2008 Winterfest "Snowshoe" 10k

Run: 6.2 miles racing in :48:07 min. @ 11:00 a.m. + 1 mile total warm-up and cool-down for a total daily mileage of 7.2 miles.

Weather: Partly Sunny, 10°F, 58% Humidity, Wind: From WSW @ 21 mph, gusting up to 26 mph; feels like -2°F(!).
Course: Mendon Ponds Park (trails, very hilly)
Pace: Approximately 7:45 min./per mile

Pre-Run Observations: The 10k snowshoe run of the morning long Winterfest Snowshoe Races was to be the first snowshoe event I was to participate in this winter, but as the snow gods would have it, there is not quite enough "snow" to warrant special "shoes." There is plenty of bitter winter air to be had, and given what is likely to be a challenging Menond Ponds trail course, I am looking at this "race" as an exciting nature run, rather than a competitive opportunity.

Different from last year's event, this year promises to be a "'no frills' event," which suits the spirit of those hearty souls who participate just fine, thank you. How many t-shirts can one store in their closet or donate to charity without it seeming too many, anyway? I kind of like the idea of a lower entry fee, an opportunity for camaraderie, and a beatify course being the carrot for registering.

My only regret in preparing to get dressed for the ride to Mendon is that I wish I had washed my "winter" tights... is COLD (-2°F with the wind chill!)out!


Post-Race Reflections: The 10k I was registered for this morning began after the Men's and Women's 5ks had been run, and one lady coming across the finish line noted that the scenery had been beutiful. She was right. Though I did not "know" the course, it ran through some familiar parts of the park and the 10k loop, as a whole, was made up of parts of other races I had run so I knew when to expect the steep(er) inclines of which there were quite a few. The cold was not as much of an issue as the wind, which was dispersed within the woods for a good part of the race. Given my somewhat leisurely pace, I had the goo fortune to take in some of the wintry sites which were, as the young lady said earlier "beautiful."

I also had the good fortune of finishing a few runners with which to pace myself and we took turns briefly switching the lead, but in the end, if I were competing, I was clearly undone by my undone shoelaces... I had to stop three(!) times to re-tie them! (It is a sad reality that at most races, my wife will tie them so that they don't come undone... this time I actually made the conscious effort to tie them well prior to the start, but to no avail!

Overall, it was an excellent experience running in the windy, cold with other like-minded folks who just dig the trails... though one thought I had was that maybe I should not have pre-registered for that snowshoe half-marathon next week! If today's run had been in snowshoes, I'd likely had a heart attack--who knows what next week will bring, but that is part of the fun... isn't it?

Breathe in, breathe out… YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!