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

Valentines, Running in the Snow and the PA State Snowshoe Championships---Feb 14-16---Prep for Snowshoe Nationals

So I had to cancel the trip out to PA for the snowshoe race because my amazing girlfriend, Ashlee ended up getting severely sick with one of the worst sinus infections I have ever witnessed. 2 weeks later and she still is having headaches and feeling off.  It would have been nice to run a tune-up race but I can always get in a nice 10 mile snowshoe run as preparation for the big dance!  I have been able to keep my mileage consistent even with running in deep slippery snow which has slowed my running.  Just today, running in snowy roads made every effort to gain traction seem like I was running in waist-deep snow.  An absolutely exhausting run where I got some nice vertical near 1,500 feet of elevation gained in 11 miles but averaged like 7:40 a mile for the run which is about a minute a mile slower on that same loop most days.  It has been like this all winter just getting in the time and mileage and hoping I can gain some traction for once the snow melts.

USA Snowshoe Nationals is going to be my next big race and it is going to be a fun one. With lots of great athletes I am excited to see where I stack-up.  I think I have the potential to make the team and really this year in my two snowshoe races have not run well or at least to my potential I think. The Cockadoodle shoe I was mentally drained getting stuck in the ice and at Highland Forest not only did I leave people off-course but I ran more conservative looking to wear-down the racers rather than sprinting out to the front.  What I learned from the races is that I need to stay focused on position and that if I run comfortably and draft a little once it comes to that last downhill sections watch out! I want to run smart and fast at Nationals. I want to give it all I have and to leave it all out there. I want to crawl to the finish the last 10 meters.  I hope to blitz those with some quick speed.  It is going to be interesting how Nationals will play out. I do know it is going to be an amazing experience and I cannot wait to share it with everyone.  Stay warm and see everyone in Bennington, Vermont.


Sights and sounds of a Cortland, NY Winter:

My trusty Mammut MTR 141's have been my road/snow/trail shoes this winter getting in the miles and staying super durable. I have had these shoes for about a year now and they have still run like brand new.  Mammut makes some of the most durable products out there and their footwear is exception to the rule.

How my running has played out:  

Lots of snow, wind, and hills have made for a slower type of winter training but worth building the proper strength.

View of Greek Peak Ski Resort in the distance.

LimeHollow Nature Center 10 mile Snowshoe run Prep for Snowshoe Nationals:

I had the chance to run around Limehollow before the warm-up and as the temps were near 34 degrees, I thought some nice melting snow would make for a faster run. I was right!

View on the Wilderness Way Trail. A Long and windy trail through the woods.

I felt really solid averaging about 7:30's for the run with some deep snow, fast single track, and snowmobile trails that felt like a race track.  This run has provided me with some confidence heading into Nationals. I feel strong and even though I have not managed insane mileage this winter, I have done some great core runs like this one where with snowshoes, I hit some 6:30 miles and also have been working on my uphill technique. Nationals is going to have a nice long climb which I am excited for as it will pack people up for the fast downhill which I hope to blow by and secure a podium spot.

The City of Cortland from our 3rd Floor Window-View

 Training has been very interesting this winter as life has made getting in any type of run longer than 14-16 miles pretty tough as my time is pretty jam-packed. Luckily, I have been able to keep solid 10-12 mile runs almost every day which equates still to a nice base that I can begin to build my longer runs once Ultra season comes around the corner in June for me which will be (ice and snow-LESS)  which will be a very exciting thing. It is pretty funny but I have a feeling that all this tough running through deep snow, intense winds, cold temps and short days will all lend itself to a great Summer and Fall of racing.  Though my training may not look incredible on paper, I think the types of footing I have experienced and the tough conditions will allow for me to build up some extra strength that will help play into some fast times.

My amazing girlfriend Ashlee takes the best photos and braves the cold for a guy like me. She is truly the best!

For Races I have commited to:

Cayuga Trails 50---Going to be a super-competitive event with the race as the host-site for the USA 50 Mile Trail Championships. There will be some great runners coming from all over the country for the opportunity of running some Upstate New York terrain.  I look forward to besting my 9th place finish with a top 3 as I was close to that in 4th last year before I twisted my ankle which stopped me in my tracks. 

