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.
The Erie Canal, Running Paradise
Showing posts with label Snowshoe racing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snowshoe racing. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Thursday, February 11, 2010
How to Win an ESG medal?
ESG (Empire State Games)-are held annually in the Lake Placid and Saranac Lakes region of New York in mid-to-late February. Competition is held in many events, but so far Sal's has stuck with snowshoe racing. In the future the executive committee may make us try bobsledding or the luge, but so far we have been able to avoid such extreme sports. No, we just strap $200 oversized shoes to our $70 running shoes and enjoy all that wilderness has to offer.
It wasn't until my third year of attending the games, and Jan's second, that we won a medal. We were happy, shocked and proud of ourselves. This year, though, with the state instituting a $40 entry fee (used to be free) and a convoluted on-line entry form, registration has dropped by about 50%.
Without further ado, here are secret race strategies:
1. Pick an age group that has no one else entered, or no more than three so you are assured a podium position.
2. Snowshoes are large, the track is small, is it really your fault the shoes collided and the person in front went down?
3. The woods are deep in the 5k xc race, a little elbow here and there may send a competitor flying off course and no one will be the wiser.
4. Wear racing flats to save weight. Better yet, just strap your bare foot into the snowshoe, a little frostbite won't kill you.
5. If your wife is injured and can't race (Jan), or has too much common sense for this nonsense (Joanne), position them around the track. They can throw snowballs at your competition and yell mean things, like, "my husband has more snotcicles than you!".
6. Don't name yourself the Flower City Friendlies. This is not an intimidating sounding group of snowshoers from western New York.
Other Empire State Game tips:
1.The vaseline you bathe in to stay warm in the 5 degree weather should be removed before going out to dinner after the race.
2. Those silly hats given out to participants may be okay in the frozen tundra of Lake Placid, but really are quite ridiculous to wear around Rochester. Ah, I'm so old what difference does it make, I'm wearing mine everywhere.
3."80 percent of success is just showing up" — Woody Allen
It wasn't until my third year of attending the games, and Jan's second, that we won a medal. We were happy, shocked and proud of ourselves. This year, though, with the state instituting a $40 entry fee (used to be free) and a convoluted on-line entry form, registration has dropped by about 50%.
Without further ado, here are secret race strategies:
1. Pick an age group that has no one else entered, or no more than three so you are assured a podium position.
2. Snowshoes are large, the track is small, is it really your fault the shoes collided and the person in front went down?
3. The woods are deep in the 5k xc race, a little elbow here and there may send a competitor flying off course and no one will be the wiser.
4. Wear racing flats to save weight. Better yet, just strap your bare foot into the snowshoe, a little frostbite won't kill you.
5. If your wife is injured and can't race (Jan), or has too much common sense for this nonsense (Joanne), position them around the track. They can throw snowballs at your competition and yell mean things, like, "my husband has more snotcicles than you!".
6. Don't name yourself the Flower City Friendlies. This is not an intimidating sounding group of snowshoers from western New York.
Other Empire State Game tips:
1.The vaseline you bathe in to stay warm in the 5 degree weather should be removed before going out to dinner after the race.
2. Those silly hats given out to participants may be okay in the frozen tundra of Lake Placid, but really are quite ridiculous to wear around Rochester. Ah, I'm so old what difference does it make, I'm wearing mine everywhere.
3."80 percent of success is just showing up" — Woody Allen
Monday, February 23, 2009
Buzzwords 2
Top seven bad things about the ESG snowshoe races:
7. Stopping at every bathroom between Rochester and Lake Placid, makes for a long drive.
6. Sleeping with my head next to the room refrigerator, noisy.
5. Wondering if I drank more wine Saturday, would I have won the gold?
4. The men losing to the women in the board game "Buzzwords". Did someone add wrong? Rematch!!
3. Eating a "quick" lunch at Friendly's (this is an example of sarcasm).
2. Not eating on the way back home, I failed in my tour guide duties.
1. Lou getting hurt in the 200m race after a great 100m and leading the 200m.
I couldn't come up with 10 bad things. It was too nice of a mini-vacation.
7. Stopping at every bathroom between Rochester and Lake Placid, makes for a long drive.
6. Sleeping with my head next to the room refrigerator, noisy.
5. Wondering if I drank more wine Saturday, would I have won the gold?
4. The men losing to the women in the board game "Buzzwords". Did someone add wrong? Rematch!!
3. Eating a "quick" lunch at Friendly's (this is an example of sarcasm).
2. Not eating on the way back home, I failed in my tour guide duties.
1. Lou getting hurt in the 200m race after a great 100m and leading the 200m.
I couldn't come up with 10 bad things. It was too nice of a mini-vacation.
