double d mountain runner: Snowshoe series

I haven’t done a snowshoe race in a few years as my arthritic ankles just don’t like the unsteady footing and additional strain. I decided to give it a go anyway when I heard about the Delta Dental Snowshoe series. I signed up for the three race series that would be held “snow or no – we go!”. The first race at Broken Ground trail in Concord would be a non-snowshoe race. Although temperatures were in the single digits there wasn’t much snow out there. I got to the race an hour before the start and headed out to preview the course. Most would do two loops but you could opt for the one loop race. I decided to get in a longer warm-up so I did the two loops (4.6 miles). The course was definitely tough with 130’ of climb in the first mile then mostly down or flat the second mile (and .25 or so to the finish). There was a mix of dirt trail, snow, and about ½ mile (per loop) of very icy footing. Definitely not a day to snowshoe but also not a day to go without traction devices. I wore kahtoolahs and felt pretty comfortable except on the sharp turns with ice and some of the icy downhill parts.

After my warm-up I quickly changed into some dry clothes for the race. It was still single-digits but with bright sun and little wind it was comfortable once you got going. I jogged over to the line and was surprised to see CMS teammate Steve Brightman and then Jim Boule (acidotic racing). Both are super-fast and also in the 50+ age group. This was going to be tough. We were joined at the ‘fast’ starters line by Kevin Crowley, another fast guy who usually beats me by about a minute in a 5k. The capped field of 50 runners shot off in a flash. Steve was out of sight by ¼ mile into the race. Kevin went by about a minute into the race and headed off after Steve. I wouldn’t see either of them again. Footsteps right behind me let me know that Jim was on my tail. He would stay right there for the first loop. I was feeling flat right from the start and the climb had me wheezing. I felt a little better on the downhill and kept thinking “don’t fall” and “pick it up on the second loop”. I hit the end of the first lap in 15:20 and it took me another 55 seconds to get to the point we’d started at. I upped the tempo as best I could and slowly heard the footsteps behind me fade. I kept telling myself to work to the top of the hill then try to recover on the downhill. I knew I wasn’t going to catch anyone, but I really did not want to get caught either. Finally, I got to the top of the hill and pushed as much as possible on the downhill. I was a bit surprised afterward to find I’d run a negative split (second loop faster than the first) with a 15:04 for my second lap. I held on for third place and even closed a little on Kevin as Jim kept it close coming in 29 seconds after me. This was a great event and I’m looking forward to the next two. I think I’ll do one lap for one of the races as I’ll have a two race weekend (which is very rare for me).