You know how dreary it can be during the long, cold, snowy winter? We have a solution! In the early winter of 2009, Ben's cross country running coach suggested we get Ben into snowshoe racing. Since then it has become an obsession for him!
![Rock on! :supz:](./images/smilies/icon_super.gif)
Last year he did good. This year he has to be the best in his age group (14 and under) for New York State! He has been kicking some serious butt! He has come in just behind the leaders in most races. The guys who beat him are in their 20's, 30's and 40' and are many times marathon runners! Lynne and I got out with him for practice although we don't run. We just walk the same course, although a shorter version, and get great exercise and enjoy the outdoors.
Shoes:
Ben runs in
Dion snowshoes and Lynne and I use
Atlas's. His racing shoes are a little pricey at about $200 a set plus extra cleats and ours are cheaper at $160 a set. You can get nice ones for around $100. Nice thing is you can go basically anywhere with them and it gets you out of the house.
Races:
Most of the races are 5k in length. The shortest is 1.8 miles and the longest is 4.7 miles. These are cross country courses where they run on some groomed trails and also on "single track" that goes through the woods on a marked course. I'll let the pics speak for themselves.
One of the races has an awesome view of Honeoye Lake:
Ben in back:
A part of a course...that is not Ben. He had already gone through here before we got there!
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/LiftedAWDAstro/Snowshoe%20Racing/2011%20Season/1-22-2011%20Winona%20Winterfest/DCP_9446.jpg)
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Mileage spreadsheet
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy