Exeter Trail Races presented by GoLite Footwear

Without question my favorite
course of the trail racing season!
[Photo Gianina Lindsey]

 "Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own; sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction." - William James

Exeter, NH -- I eat breakfast with him.  I drive to races with him.  I even warm-up with with him.  There isn't anyone on the face of the planet who I know better than my #1 competition at any event I race.  Yet from time to time he befuddles me.  Does something so unexpected that I wonder how much I really do know him?  I know my greatest competition, and he is I.  As an exercise physiologist I know that if we tested every trail runner finishing in the Top 15 at the Exeter Trail Races presented by GoLite Footwear there would very little physiologic variance in nearly any parameter you'd want to highlight...VO2max, lactate threshold, mitochondrial density. Yet clearly there are differences in performance.  So if physiology can't account for the differences in performance in these particular athletes, then what does?  The quote from above and my own personal experience with the topic (the Exeter Trail Race this weekend as Exhibit A) suggests that the greatest difference in athletes finishing in the Top 15 is fear.  When each of us is faced with the "obstruction", and we all confront it, the athlete(s) who in that moment are not afraid of what lies on the other side...are the ones who are able to continue to push forward and find endless resources of ease and power.  William James' quote is on the footer of my blog.  You'd think of ANYONE, it would be ME who would know first hand the benefit of pushing through the obstruction!  Yet a woeful lack of attention and commitment to the moment, resulted in a mental shortcoming at the instant in which I needed all of my focus on that problem.

The 10 miler at the Exeter Trail Races presented by GoLite Footwear is hosted by acidotic RACING and skillfully directed by teammates Sarah Silverberg and Ri Fahnestock (course designer).  The course that Ri has crafted is quickly becoming one of my favorite trail racing experiences.  A dizzying roller coaster of roots and rocks, the figure 8 layout is as much a test of athleticism as it is aerobic endurance.  In 2010 I had one of my best all-time performances racing the course as hard from start to finish as any race I've ever done.  With a very consistent and successful winter and early spring I had a tremendous amount of confidence heading into the weekend.  Remembering how important getting out quickly was to last year's performance I jumped off the gun and worked to get out front before the singletrack narrowed the 80+ strong field (of 4 & 10 milers).  And apparently it worked...because as we hit the singletrack (20 meters into the race) I was leading the field!  Not exactly what I was looking to do, but I figured that eventually the Top 5 would get tired of my slow pace and find their way around.  For what seemed like way too long they let me lead.  With the abundance of toe grabbing rocks and roots there was no way I was looking back, instead trying to focus on the measured cadence of my pursuers.  Eventually of course they went around but because the 4 & 10 mile races were held on the same course for the first 2+ miles there was really no telling what place I was in when 4-6 of them trucked on by including my teammate and eventual 2nd place finisher Dan Hayden.  Content to let that lead pack do their thing I settled into a comfortably hard pace remembering that 10 miles at "Fort Rock" can be brutal.  I ran alone for a while skillfully picking lines through the boulder fields, root stalks, and hairpin turns.  Shortly after crossing under Rt 101 I caught glimpses in my peripheral vision of another challenge and I recognized the familiar singlet of Coastal Athletic Association.  We raced within 3-5 meters for a mile or so but I could feel him gaining on me.  At some point when he was within shouting distance I spoke back words of encouragement and alerted him to some of the more abrupt directional changes with shouts of "LEFT, LEFT, LEFT!" or "RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT!".  Karma always comes back around and any chance I get to spread a little around during a race I never miss an opportunity.  When we finally were running within a meter of each other I learned his name was Tim.  We agreed we'd work together to hold off the hard charging duo of Dave Merkt (Shenipsit Striders) and my aR teammate Dan Dion who had closed the gap and were eager to make it a four car locomotive.  When I sensed Dave & Dan closing I asked Tim if he wanted to go by but he refused instead encouraging me to keep up the pace.  Mere moments later the other two had their grips on us and now I was dragging four instead of just two.  It's incredibly difficult to hold off one challenge on slippery singletrack, but holding off three was damn near impossible.  Feeling as though I had slowed considerably since our company had arrived I veered off the trail and let Tim and Dave race by but to my surprise Dan asked me to pull a little longer.  When we hit the Rt 101 tunnel with less than 1.5 miles to go Dan easily dispatched of me.  It was at that moment that I stared the obstruction squarely in the eyes.  I had a pretty easy choice...stick with Dan and let him pull me to the finish or fade back in fear of an epic collapse.  Without the proper attention to the challenge I squandered the moment.  There wasn't anything physically wrong with me when Dan raced around.  Fear prevented me from tapping into those sources of ease and power James talks about and that I've felt numerous times before.  I managed to keep Dan in sight but never challenged him finishing 7 seconds back in 10th overall (3rd master) in 1:18:19.  Ri switched the course up on us this year so technically it was our first time racing this design.  Had the race been another few hundred meters my good trail/snowshoe racing brother from the Striders John Agosto and my aR teammate Rich Lavers would have surely caught me.  I believe growth comes from learning and on Sunday I learned that I need to write and keep James' quote with me at every race and read it right before I start. 

