2015 Cockadoodle Shoe--A new Year---A new Cole

Well it is now officially 2015 and I am very excited to be transitioning into higher mileage, more vertical running and snowshoe running to prepare myself for a wonderful 2015 of ultra running. 


I am very happy to write to you that I have finished my first snowshoe race of the year this past weekend at Saranac, NY in the Adirondack Region and I was able to pull out a victory to start 2015 off right.  I really love this race from last year and with RD Jeremy Drowne at the helm, he puts on a well-thought-out snowshoe race through a wonderful course that I feel suits my strengths well.

Ashlee and myself made the fun trip in our new car, a 2013 Ford Fusion as we gathered our belongings and made the 4-5 hour trip to the North Country. We had a hotel room in Plattsburgh, NY and we were excited to spend some alone-time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday Cortland.
We were able to push out of town around 1:30pm or so as blowing snow was making getting out of town a little difficult. 


We had such a blast on the way out talking and singing songs in the car, and being at awe with the majestic mountains of the Adirondack Region.

We go in late to our hotel room which was a fantastic suite. We headed into Downtown Plattsburgh for some grub. It was super cold in the North Country with temps near or below zero. We walked around and then stopped at a delicious Thai restaurant and had a delicious meal and then stopped at the Stewart's gas station/convenience store for some drinks and late-night snacks before relaxing in the hotel room. 

 

This is a photo from last year (Credits New Land Trust)

We awoke in the morning before a 10 am start to a freezing cold but cloudless sky with plenty of sunshine. The temps marked about -15 which is darn cold and would be the coldest snowshoe race I ever raced in. I was so happy to be back and to see everyone I met from last year again. I also had unfinished business with the course as last year the weak snow caused for me to post-hole in the snow way too often and cost me  a solid race performance that had me disappointed in the outcome.

Ashlee was being such a great sport being all bundled up as we checked in and proceeded to prepare for the race. I had with me my magic weapon: Stewart's Raspberry Iced Tea which uses no High Fructose Corn Syrup and tastes delicious so I was ready to go. I also before the race took a Grape-Pomegranate Boom Gel to give the necessary energy needed for a 40-60 minute snowshoe effort.

The snow on the course looked incredible and I felt times would be fast like last year.

(Credits New Land Trust)  Pre-race photo with Jacob Malcomb

It was great to hang out with Jacob, Jeremy, and Matt again as we prepped for another Cockadoodle Shoe. I had like 7 layers on so with a little running, I felt nice and toasty.

I would be debuting my Mammut Snowshoe Race Kit (as I call it) this year with my Mammut Aenergy Thermo Vest and my Grey Thermo Running Half Zip with a matching beanie and Denali Power-stretch Tights.  I wore two pairs of running Fits Socks to help insulate my feet and man with that Merino wool, my feet felt perfect. After the kids fun-run, it was race time.

We jogged the half mile or so to the starting line and prepared for another fun race.

With a solid warm-up in, the Boom gel coursing through my veins, and a kiss from Ashlee, I was ready to go for it.

With a "Go" we were off.  It felt great to race again after a nice hiatus of a month or so. I settled behind a group of guys and with all the snow flying in my face decided to move up front more so I was not plagued by the frost beard.

This photo was taken by Ashlee as we hit the trails of Limehollow Nature Center the one other day to snowshoe. I have been testing out my modified pair of Redfeather Vapor 21s which I have been getting used to the binding but have been loving the shape of the snowshoe and the traction of the cleats.  Plus the Limegreen and Black I feel is an excellent color choice.

* As far as the race went, I got behind Jacob in the first mile or so and took the lead into the downhill loop into the steep and short uphill. Once we hit the first hill, I began to feel pretty solid through the snow conditions and felt like I was floating on-top of the snow. This was fantastic as I had a comfortable gap of about 15-20 seconds on second place.  I knew with a lot of fast guys in this race, that the tempo of the race could easily change as the distance progressed.  I remained calm and comfortable in my effort.  I came through the first 5k quick in about sub 21 pace and felt really solid. Second place was still about 10-15 seconds behind me so I knew I had to put the hammer-down the second 5k. The course winds through all kinds of lush wooded forest and is just what an Adirondack snowshoe race is all about.

