Sandia Snowshoe 5k Race Report

5k Snowshoe Race-I wasn't gonna do it the night before. I was thinking about how cold it was on top of the mountain, how slow I am in altitude, basically talking myself out of it. H had bailed on me, he wasn't even signed up. I got on Facebook and there was Dread Pirate, always a willing friend to pull me along when I am doubting myself..Well actually I just asked her if I could get a ride and she seemed so enthusiastic and said Of course! I told myself this was one of those races that probably would not be that fun doing but that I would be happy afterwards.

So there I was yesterday at the bagel shop meeting DP and 2 other friends and we made our way up the mountain in DP's car. It was cloudy as we started up the other side of the mountain, which soon became fog, which soon became pea soup fog as we rolled to the top. This will burn off I thought..or so I thought..We got to the top and there were many cars and people with all kinds of snowshoes and clothing. The biggest question of the hour was what to wear it was cold but we knew it would get warm as we got going on the race. I asked Jane twice in one sentence what she was wearing, which makes me think either I am getting senile or those hormones really do need to be checked soon! I decided on two layers on top, my hiking boots for warmth and comfort instead of running shoes under my snowshoes, gators, and my Peru hat for good luck. I brought my IPOD shuffle, thinking this would be motivating to hear music as I trudged through the trail.

10:00-boom! Off we went. I wasn't feeling a lot of race pressure here. I really have not trained in snowshoes. I did a speed running class the day before with Eric at the track, not really speed work as of yet, but drills and stuff that were enough to make me sore in places that required Advil on board. The first part of the trail was downhill..OK, so I can run this, not a problem. So I ran. That lasted about 10 minutes. Very beautiful through the trees in the fog, at 10,000 feet. My snowshoes aren't the best racing ones, but not the worst by far. I got passed, I passed a few folks. It was pretty narrow but everyone was cordial. If they were saying mean things, I did not hear them anyways, I had my IPOD on and all was well. Then came the flat, sort of up hill part about midway on the coures. OK -now I was power hiking on my snowshoes. The trail was packed snow, which was nice in some ways but uneven also in places. I almost bit the dust so to speak a couple of times. The came the really uphill part of the trail at the turn around and my heart rate zoomed up and legs started screaming! It was at this point the music became annoying and I yanked off the IPOD. I confess I actually stopped a few times just to catch my breath on the way back up the hill. I was walking VERY slowly at some points. I looked at my watch and saw that yes, I would break an hour-that was my goal. The last uphill was grueling I tried to run over the finish line and heard someone yell my name and ta-da! I was done. 56:23 was my time. I was happy it was over and glad to see Pirate at the end. It was still really foggy and I was definitely warm but we scurried back to the car to get some warm clothes on as we knew that wouldn't last. Mark, Margaret and Dave were at the car...

We decided to stay for the awards as Pirate got first place in her AG, Margaret won first overall women-way to go my people!! They had some funky age groups if you ask me. Mine was 45-54 years old. OK so I am 54-do you think I won? No, some young looking woman who did it in 48 minutes did of course! Had I raced as a 55 y.o. I would have won my age group. Guess I will just have to come back next year, as Mark so wisely pointed out...

None of us won door prizes as we waited and waited and I got colder and colder. By the time we were in the car, my hands were blocks of ice but I was happy and relieved to be done..As we traveled down the mountain, of course the sun came out and I warmed up as I managed to eat anything I could get my hands on in the "gooey bag" as my granddaughter calls it (goody bag). I did get the T-shirt and water bottle..

I was wiped out the rest of the day. Like I had done a half IM or something..H & I watched a depressing movie last night "About Her". It was great acting but about a woman who slowly succumbs to Alzheimer's Disease, which makes me worry all the more about my lack of memory lately. Still hoping it is just the hormone thing and as I search frantically on the Internet this AM, I am pretty sure I do not have A.D., thank goodness but I am more motivated than ever to figure out the hormone thing.

Oh and I can barely walk this AM, I am so sore. So I will go to spin and spin out my soreness this AM instead of killing myself on the bike as my friends are doing...