RESULTS

Next Up: Pinnacle Mountain Bike Race, Newport, NH

Snowshoe Double: Horse Hill & Bear Paw

Deeeeep in the Hurt Locker at
the finish of Horse Hill
[Photo courtesy of Bob Jackman]

"If winning isn't everything then why do they keep score?"  -Vince Lombardi

PART I:  Horse Hill Snowshoe Race

MERRIMACK,  New Hampshire -- Ironically enough, the lack of snow in early January resulted in at least two races in the Granite State Snowshoe Series being rescheduled.  That (un)fortunate circumstance put another "double" on the schedule this weekend.  Luckily, snowshoe racing isn't that tough on the joints and racing twice in a weekend isn't really all that hard to do...or is it?  I missed the 2010 version of Horse Hill last winter as it fell on the same day as the Kingman Farm Moonlight Snowshoe Race that I host.  In fact, the last time I raced at this venue I actually 'podiumed' finishing third behind Jim Johnson and Steve "Buddy" Wolfe.  Oh how the sport has evolved in the last two years!  A podium finish would not be in the cards this time around as apparently someone let the cat out of the bag that this snowshoe racing stuff is a lot of fun.  Another very impressive crowd, some 88 strong, tackled a newly re-designed Steve Wolfe creation.  Wolfe has become one of the premier course designers in New Hampshire and the "new" Horse Hill didn't disappoint!  The conditions were hardpacked and fast with a mix of singletrack, doubletrack, and snowmobile.  Knowing that things would get out fast early I attempted to seed myself in the 3rd row right behind one of the top masters Sean Snow and directly in front of teammates Amber "Irongirl" Ferreira and Wolfe.  Within minutes of the start I was in a line of 'shoers that included Amber, myself, Wolfe, and Mike Wade.  We stuck fairly close together as we started to pick off racers that had gone out a little hard and couldn't keep up the pace.  Eventually Amber, myself, and Steve were running alone having put a little gap on our pursuers.  On a snowmobile section approximately 2 miles in Steve made a move on both Amber and I.  As he ran by I asked Amber for the spot and she graciously obliged.  It would be our turn to pull her for a while.  With Steve as the engine of this runaway locomotive we set our sights on Snow.  I jokingly told Steve to catch him, pass him, and then 'put the breaks on' so the rest of us could catch up.  Within a few hundred meters Steve had reeled Sean in and zipped around him.  I eventually caught him as well and was very content to be racing so close to a guy who has completely destroyed me for the better part of two winters.  He asked several time if I wanted by but I was pretty happy with his pace and my position.  As we switched back up Horse Hill Amber began to close the gap that Sean and I had put on her.  Eventually she was clipping my tails as we approached the summit.  Sean finally stepped aside to let me pass.  With about 800 meters to go I decided it was then or never and I pushed as hard as I could racing the last descent as out of control as I've ever been.  Knowing Amber has the best finishing kick around my only chance was to put a little space on her before the flat straight-a-way finish.  Astonishing even myself I was able to hold her and Sean off to finish 9th overall (4th master) in 36:15.  My teammate Wolfe finally got back on the winning side of things beating me by 14 seconds.  Truth be told...Sean definately wasn't 100% and was probably fighting off an illness.  He's a warrior for showing up to race anyway.  Fantastic aR showing with 2 in the Top 3, 7 in the Top 10, and 12 overal finishers!