The second 5k was a lot tougher as the snow had drifted over the trail in most of the sections so I was forced to break-trail and use-up more of my energy stores to power myself through the un-even snow. My Mammut apparel kept me the perfect temperature as well as shedding off the snow that I was kicking-up. I pushed harder through the thick spots of snow often every third step, loosing my balance as I began to sink into the deeper pockets of white powder. I wanted to run fast like the first 5k and grew a little impatient, okay, really impatient with the deeper, slower snow conditions. I still had second place hovering near me. I was hoping that the deep snow was giving them the same trouble but you can never be certain. I hit the meadow in around 32 minutes and thought the race was almost over. I could not see second behind me but took nothing for granted and continued to push through.

I was getting pretty winded and was so ready to finish, though I think I had about 2 more miles to go. My pace slowed big time as I was practically treading water, ready to just finish. I toughed it out and then came to the finish.

Ashlee snapped this amazing photo of myself finishing all decked-out in my Mammut and Redfeather gear!  My gear worked to perfection in super cold conditions and I felt amazing. As always, I love the green and am excited to wear the gear so more this winter.

I finished in 51:03 a big positive split but was happy to survive through a tough course and felt truly blessed to have run a solid race with some awesome people.

Thank you to all of the volunteers for cheering us on: especially Bob Bolton!  Ashlee was truly incredible for coming with me on this adventure. Thank you to Jeremy Drowne for another amazing race and his family for working so hard with the Land Trust to produce another top-notch event. The Dak Bars were yummy and you should check those out.

1st and second place (Credits New Land Trust)

As far as prizes go: It is always nice to win some cash with $150 in prize money, a sweet snow-globe and some Darn Tough socks for Ashlee in purple.


Thank you to my sponsors: Mammut North America (MTR), Fits Socks, Boom Nutrition, Red Newt Racing/ MPF Endurance Team, Redfeather snowshoes, Craft/Karhu North America.

Thank you Ashlee for the support along the trip, I had a blast with you exploring Lake Placid and the Adirondack Region. I am hopeful for many more trips out this way.

Here is to a solid 2015. I am so thrilled to have energy reserves the whole way in my snowshoe race and feel that the sickness is all behind me now. I am truly ready to race tough! 

See you out on the trails!  And if you have questions about snowshoe running or are curious about what Mammut offers in terms of amazing gear, you can email me at colecrosby88@gmail.com.

USA Snowshoe Nationals 2014--Bennington, Vermont 18th Place Overall and 14th American---How a Race Can be Two-Sided

Well the USA Snowshoe Nationals have concluded and I am left with a bitter sweet ending to an interesting snowshoe running season.  I had the chance to run two races this year the Cockadoodle Shoe and the Highland Forest 10k before Nationals in Bennington.  I felt like my form all year was ready to challenge a tough field and show that I can run with the best.  What I found out was that on a bad day  I could still manage a decent performance after mentally being pretty disappointed.


To express the immense quality of the competitors in the field. There were runners from Canada, Brazil, Spain, Portugal I think, Sweden and Eric Hartmark and Scott Gall both past members of the US Snowshoe team and true veterans of the sport.  It was truly one of the deepest US fields for snowshoe running on US soil probably of all time.  Looking at the course profile with a steady uphill climb the first half of the race followed by a blitzing downhill of 5k madness.  I love the downhills especially in snowshoes.  The uphill on this day was not my friend and really the course was much harder than the elevation profile on the computer screen.


My race strategy to make the team was pretty simple: hang with the leaders until I could not anymore and hope to catch people on the downhill section my strong suit.  If I could survive the uphill, then I would be in contention for a team position. Top 5 US make the team. 



Friday was a blur just trying to get everything in order to head out to Bennington. Once we had the car loaded up, we were on our way to Nationals.  We checked into the room at 7:30pm, ate some great pizza and slept for the big day.