Manitou's Revenge 54 Miler---This race is crazy! Anytime you summit high peaks in a region, especially the rocky Catskills, it is going to be a fun time. For one, I hope not to fall off an escarpment or embankment, I hope not to get lost as well, and I hope maybe my leg speed and climbing legs will help me run a fast time for such a crazy course. I hope I get to run with Acidotic Team-mate Ryan Welts up front.

Virgil Crest 50k----I ran the Virgil 50 Miler last year and beat up my feet and legs pretty bad. This course takes a lot out of your legs. I have always wanted to run the 50k and with a new course design, I would love to crush a super fast time. Sub 4 hours is the goal which would be pretty legendary on such a rocky, rooty, up and down technical course like Virgil Crest. While Manitous' has sections that are not true runnable sections, Virgil has runnable sections the whole way through yet they are slow going.  Any time you run on the Finger Lakes Trail, the pace slows down from even hilly road running.  I am very excited about running my home-town ultra again this year but in a different distance.


Races in Question:  Call of the Wilds Trail Marathon----With the Eastern States 100 going on, who would not want to be apart of that excitement. And with a say 2.5-3 hour drive, the distance is not too bad. I may or may not run the race but if it fits my schedule, then I am in for some fun!

Tussey Mountainback 50---I guess I missed registration and if I cannot get into the race as an elite entry, then I will plan on running the Syracuse Marathon which is I think on the same day. I would love to run Tussey and as a historic race with great competition, I would love to see how I stack-up with some of the best road 50 milers in the country.  I would like to think of myself in their company and I hope a great performance at this event could prove it.

JFK 50---Come April 1st, I hope to get an elite spot in a race I am dying to do. If I can get in, I have a feeling I will do some great things on the towpath.  JFK suits my strengths in so many ways as a nice consistent pace will play into the go slow during the AT then Sprint the Towpath then hold on for dear life strategy. I would rather run the AT strong and come off onto the Towpath in a consistent and relaxed pace. I hope to be one of my breakout races.

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

CockaDoodle Shoe 10k Jan 18th--Adirondack Powder- First Big Snowshoe Race of the Season

It is time!  After a lovely winter break, it is finally time to lace-up those snowshoes and get after it! I am so very excited to see what the season brings and I cannot wait to race well!

I have been diligently putting in more volume running after the flu (10-15 miles a day) to get myself back to where I was with the Fall in top shape. It has been tough getting in the efforts but I have managed to do my best.

My first snowshoe race will be the Cockadoodle Shoe 10k up in Saranac, NY near Plattsburgh.  It will be a fun drive up through the Adirondacks on Friday and I am excited to run fast and get the ball rolling for snowshoe racing. I am looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity of racing on a solid course that has had some strong competition up-front. And you never know what can happen when first place is $150 dollars the largest prize purse I have ever heard of in snowshoe running. Currently, the snow has melted here in Cortland but hopefully there is still some up in the North Country for this race.  It is going to be a great year of racing as I feel very fit and rested enough to be able to perform at a high level. Of course you never know what might happen leading up to a race or even in daily training but the name of the game is to place yourself out there for success. I wish everyone a fun winter for the last few months and even when it is cold outside, all it takes is that first step outside to get yourself going.

A cold snowy run this holiday season

Here is a link to the race website: http://cockadoodleshoe.com

Sunrise on a lovely Cortland, NY morning

Link to write-up on the Highland Forest 10k: http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/qualify-for-the-14th-annual-snowshoe-championships/




Cockadoodle Shoe 10k Race Report---Post-holing, falling, and Running Fast

So Saturday's race did not turn out the way I had envisioned it. I felt like I could run comfortable through the first half and then show my speed and strength and charge home for the win. Boy, was I wrong. Not only was the competition fierce, but I probably had my worst snowshoe race to date which sounds crazy if you look at the results so let me explain…..


The trip all began on a Friday morning. I loaded up my car with my belongings, filled up with gas and headed the 5 hours to Saranac, NY right near Plattsburgh.  It was a long drive but very interesting. It was fun to pass Watertown, St. Lawrence University, Potsdam, Malone, and then the small Adirondack towns of the North Country. My intent was to make it to the race course before the sun would set so that I could preview the course before the next day…RACE DAY!

I was able to make it out to the course by around 3, just enough time to jog the course before night-fall. I would be staying with Jeremy Drowne, the race director of the Cockadoodle Shoe 10k and his family and I was excited for the whole experience.