RESULTS
PICTURES (courtesy of Bob Jackman)



"Pulling" my teammate and best friend Steve Wolfe
along to the finish of the Bear Paw Classic
[Photo courtesy of Karen L. Dunn]



"Seeking to forget makes exile all the longer; the secret of redemption lies in remembrance."  - Richard von Weizsaecker

PART II:  Bear Paw Classic Snowshoe Race

NORTHWOOD,  New Hampshire -- Another day...another snowshoe race.  But on this day it wouldn't be just any other snowshoe race.  It would be the snowshoe RDing debut of my daughter Madison.  As her CBNA senior project, she organized the first annual Bear Paw Classic Snowshoe Race on the campus of CBNA as a fundraiser for the winter track program.  The course was expertly designed by Tim Cox, coach at CBNA and top northeast snowshoer.  And it was a masterful combination of 'sugary' rustic doubletrack, carnival ride-like singletrack, and killer snowmobile climbs.  An enthusiastic crowd of 45 snowshoers stepped to the line and tore off though the outfield of the baseball field with snow and smiles flying everywhere!  I quickly settled in behind Wolfe who seemed determined to repeat his thrashing of me the day before in Merrimack.  The two of us were somewhere in the middle of the Top 10 as we cruised around the 'Back Loop'.  As we entered the singletrack we were all alone having worked our way up to 5th & 6th overall putting a gap on 7th+.  Steve flew through the singletrack section and I did my best to hang on.  Popping out onto the first snowmobile section I knew it would be a slog as I'd previewed the course and then marked it the day before.  This relatively short stretch mostly gained elevation and the footing was very soft for snowmobile track.  We passed my son Brayden, marshaling the next major snowmobile intersection, and proceeded to attack the "Power Line" snowmobile corridor.  The only significant climbing on the course would be on this section and with the trail running along the powerlines we could see Dave Dunham in 3rd and teammate Ryan Welts in 4th as they raced up ahead....way ahead.  Nearing the top of the "middle" climb Steve fell off the pace slightly and I realized it was my time to pull the two of us for a little bit.  Descending on the other side he caught back up and we hit the last singletrack section together with me setting the pace.  Finally back on the 'Back Loop' I encouraged him to pull up behind and we would finish side by side for a change.  It only seemed fitting that he had led for the 1st half and I had led for the 2nd half that our duel should end in a tie.  The only problem was the slow footing on the 'Back Loop' prevented him from close the 2-3 meter gap.  Once back on the baseball field for the final 100 meter sprint we held those places and finished 5th and 6th overall.  And as a testament to how competitive the masters division is...we were 3rd and 4th masters with top overall  northeast ranked snowshoer Tim Van Orden in 2nd place overall and Dave Dunham joining him on the podium in 3rd.  For a first time event there were a few minor 'glitches' but overall everyone seemed to love the course and the organization.  Well done Maddie!

NEXT UP:  Northeast Snowshoe Championship, Northfield, MA 

Feel Good Farm Snowshoe Race

One trip up & down Moose
Mountain...one to go!