Upon arriving at Prospect Ski Center, it was the most organized and best-looking snowshoe race I have seen around. I felt I was in the alps at some exquisite ski resort. I was great to run into Chris Dunn of Acidotic Racing, Mitch Ryan (SUNY Cortland USA Junior Snowshoe Winner), Jeremy Drowne, Mark Elmore, Jim Johnson, and the list goes on and on.  It was great to jog around the course a little before the race to experience the snow conditions which were perfect.  Imagine soft nicely packed snow that made running on snowshoes feel like a road race.  The weather was cold in the teens to 20's but the sun was out and made the whole atmosphere of the race feel like a day at the beach.  I had the chance to jog a little with Jim Johnson and his crew with Jack Hillenbrand and we all linked up and got to preview the first part of the course which I had no idea what the course would be like up until that point.  It was great to touch base with so many great people that running has given me the opportunity to share life with.  After the warm-up, it was time to get serious.  With an 11:30 start, I had to snack on a yummy nutrition bar and make sure that my energy stores were all ready to go.  It was going to be a great race and I was really feeling pretty good after a long and hectic week.

Thank you Brian Teague for some awesome photos of the race event!

http://www.pbase.com/fateague/14sschamps






*****Race Time: We began to run our strides and prepare for the start.  Once everyone was lined up, it was GO TIME.  From the gun, the lead group got out to a pretty solid start.  The course would begin with a stadium loop on the flat nordic trail sections then loop up a short ski hill and then loop back around onto the single track and main sections of the course.  Remember: this course climbs for almost 5k so the whole first mile or so was pretty flat.  I settled in the gap right behind the lead group led by those fast TSL athletes from Canada.  I remained relaxed and began to prepare myself for the uphill section.  Coming into the single track I was maybe 7th overall and kept my position with Quednow of WI a US Team member and a Dion Runner who also made the USA team. We kept pace together as we merged onto the first section of the climb.  At moments one would get a little ahead, and then at moments we would all be together.  I held my own with my legs beginning to tighten up as we powered up the climb.  The pace from the flats to the uphill almost felt like it did not change.  The lead group was starting to head out of eyes sight as they picked it up BIG TIME.  The two runners I was with kept on the gas as I began to tire. My legs just felt like lead.

I kept trying to ratchet the fast uphill pace but I soon lost Quednow and the Dion runner as they began to pull ahead by about 3 seconds. I looked behind me and could see the long line of runner's fighting for a National team spot.  It was by the 3k point now as I knew that I may not have it in the legs to make the team this year.  If only I could hold my position until the downhill.

 ****On the day,  the strategy of hanging with the lead pack as they relentlessly pounded the steep 4k uphill section left my legs in a world of pain.  I knew at about 3k into the race as I was passed by the first two people that I would not be making the National team this year. After the first two, came another two, and some were runners I have beaten in snowshoe races this year or individuals that I know that I often have better days than on average. That was hard. Watching yourself get passed by people you have run faster than blow by you on an uphill.  I power hiked for a section feeling sorry for myself as more runners began to pace me.  I felt defeated and dejected. By 5k, I was out of contention and who knows maybe like 30th place.

It is always a hard thing to feel as if I was powerless.  My legs felt so flat on the hill and though I have been braving the snowy conditions this winter, I do not think I trained with this type of climbing in mind.  My body was tired and even more strained from such a consistent 8% grade which on a road would not seem as bad as running on those snowshoes.  I began to allow my mind to float into thought of how I would have prepared differently for the race and harping on how as simply as 2k of a race, I was out of contention.

The last two people to pass me near the top of the climb was Jeremy Drowne and Matt Medieros both runners I have come to friend at the Cockadoodle shoe 10k in Saranac, NY.  At this moment, the views of the adjacent mountains was spectacular. I took a second to relax and at this point just enjoy the experience.  I fought hard to close and catch-up to Jeremy and Matt.  With them having a 5-10 second lead on me into the downhill single track, I began to become alive.

