Eldora, a ski resort near Boulder, had a 6 night series called Nighthawks. Every Wednesday at 6pm there was a cross-country ski race and a snow shoe race. Various distances and routes every time.
The first time I went I actually skate skied. I skate skied in high school. I mean I lived in Minnesota :)
Well since my ski boots were from 1992 they broke while I was skiing. It actually was hilarious because all these Boulder people were in their top notch gear and they were fast and here I am just trying to finish....
So done with that until I get a new pair of cc skis and boots.
Why not try snow shoeing...
The next week I decided to snow shoe. I have a good pair of snow shoes that are for hiking not running but I wasn't going to race just run it for fun. Of course all the Boulder people rent or own the fast running snow shoes ugh...I beat most of them with my slow snow shoes HA!!!
A few of us from the club meet up and drive to Eldora. Since it's on a Wednesday it nice to have an activity mid week. Just the girls. Once we park we go to the nordic lodge and get our bibs and then get all of our gear on. My first snow shoe race was a 4k. At 6pm it's dark up there so we wear headlamps. There are little lights out on the course so you kind of know where to go...although some people get lost.
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| Meeting at Park and Ride |
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| Our snow shoes |
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| The Lodge |
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| Getting ready to race with our bibs on |
So my first race the guy says GO and I am off! It's crazy snow keeps hitting me in the face but it's my snow shoes kicking it up too funny! I ran pretty much the whole way but walked up some big hills. I ended up being 3rd female! It was so gorgeous out there at night and then it started to snow lightly. Just Amazing!!!!
Then when everyone is done we head to the lodge. Well the Boulder peole do. The Arvada people go to my car and get a red cup and pour wine into it. THEN we head to the lodge and it's door prize time!! I ended up winning a Pearl Izumi hat and one other time a handheld bottle.
Next year I plan to do 4 of the 6 races so I can qualify for the age group award. Such a fun adventure!
Have you ever been snow shoeing at night?
Do you have running snow shoes or hiking?
That sounds like a great time! I have not snowshoed at night. I barely would call what I do snowshoeing though!
ReplyDeleteSo is your red cup a "red Solo cup?"
Wow, I had no idea there were those night races! Does it get crunchy at night, like night skiing does? I bet it was so much fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! I've never been snow shoeing, looks like fun!
ReplyDelete