That's Katoolah, the sponsor of the Snowshoe race I did awhile back in Big Bear. I was sure I'd written about it, and was looking back and realized I never did - doh!
Well, the entire Snowshoe The Bear event was awesome. I went up a few days early to help my friend Peter - the owner of Equada Outiftters get ready for the race. He was one of the sponsors and the event headquarters so he had his hands full.
I spent the days before hanging out at his Mountain Shop, helping stuff the 'goodie bags' with the Kahtoolah rep, and getting acclimated to the altitiude. I was fighting an ever-worstening cold but there was no doing that.
The day of the race I was working the registration table until 10 minutes before the race, and then headed up to the start/finish line.
I was so congested I could hardly breath, but I'd been waiting months for this race and wasn't going to miss it for the world.
I knew the course - I'd been snowshoeing out on the course several times. I knew it was basically straight uphill - and around 1000-1500' of climbing (guessing here). I also knew that all the other 'flatlanders' or those of us from 'down the hill' would start out too fast and too hard.
I decided ahead of time that I was going to race the tortoises' race in the "Tortoise vs. the Hare" story. Nice and easy...
As I predicted everyone took off running like crazy and I quickly found myself down about 30 places out of the 100 or so racers. I wasn't too concerned. I knew other than being sick, I was fit, and doubted that all of them were that much more fit than I was.
Turns out I was right, and within less than 1/2 mile they were already dying. I started picking them off, 1 by 1. Within a mile I was probably in the top 10 and by the time I hit the top of the mountain I was beat, unable to breathe and had moved into 3rd place.
It was now a mile and a half of basically all downhill though through the backcountry, and not on the nice groomed trail. I ran the entire way back and no one passed me. I didn't know I was in 3rd place, so I kept pushing hard.
As I rounded the last corner I was hurtin', but I could see the end in sight. I finished up just over an hour and "4th place". I actually got third we figured out later, but someone from the other race, had a wrong number, or went on the wrong course or something, and somehow their number was in 3rd in my race. When they got called for the awards ceremony and prizes they opted not to mention the error to anyone. :o(
Oh well, I raced well and I think had I had the advantage of living/training at altitude, like all of the winners, I'd be right up there with them. Not too bad for a 40-something vs. the college kids who won. I'll see you all next year punks! :o)
Well, the entire Snowshoe The Bear event was awesome. I went up a few days early to help my friend Peter - the owner of Equada Outiftters get ready for the race. He was one of the sponsors and the event headquarters so he had his hands full.
I spent the days before hanging out at his Mountain Shop, helping stuff the 'goodie bags' with the Kahtoolah rep, and getting acclimated to the altitiude. I was fighting an ever-worstening cold but there was no doing that.
The day of the race I was working the registration table until 10 minutes before the race, and then headed up to the start/finish line.
I was so congested I could hardly breath, but I'd been waiting months for this race and wasn't going to miss it for the world.
I knew the course - I'd been snowshoeing out on the course several times. I knew it was basically straight uphill - and around 1000-1500' of climbing (guessing here). I also knew that all the other 'flatlanders' or those of us from 'down the hill' would start out too fast and too hard.
I decided ahead of time that I was going to race the tortoises' race in the "Tortoise vs. the Hare" story. Nice and easy...
As I predicted everyone took off running like crazy and I quickly found myself down about 30 places out of the 100 or so racers. I wasn't too concerned. I knew other than being sick, I was fit, and doubted that all of them were that much more fit than I was.
Turns out I was right, and within less than 1/2 mile they were already dying. I started picking them off, 1 by 1. Within a mile I was probably in the top 10 and by the time I hit the top of the mountain I was beat, unable to breathe and had moved into 3rd place.
It was now a mile and a half of basically all downhill though through the backcountry, and not on the nice groomed trail. I ran the entire way back and no one passed me. I didn't know I was in 3rd place, so I kept pushing hard.
As I rounded the last corner I was hurtin', but I could see the end in sight. I finished up just over an hour and "4th place". I actually got third we figured out later, but someone from the other race, had a wrong number, or went on the wrong course or something, and somehow their number was in 3rd in my race. When they got called for the awards ceremony and prizes they opted not to mention the error to anyone. :o(
Oh well, I raced well and I think had I had the advantage of living/training at altitude, like all of the winners, I'd be right up there with them. Not too bad for a 40-something vs. the college kids who won. I'll see you all next year punks! :o)