Buzzwords
Top ten good things about snowshoeing at Empire State Games in the Adirondacks;
10. Avoiding the blizzard on route 81 Friday
9. Getting to registration early enough to get an official winter hat
8. Great meal at a new Italian restaurant within walking distance of the motel
7. Drinking a few glasses of wine Friday night with friends
6. Watching the Sal's women win 8 Bronze or Silver medals in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 1500m races.
5. Winning a Silver medal in the men's 1500m race & MW winning a Bronze.
4. Eating a great meal at a different Italian restaurant Saturday night.
3. Drinking even more wine in a post-race/dinner party.(carbo loading?)
2. Winning a Silver medal in the men's 5k xc race and EW winning a Bronze.
1. Spending the weekend with a great group of friends!
10. Avoiding the blizzard on route 81 Friday
9. Getting to registration early enough to get an official winter hat
8. Great meal at a new Italian restaurant within walking distance of the motel
7. Drinking a few glasses of wine Friday night with friends
6. Watching the Sal's women win 8 Bronze or Silver medals in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 1500m races.
5. Winning a Silver medal in the men's 1500m race & MW winning a Bronze.
4. Eating a great meal at a different Italian restaurant Saturday night.
3. Drinking even more wine in a post-race/dinner party.(carbo loading?)
2. Winning a Silver medal in the men's 5k xc race and EW winning a Bronze.
1. Spending the weekend with a great group of friends!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Snowshoeing at Empire State Games
In the course of the 1500m race your soul is revealed. Five laps around a 300meter- four lane "track" with fifteen or twenty other competitors may not seem like much. Depending on snow conditions the men's masters race is over in 5:45-9 minutes. The women's masters division competitors are done in 7:00-11:00.
When I can see the arteries of my heart beating through my skin,
typically after the first lap because the leaders dragged us out too fast, I know the race has really begun.
By the second lap I'm wondering if I can finish. In the third lap it seems I might black out, my body is blinded by the snow and sun and delirium sets in. With 500 meters left the decision has to be made; How deep are you willing to take the pain? Can you embrace the moment, enjoy being out there at the same time you must make a move NOW and go for a medal or a personal record time? If so, you have to dig and it has to be immediately. Not being a fast-twitch fiber guy I can't wait and hope my opponent will fade. Punish him now, if he's ahead make a decisive move and go by like you have a 100m left. Do not let up at the 1200m mark! The spectators are listening to the breathing, especially yours, it's as if a freight train is coming down the track or a bear is being chased out of the woods by a hunter. Don't let this bother you. Think of Sir Roger Bannister, miler Jim Ryun or Olympian Emil Zatopek.
They weren't pretty during the last laps. Why do you care? This is a race, you aren't there for anything but to see how fast you can go. As your legs tighten remember the training, use your arms to propel forward, get up and sprint that last 300m knowing that in 70-90 seconds it is over. You are snowshoeing a faster 1500meters than 98% of the population can run on a track in the summer. It may be crazy, but it's cool.
.bmp)
The big weekend of snowshoe racing is finally upon us. In what may possibly be the last Empire State Winter Games (state budget cuts) the pressure mounts to try and snare a medal.
Saturday begins with the 1500m race, followed by the short sprints, 100m, 200m and 400m. The sprints are held on a 4 lane 300m track around a soccer field in the woods near Paul Smith's College, north of Saranac Lake. It is typically cold (5-15 degrees). Jan and I learned quickly to make sure our vehicle has a full tank of gas so we could stay semi-warm between events and to bring lots of snacks to eat throughout the day.
Sunday at 1:00pm is the cross-country 5k race, usually run near Mt. Van Hoevenburg south of Lake Placid (near the bobsled area). Most of the course is groomed, through the woods, with fairly wide trails, and is rolling hills, not anything super steep and long.
When I can see the arteries of my heart beating through my skin,
typically after the first lap because the leaders dragged us out too fast, I know the race has really begun.
By the second lap I'm wondering if I can finish. In the third lap it seems I might black out, my body is blinded by the snow and sun and delirium sets in. With 500 meters left the decision has to be made; How deep are you willing to take the pain? Can you embrace the moment, enjoy being out there at the same time you must make a move NOW and go for a medal or a personal record time? If so, you have to dig and it has to be immediately. Not being a fast-twitch fiber guy I can't wait and hope my opponent will fade. Punish him now, if he's ahead make a decisive move and go by like you have a 100m left. Do not let up at the 1200m mark! The spectators are listening to the breathing, especially yours, it's as if a freight train is coming down the track or a bear is being chased out of the woods by a hunter. Don't let this bother you. Think of Sir Roger Bannister, miler Jim Ryun or Olympian Emil Zatopek.
They weren't pretty during the last laps. Why do you care? This is a race, you aren't there for anything but to see how fast you can go. As your legs tighten remember the training, use your arms to propel forward, get up and sprint that last 300m knowing that in 70-90 seconds it is over. You are snowshoeing a faster 1500meters than 98% of the population can run on a track in the summer. It may be crazy, but it's cool. .bmp)
The big weekend of snowshoe racing is finally upon us. In what may possibly be the last Empire State Winter Games (state budget cuts) the pressure mounts to try and snare a medal.