The layout of the course

The course was in decent condition considering most of the snow in Cortland was all gone and a recent warm spell almost made this race not possible. I had the chance to jog the course the day prior and though the course felt fast, I had a decent post-hole tumble down a steep hill and then realized that I probably should take it easy. The snow was so hard-packed that a lot of it was hollow so though it looked solid one weight-bearing step and boom , you would fall right through.  I got in about a 5.5 mile run of the course and then proceeded to link up with Jeremy, the race director. I really appreciate him and his family's kind hospitality and the pizza was AWESOME!!! I got myself all ready, laid out my gear as is the tradition and then hit the futon for a nice night's sleep. The next day was going to be a big day!  We woke up around 7ish and with a nice breakfast it was time to head to the Land Trust.

MY RACE DAY CLOTHING:::::

*2 Pairs of Fits Light Trail Socks

*Craft Flex Tight

*Dion Snowshoe Hat

*Mammut MTR 141 Thermal Top (Warm and Flexy)

*Mammut MTR 71 T-shirt

*Craft Hybrid Weather Glove

*Kala Patar Tech Hoody (Best Mammut Top around!)

After a 45 minute drive to the race site, I decided to check-in and run around the course to warm-up and just relax before the start. Here is what I saw:

New Land Trust Course Markers!  

*Acidotic Racing Shirt!

Nice crisp cool day

The Main Lodge (Registration)

Sign-up booth inside

RACE-PREP:

I raced with my trusty Dion snowshoe 121's, Standard Cleat because of the hard-packed snow and the speed-velcro binding system. I love Dion Snowshoes because they are interchangeable and they have some simple style. The white with the slight orange really sets them apart.  Light, Durable, Fast, and Comfortable describe Dions in a nutshell.  I took my nice jog of about a mile and a half of the course just trying to get my bearings with the footing which was going to be interesting because of the hard-packed snow that was not groomed so it was extremely uneven. Due to the unstable course conditions (the day earlier I ate it BAD on a pot-hole) I knew that tightening my binding system as tight as I could would help make a difference. What you will see is that this day was just not my day.

Race-Shirt

I snapped this photo about 15 minutes before the race would begin.  It was time and I was relaxed and poised to run a very fast time. I traveled 4.5 hours of the chance to run a very quick time and to hopefully win the race in dramatic fashion.

RACE-TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The race was a once around 10k loop. The first 5k would be with the 5k racers and then the loop would split for the final 5k of the race. We lined up in a open meadow with lovely views of the Adirondack Mountains in the distance and this set the stage for a big-time event. I did some strides waiting for the rest of the about 80 or so runners to reach the starting line.

(Photos are credited to the New Land Trust Website!)

Once we all gathered, it was photo time and off we went with a loud "GO!" from the timers.  From the start I kept catching pot-holes on the snow as I positioned myself right with the front pack of about 4 of us. I was with Matt M, Mitch and Jeremy Drowne (Race Director).  I told Jeremy that no World Records would be made today with all of the falling and slipping. I fought for second position behind Jeremy then quickly took to the front. behind the lodge we hit our first downhill which I used my reckless speed and opened up a nice gap only 2 minutes into the race. The pace felt comfortable and my plan was to run in control through 5k then blitz the last 5k once I had separated myself from the rest of the group.  The downside to the race was that I was going to post-hole like 20 times in the race with 5 times actually getting stuck under the snow layer with my foot trapped in half a foot of thick ice. Yeah, it was bad!

