The big day for Mike and Eileen is Saturday, March 1 in Bennington, Vermont. They will be representing all of Spencerport, NY in the snowshoe national championships being held in the snowy mountains. How snowy you ask? Well, watch this video;
It looks like a beautiful place to take a walk. Check out these photos of the course. Running 3 miles up and back down a mountain on snowshoes with 250 other people (a record number for the race) I'm not too sure about.
Besides the uphill climbs these races get interesting on the two miles or more of single-track that meanders through forests. It really can be a beautiful setting if you can enjoy it through the gasps of air your lungs are seeking.
Let's hope Mike and Eileen keep focused during the race on what is really important;
1. Not falling more than two times in the race
2. Finishing
3. Knowing not many other 50+ year olds in the world could do this activity
4. How enjoyable the Scotch will be Saturday night!
The Erie Canal, Running Paradise
Showing posts with label National Snowshoe Championship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Snowshoe Championship. Show all posts
Friday, February 28, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
National Snowshoe Championship Qualifiers
Congratulations to our own Mike and Eileen who qualified for the National Championship race to be held in Woodford, Vermont. As of now there are racers from 24 states competing. Race day (March 1) begins with the Junior 5k championship race, followed by the women's 10k and then the men's 10k.
On Sunday there will be a relay race and uphill race challenge, if the previous day's 10k wasn't enough.
Take a look at the course map, there is a nice little climb for the first three miles!
On Sunday there will be a relay race and uphill race challenge, if the previous day's 10k wasn't enough.
Take a look at the course map, there is a nice little climb for the first three miles!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
2014 National Snowshoe Championships
The 10k championship race returns to the northeast this season. Woodford Ski Resort in Vermont, eight miles from Bennington and about sixty minutes from Albany, NY is the host site. Events begin on Friday, February 28 and last until Sunday, March 2. The championship 10k race is on Saturday.
Take a look at this video for more information.
More information can be found at the USSSA web site. Qualifying events (yes, you have to qualify to race in the championship - and be a USSSA member), are being held all over the country.
Championship race courses are different and quite challenging. Lots of single track and typically hilly to mountainous, with many steep ups and downs.
Take a look at this video for more information.
More information can be found at the USSSA web site. Qualifying events (yes, you have to qualify to race in the championship - and be a USSSA member), are being held all over the country.
Championship race courses are different and quite challenging. Lots of single track and typically hilly to mountainous, with many steep ups and downs.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sugar Snow
The USSSA National Championships were held on March 13 in Cable, Wisconsin. Jeff Beck, from Rochester NY, finished fourth overall (42:54) and secured a spot on the National Team. Michelle Weiler, a local phenom, was the sixth place woman, missing a spot on the National Team by one place. Michelle was the first master finisher (55:34). Charlie Andrews finished in 49 minutes and took second in the 50-54 age group.
Reports on the race compared snow conditions from last year's race, held near Syracuse, NY to this year. As one who struggled mightily in last years race it was nice to read that conditions may, indeed, affect some snowshoe racers. The 2011 race was in "Sugar Snow" which makes snowshoeing difficult and frustrating, it doesn't hold your weight well and has been known to make it feel like you are "running on ball bearings." "Sugar snow and hills sucked the life out of many a ‘shoer in the 2010 National Championship" (quote from Brad Canham, Snow Wars: Return of the Marathoners, 2011 National Championship report, Alford publishing).
The race in Wisconsin was hard packed, making it more suitable to road runners.
Apparently there are different cleats or snowshoes that will assist with the variable conditions and choosing the right ones for the course is important.
Dion Snowshoes, the title sponsor of the championships, offers customizable configurations – ex. deep cleat, versus standard cleat – depending on snow conditions. Made of Teflon Coated Aluminum Alloy, these durable cleats are interchangeable and can be easily removed to sharpen or replace.
Begin planning now for the 2012 championship, already scheduled for Frisco, CO, on February 24, 2012 with a starting elevation of 9,100 feet. Yes, 9,100 feet.
Reports on the race compared snow conditions from last year's race, held near Syracuse, NY to this year. As one who struggled mightily in last years race it was nice to read that conditions may, indeed, affect some snowshoe racers. The 2011 race was in "Sugar Snow" which makes snowshoeing difficult and frustrating, it doesn't hold your weight well and has been known to make it feel like you are "running on ball bearings." "Sugar snow and hills sucked the life out of many a ‘shoer in the 2010 National Championship" (quote from Brad Canham, Snow Wars: Return of the Marathoners, 2011 National Championship report, Alford publishing).
The race in Wisconsin was hard packed, making it more suitable to road runners.
Apparently there are different cleats or snowshoes that will assist with the variable conditions and choosing the right ones for the course is important.
Dion Snowshoes, the title sponsor of the championships, offers customizable configurations – ex. deep cleat, versus standard cleat – depending on snow conditions. Made of Teflon Coated Aluminum Alloy, these durable cleats are interchangeable and can be easily removed to sharpen or replace.
Begin planning now for the 2012 championship, already scheduled for Frisco, CO, on February 24, 2012 with a starting elevation of 9,100 feet. Yes, 9,100 feet.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
National Snowshoe Championship
Five days after the event and I'm finally ready to discuss it. Highland Forest had plenty of snow on the course, 90% of it ungroomed, which did not make for fast times. The organizers wanted a tough, challenging course and they got it. The mile plus long single track was difficult to maneuver through, at least for me. I needed about another 6 inches so I could plant my foot. I was trying to figure out a stride that would work and never really came up with one.
Looking back, basically my race came down to the fact that I ran scared. I started too slow, had problems in the snow, used that as an excuse to go slower and got passed by many people. I took myself out of the race more than any competitor did. Afraid of the hills in the middle, at about mile 4.5, and the ridiculous climb up the sledding hill at the end (which was actually triple the sledding hill and steep as hell) I never really ran to my limit. Idiot, chicken crap.
The average female 10k runner was 10 minutes behind their qualifying time at Mendon Ponds. The average male was 15 minutes slower (we ran after the females and the snow was more torn up). I "ran" 23 minutes slower. Just absurd. Maybe I am too fat for single track! LOL.
Eileen had a great race, finishing 4th in her age group, just missing the podium by a minute or so! Mike W. struggled much like me. But we all have a national championship experience and finish, which is good.
The facility and organization was excellent. Now the shoes are put away for a couple of seasons as we move to running and maybe a tri or two.
Looking back, basically my race came down to the fact that I ran scared. I started too slow, had problems in the snow, used that as an excuse to go slower and got passed by many people. I took myself out of the race more than any competitor did. Afraid of the hills in the middle, at about mile 4.5, and the ridiculous climb up the sledding hill at the end (which was actually triple the sledding hill and steep as hell) I never really ran to my limit. Idiot, chicken crap.
The average female 10k runner was 10 minutes behind their qualifying time at Mendon Ponds. The average male was 15 minutes slower (we ran after the females and the snow was more torn up). I "ran" 23 minutes slower. Just absurd. Maybe I am too fat for single track! LOL.
Eileen had a great race, finishing 4th in her age group, just missing the podium by a minute or so! Mike W. struggled much like me. But we all have a national championship experience and finish, which is good.
The facility and organization was excellent. Now the shoes are put away for a couple of seasons as we move to running and maybe a tri or two.
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