It was as if I was a completey different person. My suffering quads began to respond as I flew down the trail.  I was closing really well. The 5-10 second gap in a matter of seconds had me right with Matt and Jeremy.  It was the three of us running together which was really a highlight of the race for me. Here I was running with two great guys both friends through snowshoe running and we were working together like a team. I settled behind and remained relaxed.  On the single track and nordic sections, we all remained together with Jeremy at the helm.  Once the trail opened up, I blew past Matt ready to give it all I had.  I began to flow downhill the way that I have practiced in snowshoes and felt great.  With a first 5k probably near 27-29 minutes, my second 5k had to be one of the fastest of the day.  I am certain I split on sections close to sub 6 minutes a mile. As I passed Jeremy he told me to "GO get em" which was great encouragement.  I flew down the hill and could see Eric Sambolec who is a great Nationals runner always peaking when needed and I had my sights for him.  He was a ways away but I began to reel him in.  I was getting hot and took my gloves off and clenched them with the feeling of being on the hunt. I closed to under a minute from a couple minutes which is amazing given the whole last 5k was downhill.  I hit the open switchbacks knowing I had not run the way I had hoped for but was proud of my new-found energy sprinting the switchbacks and onto the last 400m around the field. I kicked it in with reckless abandon and crossed the line 18th overall and 14th American in 47:38 about 20 seconds behind Sambolec.  That in itself being about 2-3 minutes behind in the downhill to close within 20 seconds shows the way I tackled that challenge.

It was an incredible experience running such a two-sided race. The uphill, I was a struggling, young, complacent and weak runner and on the downhill, I was an aggressive, smart, tactical, professional.


What I Learned----I learned so much from this race and experience.  I still think of myself as a top snowshoe runner and regarding a bad day and being beaten by many runner's known for better uphill sprinting abilities than myself, I can leave Vermont with my head held high.  I am so thankful for everyone for the opportunity for this experience and I am excited for next year!  Here are the bullet points that I learned from this experience:

1. Rolling hill courses are my forte-I do not have the quad-crushing strength yet to charge uphill for an extended amount of time. I manage uphills really well. The more that you have an up and down and up and down format, the better I excel.
2. Needed to run up long climbs in snowshoes-I could have simulated the course at Cortland's Greek Peak Ski Resort with its miles upon miles of forest access roads that climb forever. I hope to integrate this next year.
3. Trying to do Too MUCH--Trying to finish Graduate School and line-up an internship and career job and clean the house and I said too much.
4. Go out slower--I saw so many great performances from those that went out slow so that they could charge the uphill and run on fumes on the downhill.
5. Do Not Give Up---I mentally threw in the towel early but in a top race be confident in your abilities.
6. Have Fun--It was not until the last 5k that I truly let go and had a blast and   I think I ran that second half well because of my positive attitude.


****Thank you to my sponsors: Mammut, Acidotic Racing, Dion Snowshoes, Fits Socks, Craft/Karhu, and my awesome family for all the support and love.  You make it happen so thank you!
Here are the photos sights and sounds of the USA 2014 Dion Snowshoes National Championships.

Thank you Mark Elmore for being the leader of USA Snowshoe running, Bob Dion for your brand support for the sport and Tim Van Orden for designing a really tough and rewarding course.

Next year, Nationals is in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and I hope the course will be a roller. Looking at the geography of the area, I am really pumped to get ready for a race that will be probably more of a Cole Crosby type of course.  

Now, if the snow were to melt tomorrow, I would not be sad. Come on Spring!

Thank you SnapAcidotic For the best photos around!!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/SNAPacidotic/503426696349584

Smiling at the start

Coming around the corner 1 mile in putting myself in USA Team contention.

This picture embodies the race. I suffered on the uphill but gave it all I had on the downhill.

A disappointment not to make the team, but I can shoot for a spot next year and train much harder on snowshoes for it!

Myself and Nick Scalfone of California getting Age Group Medals!

Equipment Used for the Race:

*Dion 121 Snowshoes (Deep Cleat/Quick-Fit Binding)

*Mammut Kala Patar Hoody (Green)

*Mammut Passion Light Glove

*Acidotic Racing Head Buff and Long Sleeve Tech T

*Mammut 121 Trail Shoes

*Fits Socks Ultra Light Runner No-Show (2 Pairs)

*Craft Thermal Run Tight

*Craft Active Extreme Gunde Short Boxer

Video from Level Runner:

http://www.levelrenner.com/2014/03/05/hartmark-captures-us-snowshoe-championship/ 

Results of the Men's Senior 10k: From http://www.snowshoeracing.com/national_championship14.htm#men

