My wife and I got up before the crack of dawn this morning to pick up Alec, our hard-working aide, to head down to Boston to produce the Luv2Run Boston 5K #1. We arrived at 7:30 and promptly drove the course, putting out campaign signs for Hillary, Obama, McCain, Ron Paul, Edwards, and Duncan Hunter --- actually the signs are relics from the New Hampshire Primary and now sport arrows directing runners left, right, or straight.

I told all the runners to turn left at the Hillary, Obama, and Edwards signs; to turn right at the Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter signs, and to act confused whenever they saw a McCain sign. Since everyone made it back to the finish line, I asssume my advice was ignored and the runners paid attention to the arrows on the signs and not the political leanings of the candidate underneath.

As for the race, 81 runners - mostly women in the 25-35 age bracket, showed up to run on a chilly and windy morning. Working the race was easy as my wife, Alec, and myself can easily handle crowds of up to 200 by ourselves on most of our off-road race courses. Everything went smoothly and the runners all seemed to have a good time. Many positive comments were given after our huge raffle (running shoes, Road ID Kits, FuelBelts, Boston Running Company Gift Certificates, Fun On Foot in America's Cities books) and our award ceremony featuring Luv2Run Pint Glasses. Almost all of the post race spread of cinnamon buns, blueberry muffins, chocolate chip cookies, and sourdough pretzels was devoured by the ravenous hoard.

We still managed to make almost $200 profit for our charity as well as a few bucks for out time and effort. We were a little disappointed by the size of the crowd - down from 141 last April - but given the harsh winter and the fact that the Mass DCR forced us to move the race  date up 2 weeks from last year. Next year I will show up on their doorstep on January 2 with my permit application in hand to ensure we get our old date back!!!

Seeya on the trails...

Over the past 10 years I had run 200+ road races, a couple dozen trail races, a cross country steeplechase, several track races, and a half dozen snowshoe races --- and last night's Kingman Farm Moonlight Snowshoe 5K was simply the best race I have ever participated in. I didn't win any prize money or a big trophy or even a 12 pack of beer --- but I have never had such a gre at experience in a race. The course, under the moonlight and lit by the headlamps every snowshoer was wearing, was simply awesome. I cross the finish line and was disappointed that it was over. If I was in better shape I might have been tempted to run it again.

The first 2 miles or so of the race were on well groomed, double track trails. The start was slow as we were on double track right from the start and it took a 1/4 mile to break free of the pack. I must have passed 20 snowshoers in that first 1/4 mile. Over the next 1 3/4 mile I gradually picked off another dozen or so snowshoers, while being passed by only 2 or 3. Then we hit the switchbacks up and over Hicks Hill --- followed by more switchbacks down the other side to the finish line.

For the whole trip up and over Hicks Hill I thought I had the real abominable snowman chasing me. I felt his presence right behind me and even asked if he wanted to pass me a couple times. He kept declining saying I was keeping up a good pace. Little did I know he was setting me up to outsprint me at the finish. He made his move before I realized the finish was close and he took me down by 4 seconds. Fortunately, despite his height, he was not an Abominable Snowman and I was once again the champion of the Yeti Division. 2 down and 1 more to go at the Winter's Last Hurrah Snowshoe Race in Biddeford, Maine on March 15.

For now it's time for a little R&R with the family as we fly out for 8 days in Las Vegas and San Diego...

I just returned from 3 days at the Running USA Conference in San Diego. Tough to come back from sunny, 70 degree+ weather to freezing rain in Southern, New Hampshire --- especially with the Horse Hill 7K Snowshoe Race coming up in just 3 days. I confess that I did not do any snowshoeing at all while in San Diego.

What I did do, however, was meet with many others in the running industry - publishers, business owners, race producers, race sponsors, and more. The more was the most important group as I was able to meet face to face with some of our current sponsors and with several potentially new and exciting sponsors --- including one in the malt beverage category. Look for a new trail race from 3C Race Productions this summer specifically to take advantage of the opportunity offered by this potential sponsor.

I also went to a number of presentations and discussions which will help 3C Race Productions to continue to keep producing top notch races for the runners in New England. There were lots of tips and tricks and useful info on how to make our races even better and to attract larger crowds --- the key for us to be able to continue our prolific fund raising for non-profits, while also making 3C Race Productions a more profitable business.

Seeya on the snow-covered trails...