17 Years since my first Cranmore

I’m heading up to Cranmore this weekend for my 9^th time.  I’ve only run 10 other races more times than Cranmore.  I’m not sure why I keep going back especially since I don’t particularly like the up/down races.  Since the race is part of the USATF NE Mountain series and also the U.S. Championships, it is a little easier to justify the abuse I’ll put myself through.

I first raced Cranmore back way back in 1996 when it was a 3 mile “up only” race on the dirt road to the summit.  I was able to gap teammate Dan Verrington about ½ way into the race and won a pair of racing snowshoes for setting a new course record.  That would set in motion my considering snowshoe racing.  What a life changing race that turned out to be!

My results

07/07/96 – 3 miles 20:15 1^st place 80 finishers

10/03/04 – 3 miles 23:05 3^rd place (Tilton 21:05 & T Livingston 22:06) 1^st pl 40+, 49 finishers

07/08/06 – 6.4 miles 50:23 4^th place (2^nd 40+ Verrington 50:11) Two loop course with 2,400’ climb/drop. 1^st Livingston 50:07

06/27/07 – 8.7 miles 75:01 12^th pl (3^rd 40+ Herr 72:21), 1^st pl Gates 62:48.  U.S. champs – CMS top team in open & 40+

06/29/08 – 6.2 miles 57:40 6^th pl (2^nd 40+ Van Orden 57:10) 1^st pl Fyffe 53:51

06/28/09 – 7.2 miles 56:20 25^th pl (3^rd 40+ Gutierrez 51:54, Morse 55:22) – CMS national champs in open & 40+

06/27/10 – 7.1 miles 58:52 10^th pl (3^rd 40+ Callaghan 54:41)

06/24/12 – 5 miles 45:03 6^th pl (2^nd 40+ Callaghan 45:57)