 "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings."  -John Muir

Lyndeborough, NEW HAMPSHIRE -- Moose Mountain...you won't find it on a map or an AMC trail guide.  But anyone who attempts (and finishes) the Feel Good Farm Snowshoe Race become intimately familiar with it.  Due to two consecutive postponements, FGF would be the opening race in the 2011 Granite State Snowshoe Series.  Last winter was the first winter this event was included in the series and my first time in Lyndeborough.  With over 3000' of climbing this may be the one of the toughest courses in NH...and perhaps in the northeast.  As if one time up and down Moose Mountain weren't enough, the 5+ mile course travels TWO times up and down the mountain.  The fabulous snow we had received the week before drew a very impressive field, both in number and in quality...Ferenc, Tilton, Nephew, Kelly, Cunningham, Therriault, Jackman, Wolfe, the Ferreira's, Snow, Principe, Welts, Fitzgibbon, Lavers, Myers, Curry, Wade, Smith and the list went on and on.  A Top 20 finish in this crowd would be a HUGE accomplishment.  The race started with a 250 meter 'sprint' around the parking lot on double wide semi-groomed track in an effort to get the field single file before we hit the singletrack which would comprise 99% of the race.  As predicted, this first section of the course was a sprint with snow, knees, and elbows a flying.  I tried to stay patient and tucked in behind my teammate Steve Wolfe.  By the time we hit the singletrack there was a quite a line of 'shoers and I estimated myself to be somewhere in the Top 15ish.  With the entire race in front of me and two trips up Moose Mountain ahead I was in no hurry to start pressing.  As we negotiated the first 5 minutes of singletrack Steve, racing directly in front of me, fell straight forward landing on his chest.  Figuring he'd dragged a tip, and knowing there were 50+ snowshoers directly behind us, I slipped by and encouraged him to go.  In retrospect I should have stopped...but more on that later.  Approaching the first climb I was in a very strong group consisting of David Principe, Sean Snow, and Amber Ferreira.  Dave & Sean were ahead with Amber pressing hard in back.  I asked her once or twice if she wanted the spot and each time she deferred.  As the ascent pace slowed to a power hike Dave stepped aside and let Sean, myself, and Amber pass.  Cresting Moose Mountain for the first time we began the gnarly steep descent that makes this race exciting and dangerous all at once.  Typically conservative on the downs I was unable to hold off a very hard charging teammate, Ryan Welts who went around myself and Sean.  No sooner had we lost nearly all the elevation that we had gained and we were once again climbing back up the mountain on a slightly steeper route.  It was here that I stepped aside and let Amber press forward to Sean and Ryan who I was beginning to lose.  Not long after Amber flew by two things happened...Ryan came back to me and Danny went around.  Although Danny had raced the Winter Wild uphill snowshoe earlier than morning he had no trouble putting the hammer down on me on the climb no less!  By the time we had made it around once (with one loop to go) Danny, myself, and Ryan were in a pace line doing our best to keep Amber and Sean in sight.  But that wouldn't last long as those two, perhaps feeding off each other, seemed to accelerate on that third ascent.  They would not be seen again...at least by Ryan and myself.  Danny rallied in those final two climbs putting a gap on Ryan and myself (who traded paced several times) and closing the gap on Sean and Amber (who he eventually caught and beat by less than 30 seconds).  On the final climb Ryan scooted around me and never looked back.  Although I kept him in sight he was far too strong and never let me get any closer than our finishing gap...6 seconds.  I crossed the line in 46:08 good enough for 13th place overall and 2nd 40+ behind Sean who beat me by more than 90 seconds.  Individual accomplishment aside, acidotic RACING had an incredibly strong showing with 4 in the Top 10, 8 in the Top 20, 14 overall finishers, and one podium...Amber's female win! 

PS.  I had mentioned that I should have stopped and helped Wolfe when he fell.  Apparently he pulled what's now referred to as an Wamber...stepping through one snowshoe with your other 'shoe hopelessly entangling your cleats.  Believe it or not, Danny actually stopped to help him, was unable, and eventually continued...and still beat me!  As I was finishing my last loop I noticed Steve taking pictures.  Once he eventually untangled his 'shoes the Velcro straps had gotten covered with powder rendering them useless.  He struggled to the finish the first lap with his snowshoes barely attached before wisely calling it a day.  Knowing Steve he'll unleash the fury next weekend at Whitaker Woods...and I'll be the unfortunate recipient of his revenge.

RESULTS

NEXT UP:  Whitaker Woods Snowshoe Race, North Conway, NH (GSSS #2)

[Photos courtesy of Scott Mason Photography & Steve Wolfe]

WAMBER: To punch the tip of one snowshoe
through the top of the other causing an
immediate faceplant and possible DNF; named after
both Wolfe and Amber who popularized the method.