Sr Men 10k Overall

PLACE	TIME	NAME	DIV	CITY	STATE
1	0:41:51	David Le Porho		Canada
2	0:42:06	Joel Bourgeois		Canada
3	0:42:20	Eric Hartmark	M3539	Duluth	MN
4	0:42:37	Scott Gall	M3539	Cedar Falls	IA
5	0:44:10	Nicholas Wheeler	M2529	Portland	ME
6	0:44:30	Mike Galoob	M4044	Peace Dale	RI
7	0:44:31	Jeffrey Quednow	M2024	Westboro	WI
8	0:44:40	Nacho Hernandez		Spain
9	0:45:29	Daniel Craighead	M2024	State College	PA
10	0:45:41	Kelly Mortenson	M4044	St Paul	MN
11	0:46:03	Jacob Malcomb	M2529	Canton	NY
12	0:46:24	Kevin Tilton	M3034	North Conway	NH
13	0:46:26	Nick Scalfone	M2529	Mountain View	CA
14	0:46:47	Jim Johnson	M3539	Madison	NH
15	0:46:51	Jimmy Gobeil		Canada
16	0:47:13	Ross Krause	M3539	Easthampton	MA
17	0:47:16	Eric Sambolec	M3539	Ithaca	NY
18	0:47:38	Cole Crosby	M2529	Cortland	NY
19	0:47:48	Jeremy Drowne	M3539	West Chazy	NY
20	0:47:57	James Pawlicki	M4044	Lynn	MA
21	0:48:19	Dave Dunham	M5054	Bradford	MA
22	0:48:21	Chad Carr	M3539	Cambridge	MA
23	0:48:31	Matthew Medeiros	M2529	Saranac	NY
24	0:48:32	Tim Mahoney	M3539	Holyoke	MA
25	0:48:32	Ethan Nedeau	M4044	Leverett	MA
26	0:48:48	Jaime Julia		Puerto Rico
27	0:48:58	Robert Jackman	M3034	Warwick	RI
28	0:49:06	Ben Nephew	M3539	Mansfield	MA
29	0:49:08	Tyler Murray	M2024	Le Roy	NY
30	0:49:09	Todd Callaghan	M4549	Beverly	MA
31	0:49:11	Richard Bolt	M4044	Mountain View	CA

Race for Redemption--Highland Forest 10k Snowshoe Race

Here is a nice link to the coverage of the race: http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2014/01/highland_forest_hosts_empire_s.html

http://npaper-wehaa.com/syracusenewtimes/2014/01/15/#?article=2124206






This was a very exciting race.  After a tough weekend as the Cockadoodle Shoe that saw me post-holing the whole way through I was primed and ready to race fast at the Highland Forest 10k also the New York State Snowshoe Championship.  I woke up at 8 am and headed to Tim Horton's with my father for a delicious cinnamon raisin bagel and cream cheese.  We then drove the 20 miles to the race site.  It was a race I had done last year and was the first where I felt like I could do this snowshoe running thing.


I had the chance to meet with Jack Hillenbrand who I have met through my job at Confluence Running and I convinced him to give snowshoe running a shot this weekend. What we found was that Jack was able to win his 5k race and qualify for Nationals with the hopes of making the US Junior National Team.  I am very glad he gave it a shot! 




The race prep has always been the same with all of my other snowshoe races. I jogged about 10 minutes with Jack and warmed-up in cold 10 degree temps with a -5 windchill factor and hung out inside the lovely Highland Forest Skyline Lodge.  If you have never been to Highland Forest, I highly recommend it as they have some amazing facilities all nestled high up on the hill.  With like 2,000 acres of wild forest, this park has been labeled the "Adirondacks of Central New York". It really is something and the Skyline Lodge is awesome.  Once inside, it was time to get those snowshoes on and race.


The Race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Go Get him" was my mantra playing in my head at the Highland Forest 10k Snowshoe Race

To begin the race, I did in fact lead everyone off course which I take the blame for!  

It was a cold morning with temperatures maybe with a high of 10 and with the wind like minus 5-10. Thankfully the Highland Forest course is all in the woods so the windchill would not be too much of a factor. I had my usual warm-up and prepared for a fast race. As this year was the New York State Snowshoe Championships, I was expecting the best talent out there.  After the last race at the Cockadoodle Shoe, I was primed for a fast performance and I wanted to run controlled and strong, not to mention a smart race.  From the gun I was in the lead running a nice pace. It was great to actually have some soft snow versus the potholing experience at the Cockadoodle Shoe which was disaster for me. Once the initial wrong course maneuver was fixed (which I thought something was off but I saw Eric Sambolec who has run this race many times and I thought if he is following then surely this is the right way).  I then hear a loud " COLE! Wrong WAY! WRONG WAY COLE!!!"  And as 45 runners were all bunched up, we pretty much just decided that the race had now began right there in the woods.  I resumed the course and yes this new direction was in fact the right way.  It was slow-going through the winding uphill single track. We hit a couple of road crossings with myself in the lead and Eric and another runner pictured above and below in the green Brooks Jacket right on my heels.  I took it easy and ran a relaxing pace.

