Gore Mountain launched a Citizen’s Race series this year at the North Creek Ski Bowl.
Sponsored by Beck’s Tavern and the Upper Hudson Trails Alliance (UHTA), folks gathered on Tuesday evenings to snowshoe or cross country ski against a clock, but with each other.
My husband bought me a pair of snowshoes a couple of years ago that I’d never really used- if the snow was nice, alpine runs or snowmobiling were all we found time for. This is the perfect atmosphere to develop a new skill set, under the lights, and work up a sweat after work.
The first day was an unmitigated disaster. Getting the shoes to stay on the boots was, to my embarrassment, a learning experience. I started out with a long fast stride, and just as I found my rhythm, I lost my shoe. For the first time.
My race was a flop, but a lovely couple stopped to give me moral support and I clipped in again. And again. Today was not a cardio day.
Even though I stunk up the place, I had a wonderful time, met wonderful people, and enjoyed the live music and tailgating atmosphere after the races in the lodge.
There were beginners, like myself, a couple with a full picnic pack and wine, retirees, people there to go hard and people there to be social, families, and folks from businesses there to donate raffle prizes and support the event. Three of us had packed Founder’s All Day IPA for our post-race hydration. #BeerOfTheDay
There were also some very experienced people, which was a big help for me getting my ‘shoes set. (Thank you to Dick Carlson)
The next week, everything went smoothly. I stuck to a steady long stride and got a feel for what snowshoes could do.
Then it was the final week, and time to see what I could do.
I started strong out of the gate, jogging up the first hill. Jogging down hill is not advisable without specifically designed racing shoes, so I settled for a long stride. Coming around the first loop, jogging up the second hill, one of the volunteers very generously shouted “you’re leaving ’em in your snow dust!”
I was one of the last people in, but felt great cracking a well-deserved cold one.
The band was having a great time and so was the crowd. The food truck was pumping out goulash as the experts debated the finer points of trail maintenance, humble bragging about their final time, giving most of the credit to the fast smooth course.
The awards ceremony was loud and fun. Everyone who registered got a raffle ticket and there were a ton of high quality prizes. A gentleman tried to donate the Bud Light someone left in his fridge. Because the concessions also sells Bud Light, that was politely declined.
Due to my disasterous first run and a steep learning curve, I received the most improved award, snowshoe class. A win is a win, I’ll take it.
In the raffle I also won, among other awesome things, an UHTA blaze orange t-shirt for my hunting season adventures.
The band packed up to go play Bar Vino but because my associate and I were feeling dehydrated, we had to head over to the Barking Spider.
The menu is on a chalkboard and your food comes off a dumbwaiter. And aaahhhhh the veggie quesadilla. Great local draughts. I had a Paradox Beaver Bite brewed right up the road in School Lake. But just one, I gotta drive. If you’re real thirsty, there’s cans of PBR in an ice trough.
This is the only spider that I don’t run away from.
Over the next 10 months or so, you may find me at the Spider strategizing about next year. I’ll leave the Most Improved to someone else, and strive for the Perfect Attendance Pool prize.
Follow the event on Facebook, get ready to challenge yourself next year!
https://m.facebook.com/events/2429599273932712/
Thirst and Pine 