Andover XC

aR Takes Home 3rd Place
in the Team Division

"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."  -Sir Isaac Newton

Andover,  MASSACHUSETTS -- Much like many of the events I did in 2010, this one wasn't on the radar last December when I set my schedule...but it's sure to be included in 2011.  The Andover XC 6k was my first ever attempt at a classic XC race.  I played football in high school and ran only as a punishment routinely mocking the "skinny leggers" who thrashed around the woods in tight shorts and waffle shoes.  I am now 'they' and wouldn't want it any other way.  My motivation for heading to Andover on Turkey weekend was simple...a teammate suggested we put together a team to race for a podium finish.  Little did I realize how difficult that objective would be.  Turns out the Andover XC 6k brings out one of the fastest and deepest XC fields in the northeast with some of the best teams around.  Although acidotic RACING is really a collection of multi-sport athletes, there is no "running-specific" team that races with more tenacity than we do.  And some talent up front as well.  Led by our newest addition, Ryan Kelly (Concord, NH), our Top 4 scorers including Ryan, Danny Ferreira (Concord, NH), myself, and Chris Benson (Rochester, NH) finished on the podium in 3rd place less than 2 minutes behind Somerville Road Runners.  Although our Top 4 scored, all eight of the aR teammates in attendance raced with toughness and class.   In fact, Amber Ferreira (Concord, NH) finished on the overall womens podium (in 3rd) with her 41st overall finish.  Individually, I was very pleased with my effort finishing in 34th overall in a time of 21:39.33 (6:12's).  The course was run mostly on the Andover Country Club cart paths with a sprinkling of fairways.  I had bought a pair of ASICS CC spikes which stayed in the truck once I found out that they'd be not only useless but a hindrance on this course.  I raced instead in my ASICS trainers.  The course was dry and the footing never an issue.  As was the theme all year, I caught and passed people on the climbs and gave the spots back on the descents.  It was a fitting end to a very successful 2010 competitive year.  Tomorrow begins my snowshoe-specific preparation and the start of 2011 training and racing calendar.

NEXT UP:  Beaver Brook Snowshoe Race

Pooh Hill Snowshoe Scramble

East Madison, NEW HAMPSHIRE--A combination of perfect weather, a beautiful setting, and some great racing action resulted in another aR success...the Pooh Hill Snowshoe Scramble at King Pine & Purity Spring Resort! With 82 finishers it was another record field for this event. Jim Johnson (CMS Polar Bears) picked up his 6th win this winter and continued his recent dominance of the sport. The Top 3 were rounded out by his CMS teammate Ben Nephew (Mansfield, MA) and Robert Jackman (Warwick, RI) of the Tuesday Night Turtles. Not to be overlooked and perhaps equally as dominant is aR's Amber Cullen (Concord, NH) who logged her third victory of the season. Joining her on the podium was aR's newcomer Ann Rasmussen (Plymouth, NH) and junior sensation Jessey Campbell (Northwood, NH). Campbell, a recent grad of Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, is very likely the best U19 in New England. New for 2010 is our expanded awards categories. The SuperMasters Top 3 were Walter Fortier (Concord, NH), Jim Barry (Ipswitch, MA), and Gary Reuter (Kittery, ME...and the oldest competitor in the field!). In the Masters competitions, the Top three women were Lisa Ransom (Concord, NH), Diane Gagnon (Old Orchard Beach, ME), and Diane Levesque (Rochester, NH). On the men's side, Steve Wolfe (Merrimack, NH), Robert Wanamaker (Eliot, ME), and Ed Mulvey (Boxford, MA) climbed the podium. The fastest growing segment of the sport, juniors, were also recognized. The Top 3 Junior girls were Shelby Erwin (New Durham, NH), Jessica Mulligan (Cambridge, MA), and Avery Adams (Strafford, NH). In the boys race Top 3 honors went to Sam Wallis (Allston, MA), Patrick Graham (Northwood, NH), and Philip Erwin (New Durham, NH). In the team competition a very familiar group stood atop the podium, acidotic RACING. Despite the fact that a number of our top 'shoers were absent, the team won with great individual performances and a huge overall turnout. The Top 3 aR teammates were Tim Cox (Northwood, NH), Steve Wolfe (Merrimack, NH) and Danny Ferriera (Concord, NH). The next race in the Granite State Snowshoe Series is the only US Snowshoe Association qualifier in NH, the Sidehiller 4-Mile Snowshoe Race in Center Sandwich, NH on Saturday, January 30, 2010.

Check out the results and photos on our website!

PS. I am extremely excited to announce that we collected 36 coats through our One Warm Coat drive yesterday which will be donated to New Horizons of New Hampshire! Thank you to everyone who brought a coat (or coats). If you missed this one, we'll be holding a coat drive at each of our final three events (Exeter Snowshoe Hullabaloo, Kingman Farm Moonlight Snowshoe, and the Granite State Snowshoe Championships).