So what happened to me that gave me such a hard time. Well, on the first downhill section, I hit the snow funny and my heel-binding loosened.  As we crested the first steep uphill, I made it almost to the top and had to stop and re-fasten my snowshoe as it was slipping off. That was the first mistake. I went from first to 5th as a waisted a good minute and a half fixing the binding.  Once I had the shoes all figured out, I sprinted down the hill and started the chase. I caught everyone very quickly and then proceeded to catch Matt M. and then just drafted behind him. I thought that Jeremy was long gone so it was a race for second. Not knowing Matt was first place, I drafted right behind him for about a mile and a half before passing. Then I turned on the jets and started striding out. I was now going for first place though I thought I was in second but truly I was leading the race. I did alright with the adverse snow conditions and danced along the course. I would hit a pot-hole every now and then but nothing to stop me in my tracks.  I had made it to the 5k point running really relaxed and in control. I turned on the jets some more then up the trail I had my first accident. I got stuck in the snow as I panicked and tried to punch the ice around my snowshoe so I could get out of the pothole. I sat there for a good minute and a half trying to free my foot. When I did, Matt passed me and off I was to try and catch him.  I had lost sight of him then could see him in the trees. Boom! I am stuck again! I yelled some bad words as I could not believe this twice. I lost another minute.  Off I was to catch Matt again and this time I caught him. I drafted behind him a little more then took the lead again. This time I was getting tired. I had already made this 10k a sprint for me. I now put the pedal down and of course it happened again! ARE YOU KIDDING ME I THOUGHT TO MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT IS GOING ON??????!!!!!

Matt as he passes me again tells me to move backwards. I try that and still my snowshoe is stuck so bad in the snow the only way to get it out is to punch the ice around the lip where my shoe lays buried. I get it free after maybe another minute and a half and off I go again. By this point my race mentality is over! I am so DONE with the RACE!  I have waisted so much time maybe a whole 5 minutes almost a mile of the race dealing with stopping!  I was not going to win the prize money and I was not having fun anymore. I just wanted this thing to end after getting severely stuck! I cannot STRESS how STUCK I WAS. MY FOOT WAS Buried 4 inches deep in crusty snow with solid ice making-up the layers of the snow and the hole was perfect so that the frame of my snowshoe would catch about 4 inches of ice on either side.  So the race ends with me finally catching Matt again on the exposed barn loop. It was a slight uphill and man I felt like I was running so slow. I looked behind and saw a Paul Smith's runner approaching and I thought to myself we have to move to avoid being caught. I surged ahead and passed Matt. I was so tired at this point. With still some energy in the tank, I slowed my pace a little even though I was pushing hard. I could hear the clamor of snowshoes right behind me.  With about 55 meters to go I get passed by Bob Bolton.  I find out that I was in first before he passed me!  

I was a little shocked to find that I lost out on the prize money because of me being complacent. If I wanted to out kick Bob, then I would of secured first.  I thought we were fighting for second and as he passed me I thought it was no point to challenge with second and third place pretty much the same in terms of awards.  Boy did I learn my lesson.  It was great to race such solid competition in a snowshoe race which I have not had since Nationals. It helped push me and also those guys too to very fast times.

Myself at the finish

*I will admit I was mad at myself for how I raced.  I had a very bad day for me in snowshoe running.  As I look back on the race I was really being hard on myself. I feel like second let down my friends, family, my father, my lovely girlfriend Ashlee and my sponsors who give me these chances to show my stuff.  It was a long drive back home. I felt dejected and defeated. It was tough. I was worried what my Mammut staff would think of me. I was worried. But looking back on the race, the experience, it was a successful trip. I met some awesome people, made some great friends,  raced some great competition, and the top three ran 44 minutes flat which is like 7:06 a mile. What does that mean? Perhaps I averaged 6:30's the majority of the race maybe even faster?  I felt strong the whole way and had some give left. I think I will be even hungrier for my other races and for Nationals. With a tough race at Nationals last year, I want to not only make the team but shoot for a number one placing. I know this sounds like a stretch but I really believe in myself this year and I truly think I am capable of doing something I have never done before.  If I did not post-hole that race, I might have run sub 40 minutes for the 10k. I can only wonder what time I could run on that course. I have a race for redemption Jan 26th at Highland Forest. It is the NY State Championships again and I am the defending champ.  I love this course because it is the perfect balance of everything that is snowshoe. It has ups and downs, hard packed snow, loose snow, creeks, logs, and all kinds of obstacles. What I learned from this race is that running is great but I should not always be so hard on myself. I can always redeem myself and run to my potential.  And most importantly, it should be fun.  I have had some nice training runs this week leading up to the race and really I have felt like I am really fit for snowshoe running. For the first time, I was not dying in a snowshoe race and actually felt not so bad!  Maybe I am starting to get the hang of this stuff!

I would like to take this moment to thank all my friends, family, supporters and my running sponsors: Mammut North America, Acidotic Racing, Dion Snowshoes, Fits Socks, Karhu/Craft for all their support of my dreams.  