The Start of the Race!

Kicking up snow!  

MILE 2----- Once the single-track now became the nordic track, I began to open-up my stride.  I still had my Brooks Green Jacket runner right behind me as I was kind of breaking trail which of course is exhausting. I felt fine though and had the plan that because we lost time going off course, I would run more conservative and then put in a huge move to end the race which would be great practice for Nationals.  I hit the downhill sections and floated down them like I enjoy kicking up snow and adding some sizable time to my overall lead. I kept glancing back to see my lead of a few seconds turn into half a minute then to almost a minute.  I hit the last downhill section before the slight uphill and back into the downhill single track.  It felt great to be having a race where I did not feel like I was going to get stuck or do something to ruin my effort.  On a nice section only less than a mile from the 5k point, I made a wrong turn and if it was not for the runner behind me, I would have been lost and would have had a lackluster race so Thank you!  I quickly turned around and sprinted the minute or so to get back onto the trail. Now I was in second.  The Brooks runner gained some time on me here and I fought the last mile to close on him from maybe a full minute deficit to about maybe 3 seconds.

LAP 2----Here is the photo above of us coming out of the woods only steps away from the official 5k mark.  As you can see I was catching up.  As we came out of the woods, our split was 27 minutes or so which was not bad considering we took a half mile detour. That would mean we were on pace with my time last year if not faster by almost 30-60 seconds. This was a great confidence boost knowing I was running a quicker time than last year with the course detour. As we merged onto the uphill single track I was almost caught up with first place. I surged on sections he looked like he was halting and was able to pull-up right on him. On some sections he would try to gap me, but I held my ground. Out of the single track we hit the nordic section with him kicking snow up into my face and still I remained unfazed. I kept right on his heels all the way until the last turn into the woods for the final say half mile to mile or so.  Something out of the blue happened, he asked me if I wanted to pass. Without hesitation I said "Sure" and proceeded to take the lead. I made a nice move and then meandered through some of the other finishers of the 5k and headed for the finish.  I was preparing my move in the race as I was asked to pass and had now established my finish.

Coming into the last straight, I put the pedal on high and finished the race.  My time was under 51 minutes probably pretty close to last year's time which meant we had run under 8 minutes a mile and what was a perfect day for a race. The snow conditions were not too bad and minus two wrong turns, the race was a lot of fun.

1st and 2nd place!

Myself and Jack!

Fits Socks Shout out--Warm and Dry feet the whole way and never once did I have my sock bunch-up!

THOUGHTS:  This race boosted my confidence. I was worried I did not have it this year for snowshoe running with my mishaps but that I have been feeling nice and relaxed these races and still having tons left in the tank in terms of energy is a great sign.  I think at Nationals running the race smart and controlled with the top pack will work out really well as I sit and wait for my moment to really go for it.  I am fit and even with this super cold winter and lower mileage weeks for me than in most winters, I have had solid quality runs and that is why I think I have kept my fitness much higher than it ever has been.  My next race will be near Valentines day out in Hazelton, PA area at the Pennsylvania State Championships.  I hope to run this race really fast from the get-go maybe 2 miles of control and 4 miles of all-out speed. We will see. I will use that race as my last tune-up before Nationals which I cannot wait for. Last year was so much fun and I think this year will be even greater!


RACE GEAR!!!!!!!!!!




*Mammut Snow Zip (Peridot: warm and kept all the snow from making me wet)
*Acidotic Racing Ball Hat and Acidotic White Tech Longsleeve
*Craft Gunde Windboxer
*Craft Thermal Run Tight
*Craft Hybrid Weather Glove
*Dion 121 Snowshoes with Deep Cleat
*Acidotic Head Buff as handkerchief
*Fits Socks Ultra Light Trail