9th Annual Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race

February 3rd, 2008 - Saratoga Springs, NY

The ninth Saratoga Spa Winterfest 5km Snowshoe Race at Spa Park in Saratoga Springs, New York directed by my friends Laura and Jeff.  I finished 5th of 106 racers!

Annual Northfield Mountain 3.8-Mile Snowshoe Race

February 2nd, 2008 - Northfield,  Massachusetts

DD organized this wonderful event again, and the competition stayed difficult.  I managed to finish in 9th of 41 participants.

5th Annual Curly's Record Run
January 27th, 2008 - Pittsfield State Forest - Pittsfield, MA

Great day, 10th of 65 finishers.

Cobble Mountain 4.5-Mile Snowshoe Race
January 26th, 2008 - Gunstock Mt Resort - Gilford, NH

Our series expanded into New Hampshire once more...  45 participants.

South Pond "Counter-Clockwise 3.3-Mile Snowshoe Race
January 20th, 2008 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

Day two of directing duties, this time running the race "counter-clockwise" at Savoy Mountain State Forest... 

I managed 24th out of 30 participants.

North Pond "Clockwise" 3.3-Mile Snowshoe Race
January 19th, 2008 - Florida & Savoy,  Massachusetts

Race Directing duties at the tenth North & South Pond Shuffles at Savoy Mountain State Forest...  actually split over two consecutive days.  What was I thinking?

I managed 12th out of 60 participants.

4th Annual Brave the Blizzard 4-Mile Snowshoe  Race
January 6th, 2008 - Pine Bush Preserve - Guilderland, NY

Snow this season in Guilderland!  I had a pretty good day with 13th of 115.

6th Annual Woodford 3.5-Mile Snowshoe Race
December 30th, 2007 - Woodford State Park - Woodford, VT

"I Love Woodford" 3.5-Mile Snowshoe Race kicked off our 2008 Series;  I finished 17th out of 96. 

Another tirp to Ashfield with Tippi (back to back days), this time extending our network from Baily Road over Mary Lyon Hill and down to Route 112.

Deep snow made the travel difficult from the "bottom" back up the saddle from Martin Road.  Didn't have the complete track recorded with gps through this area.

Completed 6.5-miles in around 2-hours.

 

Took Tippi out to Ashfield to explore snowmobile trails on snowshoes.

Managed 5.5-miles in 1:28:00, wonderful area.

With such great snowshoeing conditions, I drove back out to Dubuque State Forest with Tippi to have an additional go at it.

I parked on Stetson Road, near and old abandon farm house.  It was basically turned into a cul-de-sac, as that is as far as the road was plowed.

Tippi and I hit the drifts into the old apple orchard, passed Starks Cemetery, turned east up Horton Road, turned north onto the Old Fox Trail and rambled down to Hawley Road and Savoy Road with the Chickley River frozen below.  Then it was the harsh hairpin turn southerly up along the R Willis Trail back to our junction with Horton in the clearing.

Ended the day with roughly 6.5-miles in 1:44:00.  Exhausted!

1st Snowshoe of the season, at Dubuque State Forest from the Kiln Area Parking (Firestation).

Rambled through the Snowshoe Trail, to Notch Trail, and wound back along the Roots and Rocks Trail for a rough total of 5-miles in 1:18:14.  Great conditions, with Tippi for company.

Notchview Marathon - September 10th, 2007
Windsor, Plainfield, Hawley & Savoy, Massachusetts

Tippi and I finished the Notchview Marathon.  We ran from Notchview Reservation in Windsor, Massachusetts into Dubuque State Forest in Hawley, then to Savoy Mountain State Forest in Savoy.  We got crushed by a heavy rainstorm for the last 3-miles.

This was my 37th completed marathon, and Tippi's 11th.  All in all, I was not in fantastic shape but the year was winding down, and the run was incredibly enjoyable.  Missing a turn shortly after Windsor Jambs, continuing on the dirt road for a bit, didn't count as a positive.

Looking at the map, we passed Windsor Pond, Crooked Neck Pond, and Hallockville Pond along the journey.  

Meadow at Notchview 

Tippi on the Jambs Trail.

Windsor Jambs.

Alert, as always.

Jambs, with Tippi on the ledge, upper right,

 

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period  August 1st through August 31st, 2007:

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period  July 1st through July 31st, 2007: