torn obtorator externus.  Tracey Olafsen was the women’s winner in 53:03.1 Richard Bolt     34         31:44    CMS
2 Ben Nephew    29         33:23    CMS
3 Tim Livingston 31         35:23    WMM
4 Kevin Tilton     22         35:52    CMS
26 Dave Dunham 40        68:37    CMS

The race was not held in 2006 but returned in 2007.  There were only 15 finishers in ’07.  Kevin Tilton picked up his first win and I took second place 3:05 after KT crossed the line.  Chris Dunn (who created the Granite State Snowshoe series) took 3rd place, 1:46 behind me.  Tracey Olafsen picked up her second win running 44:53.
1 Kevin Tilton     25         30:02    CMS
2 Dave Dunham 42         33:07    CMS
3 Chris Dunn       38         34:53    acidotic
4 Bob Dion         51         35:57    WMAC

2008 saw a record field of 37 finishers.  Kevin Tilton picked up his 2nd consecutive victory.  I finished six seconds behind Kevin but it sounds closer than it was.  KT took a peek back with ½ mile to go then sprinted ahead for the win. The top four were exactly the same from 2007.  Sarah Hudson was the women’s winner with two-time champion Tracey Olafsen finishing second.
1 Kevin Tilton     26         33:17    CMS 
2 Dave Dunham 43         33:23    CMS
3 Chris Dunn       39         37:11    acidotic
4 Bob Dion         52         38:00    WMAC

The field grew to a record 61 finishers in 2009.  Kevin Tilton again fronted the field, this time taking the measure of Jim Johnson and besting him by 14 seconds.  I took third place 1:59 behind JJ and 2:14 ahead of Bob Jackman.  CMS took six of the top seven places with only Jackman (Tuesday Night Turtles) breaking up a CMS sweep. Kim Webster was the top female finisher in 14th place overall (41:18), nearly six minutes ahead of second place.
1 Kevin Tilton     27         31:40  CMS
2 Jim Johnson     31         31:54  CMS
3 Dave Dunham 44         33:53  CMS
4 Robt Jackman 26         36:07  TNT
5 Tim Van Orden             40         37:08  CMS
6 James Pawlicki 34         37:35  CMS
7 Al Bernier        34         38:09  CMS

Another year and it was another record field size (91) in 2010. Kevin Tilton took home his fourth consecutive title this time holding off the Josh Ferenc (BAA).  The field was unusually deep due to its status as a qualifier for the US snowshoe championships which were held later that season in New York.  I had a rough day, struggling on the very flat three loop course over the fairgrounds.  There was not enough snow to race over the traditional course so the multi-loop version was used.  I ran pretty consistently (a little over 11 minutes per lap) to take 10th place and top 40+, just barely holding off Steve Wolfe (acidotic) in the last 200 meters.   Amber Cullen was the ladies champ running 38:39 gapping second place by 1:23.  CMS masters took four of the top five spots.
1 Kevin Tilton     28         31:08 CMS
2 Josh Ferenc     28         31:20 BAA0
3 Jim Johnson     32         31:25 CMS
4 Peter Mallett    26         31:47 CMS
5 Chas Therriault             24         32:12 acidotic
6 Ben Nephew    34         32:32 CMS
7 Bob Jackman    27         33:25 TNT
8 Tim Cox          36         33:44 CMS
9 Danny Ferriera 27         34:01 acidotic
10 Dave Dunham 45        34:04 CMS
11 Steve Wolfe   45         34:05 acidotic
12 Eric Morse      44         34:44 CMS
13 Jim Pawlicki    35         34:51 CMS
16 Dave Quintal 46         35:33 CMS
17 John Pajer     47         36:05 CMS

  In 2011 Kevin Tilton made it an incredible five wins in a row, burying Jim Johnson with a furious kick for a 6 second win.  KT again topped a record field, this time 108 finished.  I felt I had a decent race taking 6th place overall and top master.  Amber (formerly Cullen) Ferreira picked up her second win, this time 3:23 up on Kristina Folcik.  Rich Busa was the oldest finisher at age 81.

1 Kevin Tilton     29         31:47 CMS
2 Jim Johnson     33         31:53 CMS
3 Judson Cake    33         32:44 
4 Wesley Dinnan             23         33:22 
5 Ryan Kelly        29         33:59 
6 Dave Dunham 46         34:14 CMS
7 Chas Thierrault             25         34:41 acidotic
8 Robt Jackman 28         34:42 TNT
9 Danny Ferreira 28         34:48 acidotic
10 Scott McGrath            24         35:27 CMS
11 James Pawlicki 36        35:41 CMS 




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