Frigid Infliction Podium Finish(es)

Bolton Valley, VERMONT -- For the second consecutive year, acidotic RACING sent teams to the GMARA's Frigid Infliction Winter Adventure Race and came home with podium finishes. In fact, all three teams finished on the podium with two of our teams claiming division titles! acidotic RACING 2 (Sarah S. & Mike S.) captured a hard fought 2nd place finish in the 2-person co-ed division. Mike, in his first adventure race, showed incredible navigation skill and instinct. Several times during the race his calm analytical approach saved the three teams valuable time. Sarah once again displayed her unmatched backcountry skills and fitness in all four winter disciplines (snowshoeing, nordic skiing, post-holing, and tyrolean). She was easily one of the strongest competitors in the field. Ri & Jay M., our 2-person male entry, were by far the strongest and fastest acidotic RACING team. While the three teams worked together for the first few hours of the race, Ri & Jay pulled away after an efficient tyrolean traverse and never looked back. They gapped the other 2-male teams en route to a division title. Jay M., racing in his first adventure race, showed that his extensive background in endurance sports and his recent success in snowshoe racing were significant assets in the sport of winter AR. Ri, the ultimate multi-sport endurance machine, raced with a purpose from the jump and helped to drive all three teams forward to an early Top 10 position before he and Jay pulled away from the other acidotic entries to bid for an overall podium spot. Finally, our 3-male team consisting of veterans Jay & myself along with rookie Austin S. battled a host (well, one other) division entry to claim the first place prize. For his first adventure race, Austin didn't disappoint. We expected his alpine background would serve him well...and it did. He consistently led us during the skiing discipline and routinely put in additional km's by running to punch the passport. He was also incredibly strong throughout the entire event and displayed great teamwork by pulling without gapping even during the technical sections. Jay & I logged yet another adventure race together (perhaps our 10th or so...I should keep track but I don't). Team success is the ultimate determination of adventure racing performance. Based all of our podiums and expected Top 10 finishes we collectively represented as well as can be imagined. I could not have asked for a better group of individuals to wear our colors yesterday. I'm very proud of all of them. The smiles on everyone's faces at the finish was worth every moment of effort. On a personal note I was very pleased with my own performance. I had none of the health issues that have recently dogged me (cramping & achilles tendonitis). I felt as though my nutrition was very consistent. I drank close to 140 ounces in 10 hours and ate as much as I've ever eaten in a race of that length. My fitness was not a limiting factor and at times I felt as though I could have pushed harder. Looking ahead, there are 13 weeks before the Longest Day & Night Adventure Race. This will be our first 24 hour race. I'll use the 12-Hour AR at Pawtuckaway State Park in the middle of May as a tune up prior to the event.

As of this morning the overall results are not posted. I'll update the blog with the link when they're ready. I do have pictures up and they can be viewed on our Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobblemountain/sets/72157614968331488/. Below is a video clip from yesterday along with links to two others.

You Tube videos from the 2009 Frigid Infliction Winter Adventure Race:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dU_3OxnsQs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfZPEQlrXgg

Photo credits:

Jay M. on tyrolean (photo by Jim Dunn)

Austin, Jay D., & Chris at backcountry ski TA (photo by Jim Dunn)

Austin, Chris, Sarah, Jay D., & Mike at finish (photo by Jim Dunn)

GSSS Final Thoughts

The final Granite State Snowshoe Series standings are now posted on our website as promised. Red Bull is a remarkable thing. It's almost 10 pm and I feel like I could go all night. Problem is, in about 30 minutes I'll be wishing I could fall asleep. A couple of finals thoughts about the 2009 GSSS...we saw a 42% increase in participation in the three races we hosted (173 vs. 246 competitors). There were 309 men & women along with 29 teams who competed in series races. Two races in the series had over 100 competitors (Frosty's, 141 & Kingman, 107). I've said it before and I'll say it again, team racing is becoming a big draw and more RD's should consider it during all seasons. At acidotic RACING we're now 70+ strong and all of the team-focused events we race (24 Hours of Great Glen, Reach The Beach, Pinnacle Challenge, etc.) fill up very quickly. There's something special about being part of something bigger than yourself and the additional motivation derived from not wanting to let your teammates down. Perhaps this is why the team events I race during the year are always the most rewarding and memorable. Sharing and spending time with teammates takes me back to a very happy time in my athletic life. Looking forward, the series is likely to expand in '10 and will include a year end championship event at a location to be determined. The other RD's and I will get together over the summer to discuss and set the schedule. We'll also talk at that time about potential series scoring changes (ie. best 6 of 8 races). I'd personally love to see one or more new RD's in NH get into the mix. There's really only so much Deb, Paul, Michael, and myself can do and we'd certainly welcome more positive energy.