Saturday begins with the 1500m race, followed by the short sprints, 100m, 200m and 400m. The sprints are held on a 4 lane 300m track around a soccer field in the woods near Paul Smith's College, north of Saranac Lake. It is typically cold (5-15 degrees). Jan and I learned quickly to make sure our vehicle has a full tank of gas so we could stay semi-warm between events and to bring lots of snacks to eat throughout the day.
Sunday at 1:00pm is the cross-country 5k race, usually run near Mt. Van Hoevenburg south of Lake Placid (near the bobsled area). Most of the course is groomed, through the woods, with fairly wide trails, and is rolling hills, not anything super steep and long.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Empire State Games
Seemingly the last chance for what has been a great tradition in NY, the Empire State Games, will come to an end in 2009. Many newspaper articles has the reason being budget cuts proposed by the Governor, but in reality it seems the true reason is the office of NY State Parks and Recreation unwillingness to oversee the games. Officials in that department would prefer an outside vendor take over the games, which is why, if they continue, the cost will be prohibitive to many participants and exclude masters and veteran athletes.
A good question to ask a legislator is "where exactly are the record dollars received from the lottery games going?" That money paid for a great deal of the ESG, not our tax dollars.
Snowshoe racing, one of the largest participatory sports during the winter games in the Lake Placid area, will continue to grow and survive. Talk is already under way about having a NY Championship race, location to be announced. There is also an excellent chance the USSSA National Championship will be in New York for 2010.
A good question to ask a legislator is "where exactly are the record dollars received from the lottery games going?" That money paid for a great deal of the ESG, not our tax dollars.
Snowshoe racing, one of the largest participatory sports during the winter games in the Lake Placid area, will continue to grow and survive. Talk is already under way about having a NY Championship race, location to be announced. There is also an excellent chance the USSSA National Championship will be in New York for 2010.
Winterfest Snowshoe
A day made for snowshoe racing greeted us at Mendon Ponds park on Sunday, January 18. Mike, Jan, Eileen and I opted to run the Citizens 5k instead of the USSSA 10k qualifying race. The course was hilly, as expected for Mendon, but fair. 32 snowshoers participated in the 5k. I finished 4/32 in 30:39, Mike ran a 32:47, Eileen a 39:52 and Jan 41:25.
In the difficult 10k Frank Q was 2nd in his age group in 59:08. Fifty-six runners participated in the longer event.
In the difficult 10k Frank Q was 2nd in his age group in 59:08. Fifty-six runners participated in the longer event.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Pineway Ponds Snowshoe Results
A brisk 24 degree day greeted the three mathematically and directionally challenged snowshoe track designers on Saturday. With the anticipation of hundreds, no, thousands, of snowshoers coming to qualify for the Empire State Games, the pressure was almost insurmountable. Fortunately the three collective 50+ year old brains pulled their act together, began thinking like 14 year olds, instead of kindergarten kids, and completed the track in time.
Organizers and participants were blessed with a well-groomed track, thanks to a mysterious snowmobile rider, who came out of the woods, uncorked and swallowed a huge slug of Ugly Mug whiskey, before zipping a dozen times around and silently disappearing back whence he came.
Ten people ran the 1500m, 100m, 200m and 400m events, some of them twice. Track records were set in each event. It was a splendid day for all. Eileen Yeti ran the fastest female times in each event to win the most honorable sprinter award.
Organizers and participants were blessed with a well-groomed track, thanks to a mysterious snowmobile rider, who came out of the woods, uncorked and swallowed a huge slug of Ugly Mug whiskey, before zipping a dozen times around and silently disappearing back whence he came.
Ten people ran the 1500m, 100m, 200m and 400m events, some of them twice. Track records were set in each event. It was a splendid day for all. Eileen Yeti ran the fastest female times in each event to win the most honorable sprinter award.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Snowshoe Sprints
Saturday, January 10th, will be the first annual(?) Pineway Ponds Empire State Games sprint qualifying races. We have a 300meter track set up on the snow covered fields. The races will begin at 1:00pm. No cost, no shirt, no food, just an accurate course and timing.
The order of events are; 1500m, 100m, 200m, and 400m. People who want to qualify for ESG need to have run two of each race. So, you can either run the races twice this Saturday, or run again at the Lake Effect Snowshoe Festival, sponsored by Fleet Feet sports and Yellowjacket racing on January 25 in Webster.
The order of events are; 1500m, 100m, 200m, and 400m. People who want to qualify for ESG need to have run two of each race. So, you can either run the races twice this Saturday, or run again at the Lake Effect Snowshoe Festival, sponsored by Fleet Feet sports and Yellowjacket racing on January 25 in Webster.
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