My next post will be titled: "Race for Redemption" on the Highland Forest Snowshoe 10k

I am excited to see where this sport takes me and boy do I have a fire burning inside.  Think of Catniss from the Hunger Games.  I am going to go for it!

Thank you Matt, Jeremy, and Mitch for being awesome!

A link of the race coverage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FVJ3EShKcE

Sick :(

So I have been run-down this week and feel like I have picked up a flu bug that seems to be all around the country.  I will be taking a hiatus from training until I recover from this bug which luckily this comes at a good time where I can still piece in some solid snowshoe runs and training leading up to my Jan 18th Snowshoe Race the Cockadoodle Shoe 10k, a USA Qualifier.

We all go through ups and downs and I am very lucky to only get sick once in a blue moon and my flu symptoms are not too terrible but without proper rest, I could cause some severe problems.  So I am going to veg out on the couch and kick back and relax.

I will back at it soon.

Happy New Year and look forward to some big performances from me this 2014!



Sickness Report:

So today which is Monday January 6th 2014, I am feeling like my old self in terms of energy but I am not fully there just yet for hard training. Today I ran to get cat food which is about a 5k loop one-way and though I averaged 7:46 a mile, I still got in some exercise and it felt great to run again.  Tomorrow, Matt, myself, and Ian (Confluence Running) are meeting up with Jordan Kinley, one of the smoothest and coolest brand reps around and a good Oklahoma buddy of mine (Karhu/Craft).  It will be fun to catch up with him and see the new line of footwear and gear.  By the end of this week, I should have my running form back down just in time for snowshoe season to begin!

A nice run the other day for about 6 miles and another decent run for about 9 today. I am slowing building myself back up. I have about a week to get my sea legs under me for my first snowshoe race of the year the 18th which I hope I can run a very fast time at and qualify for nationals.






January 11th----I am finally  getting back into form and have been getting some running in beyond just a few miles.  My legs are bouncing back and I am finally getting my pace on flats and hills at 6:40-7 min pace average which is where I normally train at on most training runs that have at least 1,000-2,000ft of elevation gain.

The Christmas Blues- Upstate New York and How to Train in the Dead of Winter

For all those out there, you probably have already seen some significant snow and icky weather to make any commute a headache waiting to happen. Currently, I am living in lovely Upstate New York a mecca for lake-effect snow and cold harsh winter conditions. Luckily, nowadays we have wonderful companies that are producing running/outdoor apparel that can function well in really cold temps.  My sponsor Mammut, has some of the best winter running apparel out there!  Because their apparel has their roots in Alpine performance, you know that the gear is going to last and will keep you warm regardless of the conditions. Below will be my "ode to Mammut MTR", a review of their current winter items I have come to love for my winter racing and training and why they are so awesome!





The First top that I will Investigate is the Kala Patar Jacket Hoody.

*Priced at $149 this jacket does everything you could ask for out of a warm and super-functional mid/outer layer. I love hoodies for running in Upstate New York because of the wind-chill and precipitation that often times the hood is able to add that extra 5-10 degrees of warmth your head is missing.  The Kala Patar Hoody has a great warm wind-blocking thermal fleece called Field Sensor. The jacket also has the following features: Combination of two different functional materials,
Waffle backing retains heat, durable and fast-drying outside, soft and warm inside, Elastic inserts for optimum freedom of movement, Thin and elastic material in the hip area to avoid creating too much bulk under a climbing harness or in the pants, 1 chest pocket with zip, Close-fitting hood, Lots of freedom of movement, Flatlock, non-protruding seams, Thumb loop made for comfort and durability
and an Athletic Fit (As mentioned from Mammut.ch.com). 

If I had to some up what makes this jacket such a core piece it would be

Range of Movement    This stretch top features a great balance of stretchy fabric mixed with the Field Sensor fleece which gives you the proper range of movement desired in running.  The piece moves with you as an extension of the body rather than some piece of fabric that restricts your movement.  The Kala Patar Tech Hoody gives you that smooth flow in running and really excels. From trail running, road running, to snowshoe running, this top is hard to be beat. 