Frosty's Dash for a...Podium?

Atkinson, NEW HAMPSHIRE-- Frosty's Dash for a Cure is one of the longest running snowshoe races in New Hampshire and routinely raises thousands of dollars for cystic fibrosis. As the 4th race in the Granite State Snowshoe Series the usual cast of characters were present and accounted for including Jim Johnson, Bill Morse and the Dungeon Rock Racing group, and of course my teammates at acidotic RACING including Ri, Jay M, Steve S, Chris E, Gary, Liz & Ted, Michael, Steve W, and Scotty G (who by the way has the whitest legs I've ever seen...and displayed them proudly today). This morning I headed toward Atkinson early anticipating a 90 minute drive (or at least that's what Google maps had me believe). Pleasant surprise #1 of the morning was the fact that my Garmin said it would only take an hour. Pulling out of the driveway I quickly glanced at the car thermometer and was greeted by pleasant surprise #2, it was 45 degrees. My mother always told me that good things happen in 3's. Actually she always said that bad things always happen in 3's but I'm taking a little creative liberty 'cause it's my story. I arrived about 2 hours before the race, met the RD Deb Fudge, and began to make the circuit talking to many of my new snowshoe racing friends. I think the small "community" vibe is something I really like about snowshoe racing. Everyone seems to either know or recognize everyone else and is very willing to stop what they're up to and share a moment or two of their time with you. Yesterday I wrote that today was my first ever racing double. But as I sat to write this today I realized that like many things as I get older, my memory is beginning to dull around the edges. In fact, I do have experience with racing multiple times in short periods of time. My teammates and I have raced the Reach The Beach Relay for the past three years. Those of you who've raced the 200+ mile relay know that the 3rd leg of the relay is as hard as anything you'll do in endurance sports (with respect to Ri and his incredible feats of aerobic strength). Sizing up the field before the start I felt like I had a legitimate chance of a Top 10 finish. When the "GO" command was given I quickly established my place in the top 5 and attempted to make note of the condition of my legs. Pleasant surprise #3 was that my legs felt good despite the mashed potato consistency of the snow. It didn't take long to get into a rhythm and settle in behind my much stronger (and older) teammate Steve Wolfe. Today was a little different story from yesterday when the gap between us was much too wide to get any hooks into him and feel a pull. It's likely that he's still not back to 100% because I raced on his heels for most of the race. He actually let me slide by for about a 1k and pull him a little, which I happily obliged. It wasn't long however before he tired of my plodding and regained the podium spot that we were both racing to attain. I stayed with him as we worked together to put a little more distance on the 5th place guy. We both kicked a little with 50 meters to go and crossed the tape in 3rd & 4th. I was glad to see him get the podium finish as he's battling for one of the top 3 spots in the GSSS standings. For me, two very solid performances in a row have helped me regain a little confidence in my fitness that I had lost at the gruesome end of '08. Next up on the schedule is GSSS race #5 Horse Hill 7k Snowshoe Race coming up this Saturday in Merrimack, NH. That race will probably end my snowshoe racing for '09 so I'd like to log one last strong showing.

Kickin' Up Snow

Although not a single point has ever been scored in the new Granite State Snowshoe Series, it seems as though we're already the "favorites". At least that's my athleto-centric interpretation of the snowshoe racing world now that there's one more team in the mix, Dungeon Rock Racing. Although these folks are the "new kids on the block", don't mistake this group as a bunch of winter neophytes. A very good friend of acidotic RACING, Bill Morse of Team WMAC, apparently got a little tired of getting snow kicked in his face so he and his WMAC brethren have teamed up with a couple of smaller snowshoe racing teams (ie. Wicked Racing and Comprehensive Racing) to form an ubersnowshoe racing conglomerate. In classic Holtzian style, Morse is downplaying his team's chances while discreetly raising our expectations by implying that we are in fact the team to beat. While we may disagree about who is or isn't the favorite this winter, the one thing we can agree on is that team competition will make snowshoe racing in the Granite State Snowshoe Series even more enjoyable.