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Martin's Snowshoe Race Report
Snow Scramble
Saturday Feb 21 st : Norquay
The first snowshoe race put on by the Out There store was the 2009 Liveoutthere snow shoe sprint. This race was held on at Norquay ski resort and the temperature at race time were -5C. The race start was next to the ski lodge and the event was made up of two distances, a 9km and a 5km route. At 11.00 am, 9 participants lined up for the 9km and 24 lined up for the 5km. The gun went off and we were told to follow the orange flags, straight up the side of a mountain. I had entered the 9 km event and the route followed the same format its entire length. Up and down the mountain across the parking lot then up and down another mountain. The only break being a section down the ski out which was covered in ice, then we had to snow shoe back up it. It was the toughest 9 km I have (next to the 9km downhill section on the K100) raced and I was glad when it was over. My time was 1hr 16m 10s, good for third over all and second in the men's. This is a race for people who like running up and down the side of mountains, and pain!
Ice Road Trekkers
Saturday Mar 21 st : Yellowknife
Sue and I flew up to Yellowknife on Thursday and picked up the race package that evening. Next morning we went for a couple of km practice snow shoe and I realized that with the temp down at -30C I needed more protective covering for race day. On Friday afternoon a three hour survival course was held highlighting the dangers of frostbite, snow blindness, thin ice and other users of the ice road (Truckers!!!!). The pasta load was held Friday evening where the 80 plus racers meet for the first time. There were racers from eleven different countries including one from Australia; he had been running in snow shoes on the beach.
The “ Rock and Ice Ultra” is made up of three races, The Cold Foot Classic, single day 44km race; the K-Rock, three day 145km race and the Diamond, six day 235km race. The one day race had 14 participants plus 5 relay teams; the three day had 29 and the six day had 28. The one and three day events are supported but in the six day event you are required to support yourself and drag your gear in a “pulk” (sled). In each race you have the option of either snow shoe/run or skiing. Finally the winners in the three / six day (man and woman; snow shoe and ski) events win a diamond supplied by the main sponsor BHPBIlliton who run the Ekati mine 300 miles north of Yellowknife
Saturday morning I paid particular attention to my race gear. Key components being: a pair of neoprene bike booties over my trail shoes, double gloves with hand warmers and a skidoo neoprene mask. The race was scheduled to start at 9.00am and I was down at the tent village on the ice in Yellowknife bay at 8.30am. Temperature at start time -21C (-31C wind chill) with snow forecast. After getting final instructions from Sue (don't get lost), we were all lined up and ready to go. It was a colourful sight with a number of red, yellow and blue sleds all ready at the start line. Several people had forgone the full face mask instead using strips of duct tape on the cheeks and nose.
At 9.00am the start gun went and we were off like herd of turtles. One individual shot out into the lead but unfortunately headed off in the wrong direction up the lake. He was quickly caught by the race officials and sent the correct way. I had decided to race at a set heart rate and with-in a couple km had reached the 141-151 range that I had planned to follow. Things went well for the first 10, 20kms; most of the snowshoeing was on the lakes with several portages along the way. My mask was icing up but the bottles of water/carbopro remained unfrozen. I reached the Check Point at the 30km in 4 hrs and felt pretty good. I had noticed the clouds rolling in as I entered the tent but didn't give it much thought. After a hot chocolate and a couple of gels I was ready to go: I stepped out of the tent into a blizzard. The finish line was 15km away across Prelude Lake and I couldn't see 50m ahead of me. The course hade been marked with orange flags every 100m, but with the storm coming the race officials had put in yellow flags in-between. I started off at a jog just trying to find the next flag and soon this was reduced to a shuffle. At km 34 I was stumped, it was a complete white out; I couldn't see the flag in front or behind.
As I was contemplating my future (and Sue's prophetic words “Don't get lost”) I heard a yell behind me and to my right. Two women skiers had spotted me and called me over. They asked why I had left the route and I said I hadn't really planned it. We made up a little convey with a women on snow shoes dragging a pulk. After what seemed like an age we could see the light of the dome tents and the finish line. Sue was there as were a number of the other finishers and race officials. The last 15km took over 3hrs with a total race time of 7hr 8mins. While waiting at the finish line I heard a number of racers had been pulled off the course, four for frostbite and one for snow blindness. Over all I took first place in the snowshoe/run category; definitely will do the three day event next year.
Final Comments: Extremely well run event, Scott Smith race director was always available (even in the pub) to answer questions. I highly recommend the one day event.