Warmth/Insulation    This top is one of my best that I own in this department. Not only is this hooded jacket light weight and can easily be layered and packed away, but the hoody absolutely thrives in terms of warmth.  Most cold blustery winter days, I just need a technical short sleeve or long sleeve shirt to and the jacket and I am all set. The waffle fleece outer shell blocks some wind making it a wind-resistant top and the hood acts as a great buffer for extremely cold snaps in Upstate which occur frequently this time of year.  I never over-heat in this top and with a proper layering depending on the harsh conditions, this top never goes stale. Also great for snowshoe running as the snow that you kick up on most regular thermal mid layer running tops absorb the snow as it melts and re-freezes. With the Kala Patar top, this does not occur which means you stay nice and dry for the whole duration of a snowshoe run and after.

Versatility     This top is my favorite mid layer/jacket from Mammut for high aerobic activities. Snowshoe Running this top excels, cold long training runs it excels, short quick fartlek runs it excels, and even as a comfortable top to wear around town. Mammut's category of "Alpine Performance" is one of the best and most versatile categories in their line of products. This top is easily packable, able to be comfortably layered with and fits well under soft or hard shell jackets, and provides exceptional warmth.  It can act as a core Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter piece with the right levels of layering. The fleece is also tear resistant and does not feel like it will easily pill which is something we often notice with other outdoor companies and their fleece jackets. Great for running, snowshoeing, hiking, ice climbing, rock climbing, going out on a boat, you name it this top can handle it.

Weight    To sum it up, this top is light but not too thin.



Another great top Mammut has been making is the MTR 141 Thermo Half Zip. This is your nice and warm half zip with reflective Mammut logos on the chest and shoulder as well as a cozy internal fleece and nice stretch warm jersey fabric.  What makes the MTR 141 Thermo top competitive with other brands is that it seems to handle the STRETCH MOBILITY category the best I have seen out of a thermal run top of the same caliber.  Mammut's is warmer than most that would have this level of stretch. It is just a wonderful top that does such a nice job of keeping you warm. I am always excited to see where our Mammut products continue to head.  I am excited to see them continue to morph and adapt and I think that Mammut is on the right course.

Snowshoe Season---Jan 18th--It BEGINS!
My first snowshoe race will be the 18th at the Cockadoodle Shoe 10k, a qualifier for Nationals held in Saranac, NY-in the Adirondack outskirts. I am really excited to get out onto the trails once we get some more snow since it has all but melted due to the warm weather and rain.  I always look forward to this time of year and I am excited to see how things go for me this season.  I think that I have the potential again to make the National team and maybe surprise some people because we will always have those doubters.  I am building off of my best Fall season of racing yet.  I think if all things go according to plan, I will really put myself out there in the National forums for snowshoe, trail and ultra running.  It might be that time I "crest the summit" into the next level of professionalism and publicity.



Training for December
Training has been pretty solid this December.  No racing, only time on the feet out amongst the steep hills of Cortland, NY.  I have not had as much in terms of quality training or high mileage but I take December as my rest month. If I feel good, I run, If I don't, then well...I jog easy.  I have averaged probably 60-high 80's for mileage this month depending on my time schedule and at the least have been averaging 10 miles a day or so.  I have run more doubles this winter so far than what I have been used to but this has helped keep my legs fresh and also get in the desired amount of mileage without too much fatigue. In the winter, my focus is on running more by effort than time and mileage. If  I run for 45 minutes that is okay!  I can always get a longer run in later in the week or can have more uptempo days to get in some quality work.  With winter you have darkness, cold temps, icky precipitation and just the holiday rush.  It is more than enough to deter us from consistent training and that is just fine as long as we make an effort to still remain active during the winter and do not hibernate like the bears.  I like snowshoe running for this reason. With snowshoe running, I am out in beautiful snow-covered settings and get an incredible workout in less time than a simple road run.  Less miles and the same if not better level of fitness.  Because snowshoe running is very strength-based, I recommend some road running or treadmill running to just turn-over the legs to keep our muscle fibers firing on all cylinders. It is important to keep us limber so that once the snow thaws and spring races are on the horizon, we are ready to go.



2014 "A" Race Tentative Schedule

1. Mad City 100k- Madison, WI ---USA 100k Road Champs and Qualifying for USA 100k Team

2. Cayuga Trails 50 miler- Ithaca, NY--USA 50 Mile Trail Champs

3. Tussey Mountainback 50-USA 50 mile Road Champs

4. JFK 50 Mile--Most Historic 50 Miler Ever!