Snowfall arrives for snowshoe races

MANNSVILLE — Cold sweat.

Just enough snow floated in Saturday for the Empire State Snowshoe Championships at Winona State Forest to take place Sunday morning. Two races, a 5-kilometer and a 10-kilometer, visibly strained runners who had stripped down to parkas and running leggings in anticipation of the workout they would get on the trail.

“We tried to create a course that has a lot of tight turns,” said Matthew G. Westerlund, director of the park’s snowshoe races. “If they have to leap over logs or small creeks, that’s actually much more attractive.”

The race is a part of the Empire State Snowshoe Series. Sunday was the first time Winona has hosted the state championship.

“Only two races have actually been held in the state,” Mr. Westerlund said, lamenting the lack of snow. “I’ve been receiving emails asking if we were still going to have the race. Between the two races, we’re going to have close to 100 runners.”

Before Saturday, the trails had 4 to 6 inches of crusty snow, rather than the fluffier snow that is easier to run on. The park’s previous snowshoe and dogsled races had to be postponed until March because of the lack of snow covering the ground earlier in the season.

“Mother Nature kinda came through for us,” Mr. Westerlund said.

A few runners were thankful for that — it was their first snowshoe race.

“I run,” said Carol L. Yerdon, Redfield. “I’m a real casual runner. My niece was interested in trying the race. We feel that we’re going to beat everyone sitting on the couch.”

Her, 14-year-old Rachel M. Yerdon from Redfield, also had never competed in this type of race. However, she considered herself an avid runner.

“My coach encouraged me,” she said. “It’s a good thing to train instead of just running indoors.”

As soon as Mrs. Yerdon saw an ambulance, she jokingly announced her ride out of the race had arrived.

Mr. Westerlund was cognizant of possible injury. In addition to an on-location ambulance, a “sweeper” carrying a two-way radio ran behind the racers to keep an eye out for anyone who might have rolled an ankle or strayed from the trail.

“It’s great exercise — just to go out and do it,” said Marla J. Leitner, Pennellville, minutes after finishing the race. “It was gorgeous. Jump a few creeks and whatnot.”