Per usual I arrived early to Cobb's Hill and snowshoed the course before the race began. It's a great way to become familiar with the course, which changes for each race, as well as get in more miles on my snowshoes. The Snow Cheap series is every other Wednesday, with races beginning at 6:30pm, so headlamps are required for each racer. People choose to enter as a trail runner or snowshoe runner.
There are methods to making your race more successful. The following are a few things NOT to do.
1. While on the course alone and going down a ridiculously steep, thirty yard, slightly snow-covered ice hill, don't go slow. Just let it rip and hope to hang on or slide down on your butt like you are riding a sled. There is no in-between. Somehow I never fully learn this lesson, or, more likely, I'm scared.
I was frantically grabbing branches, trying to maintain control, not able to dig in with the snowshoes and going faster and faster. I finally got hold of a large branch, which promptly came loose and was, in fact, about 6-8 feet long! When I hit the bottom of the slope my momentum carried me towards Monroe Avenue, which had normal traffic and runners on it. As I was screaming FUUUUUUUDDDDDGGGGGEEEE!, except it wasn't really Fudge, several onlookers looked petrified. Here was a madman, dressed all in black thrusting a large branch back and forth, screaming at the top of his lungs. Do not try this at home.
2. As you finish the warmup run ("shoe") don't take off your hat and shake it, since the headlamp is on there and may accidentally hit the pavement and break, with 8 minutes to go before the race!
Frantically I put it together, only for the lamp to fall apart at the 1 minute to go announcement. A kind soul assisted, but with 20 seconds go we couldn't make my lamp work. I ran to the YellowJacket trailer and Boots came through with one of their lamps. Of course this will forever be held against me and I will be the butt of their jokes. I joined the back of the pack as the horn sounded the start.
3. Beginning one of these races in the back is not good strategy if you are trying to be competitive in your age group. The line gets long quickly and with lots of single track through woods, making up ground becomes impossible. Snaking up hills you are at the mercy of the pace of the people ahead of you.
Despite my troubles these races can be fun and an interesting method to get a good workout midweek for low cost. 130 people can't be wrong and the view from the top of Cobb's Hill is always amazing.
Two races left in the series, but I will be in rest mode for the ESG and USSSA races.
The Erie Canal, Running Paradise
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Lake Effect Snowshoe Festival
A weekend of snowshoeing, well trail running and snowshoeing on grass, awaits everyone at the Lake Effect Snowshoe Festival sponsored by Fleet Feet.
Mike, Lou and I, the supreme race course designers, will once again be making a 300 meter track on a park field in Webster. This year participants will have to wear their snowshoes and race on a grass field, thanks to mother nature shortchanging us. It should be rather humorous to watch, though times may also be fairly fast.
Participants can run the 100, 200, 400, and 1500 meter sprints. If they do them all twice, they will qualify for the Empire State Games. Fleet Feet is also offering a 2, 4 and 13 mile trail run. The 4 and 13 mile runs qualify participants for the ESG 5k xc snowshoe race.
The races will be held on Sunday, January 24, beginning at 8am (sprints at 8:30am).
Mike, Lou and I, the supreme race course designers, will once again be making a 300 meter track on a park field in Webster. This year participants will have to wear their snowshoes and race on a grass field, thanks to mother nature shortchanging us. It should be rather humorous to watch, though times may also be fairly fast.
Participants can run the 100, 200, 400, and 1500 meter sprints. If they do them all twice, they will qualify for the Empire State Games. Fleet Feet is also offering a 2, 4 and 13 mile trail run. The 4 and 13 mile runs qualify participants for the ESG 5k xc snowshoe race.
The races will be held on Sunday, January 24, beginning at 8am (sprints at 8:30am).
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Fallen & Can't Get Up!
The latest version of the Fleet Feet Snow Cheap series of winter races, to be forever called The Icefest in my mind, was held last night (Wednesday, January 20).
Snow Cheap is six races held every other Wednesday, at Cobb's Hill park in Rochester beginning at 6:30pm, headlamps required. Competitors choose to be in the snowshoe or trail shoe category, but this is always weather dependent. Last night there was not enough snow, so no snowshoes allowed (though I think it would have been easier with them).
For my warmup, per usual, I ran the course, since it changes for each race and I like getting in the extra miles and hills.
The Good - course was well marked and at least three miles.
The Bad - most of the course was covered in ice and crunchy snow.
The Good - Yax Trax or screws in your running shoes would give a distinct advantage.
The Bad - I didn't have either.
The Good - I learned to walk quickly and hang on branches and trees.
The Bad - I rolled down one steep hill that was sheer ice.
The Good - I finished the warmup without major injury.
The Bad - I really considered skipping the race and going home. I didn't relish doing the course again with 130 other people.
The Race
The Good - I decided to race, too embarrassed to go inside the lodge and hand in my chip.
The Bad - I fell behind quickly, way behind.
The Good - I passed many people about 1/2 way into the race till the finish.
The Bad - I fell two more times, including once on the same downhill as the warmup run. Hanging onto trees I spun around twice before collapsing in a heap. Intelligent people slid down the hill on their butts, at least 7 passing me this way as I rolled over and over. I fell on an ice patch going slightly uphill deep in the woods. Got half way upright and skated across, falling again. Had to crawl out/up.
The Good - Finished in 29:58, much better than the warmup, but only 3rd in my age group and the snowshoe category. I made it out with a bruised thumb.
Maybe the next Snow Cheap we will have snow again? The second race we were on snowshoes and it was actually fun. Also the views of the city skyline from the top of Cobb's Hill are fantastic!
