January and Snowy Range Snowshoe Races

Thus far, my quasi-resolution this year is still intact.  I have run at least four miles everyday this year.  While this has not led to a lot of mileage, right now I am more concerned with consistency.  The mileage will come.  Especially once the weather improves.  In several months.

January: 169 miles (20:48)

Saturday saw the return of the Snowy Range Snowshoe Races.  I raced the 10K race and got my butt handed to me.  4th overall in 1:05:46.  Snowy got 17" of fresh snow two nights before the race, so we had to deal with deep snow that, on the first lap anyway, was loosely packed.  I have not been up over 9000 feet elevation in some time, so from the beginning of the race, I felt like I was red-lined.  Two days later, my lungs are still tight and I am still coughing from the exertion.

The second lap was easier since the course was more packed and I had settled into a rhythm. I can say, given how I feel today, I ran as hard as I could have.  I should have spent a little more time on snowshoes, but time constraints made that impossible.  Unless I want to snowshoe in the middle of the night.

Start of the race.  Photo: Lindsay Sweley.

Some folks are more excited than others.  Photo: Adam Leiferman.

Heading toward Hanging Lake.  Adam would soon kick my ass.

Finishing.  Photo: Cassandra Driver

I want to continue running everyday, steadily increasing my mileage, and try to prepare for the Trudge in a month.