Snow Cheap is six races held every other Wednesday, at Cobb's Hill park in Rochester beginning at 6:30pm, headlamps required. Competitors choose to be in the snowshoe or trail shoe category, but this is always weather dependent. Last night there was not enough snow, so no snowshoes allowed (though I think it would have been easier with them).
For my warmup, per usual, I ran the course, since it changes for each race and I like getting in the extra miles and hills.
The Good - course was well marked and at least three miles.
The Bad - most of the course was covered in ice and crunchy snow.
The Good - Yax Trax or screws in your running shoes would give a distinct advantage.
The Bad - I didn't have either.
The Good - I learned to walk quickly and hang on branches and trees.
The Bad - I rolled down one steep hill that was sheer ice.
The Good - I finished the warmup without major injury.
The Bad - I really considered skipping the race and going home. I didn't relish doing the course again with 130 other people.
The Race
The Good - I decided to race, too embarrassed to go inside the lodge and hand in my chip.
The Bad - I fell behind quickly, way behind.
The Good - I passed many people about 1/2 way into the race till the finish.
The Bad - I fell two more times, including once on the same downhill as the warmup run. Hanging onto trees I spun around twice before collapsing in a heap. Intelligent people slid down the hill on their butts, at least 7 passing me this way as I rolled over and over. I fell on an ice patch going slightly uphill deep in the woods. Got half way upright and skated across, falling again. Had to crawl out/up.
The Good - Finished in 29:58, much better than the warmup, but only 3rd in my age group and the snowshoe category. I made it out with a bruised thumb.
Maybe the next Snow Cheap we will have snow again? The second race we were on snowshoes and it was actually fun. Also the views of the city skyline from the top of Cobb's Hill are fantastic!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Innocence Lost (moral wrongdoing?)
The problem began simply enough. The product was cheap and suppliers were abundant. Friends and family members were doing it, or so I told myself. Even my wife joined in at times.
It came in a box and was available in red or white. I was only an average runner no matter how much I trained. Continually searching for some kind of edge, this product seemed so easy, so difficult to resist. It promised to help me recover from training, enjoy life more and lower cholesterol (or maybe blood pressure?).
My first dosages were a box every two-three weeks. But as I saw the results I wanted, no, needed more. It hurt my family, all that money I was spending. I couldn't help myself.
Yes, I was a box wine addict. But only for health reasons. Really.
After a long and tumultuous recovery I have since moved on to other, more acceptable means of consuming alcohol. I am a card carrying member of Mahan's and Marketplace liquor stores and haven't purchased a box of wine in years. I will always carry the emotional scars of hiding the boxes in my fridge when friends visited. Please forgive me!
It came in a box and was available in red or white. I was only an average runner no matter how much I trained. Continually searching for some kind of edge, this product seemed so easy, so difficult to resist. It promised to help me recover from training, enjoy life more and lower cholesterol (or maybe blood pressure?).
My first dosages were a box every two-three weeks. But as I saw the results I wanted, no, needed more. It hurt my family, all that money I was spending. I couldn't help myself.
Yes, I was a box wine addict. But only for health reasons. Really.
After a long and tumultuous recovery I have since moved on to other, more acceptable means of consuming alcohol. I am a card carrying member of Mahan's and Marketplace liquor stores and haven't purchased a box of wine in years. I will always carry the emotional scars of hiding the boxes in my fridge when friends visited. Please forgive me!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Bonified and Qualified!
Mike W., Eileen W and myself are officially qualified for the USSSA National Snowshoe championship being held on March 6 near Tully, New York. Mike finished 4th (1:03:54) in his age group (top 5 automatically qualify), Eileen was 2nd (1:15:22)and I was 1st (58:38) among USSSA members. Lou gave a valiant effort, but finished seventh. You can also qualify on time, finishing with 130% of the winning time for your age group, but Lou picked a tough and fast age group to compete in.
Almost 100 snowshoers competed in the 10k at Mendon Ponds on Sunday, January 17. There seemed to be a good representation from around New York state. The warm spell threatened to make the race a running trail run, but fortunately there was just enough snow left on the hilly course to allow us to use snowshoes.
Jan, a past qualifier, opted to save her achilles tendon for summer triathlons and did the smart thing by resting.
Almost 100 snowshoers competed in the 10k at Mendon Ponds on Sunday, January 17. There seemed to be a good representation from around New York state. The warm spell threatened to make the race a running trail run, but fortunately there was just enough snow left on the hilly course to allow us to use snowshoes.
Jan, a past qualifier, opted to save her achilles tendon for summer triathlons and did the smart thing by resting.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Diet Results
Looks like Lou wins the diet contest. :(
As of Wednesday, January 13 Lou had lost 10 pounds. Strange enough, Mike W. gained ten pounds during the same period.
Kidding.
Lou wins by being first one to lose the weight. I am down 3 pounds, Mike W. is even-steven.
Of course the starvation diet Lou went on (Mayo Clinic...with grapefruit,lettuce, no carbs) put him in such a state that morning runs involved Mike pushing Lou in a baby jogger stroller. Lou got so skinny he actually fit into the toddler size!
As of Wednesday, January 13 Lou had lost 10 pounds. Strange enough, Mike W. gained ten pounds during the same period.
Kidding.
Lou wins by being first one to lose the weight. I am down 3 pounds, Mike W. is even-steven.
Of course the starvation diet Lou went on (Mayo Clinic...with grapefruit,lettuce, no carbs) put him in such a state that morning runs involved Mike pushing Lou in a baby jogger stroller. Lou got so skinny he actually fit into the toddler size!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Triathlon Training Video
This is a hilarious cartoon video about triathlon training. Listen carefully and without a mouthful of food. Credit to Mr. Withrow for sending this to Jan and myself.
From the website xtranormal.
From the website xtranormal.
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