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![\"Luke](\"http:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_3832-Reduced.jpg\")
<\/a>Luke and I sprinting to the finish, hand in hand.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>My running buddy and I after the race. We even managed to finish in under an hour!<\/p><\/div>\n
Getting ready for an out of town snowshoe race with two kids can make you yearn for summer road races. \u00a0Ah, for those days where you just make sure everyone has shorts, tech shirt, shoes and a bib number. \u00a0Prepping for a snowshoe race involves hauling out enough clothing for a week’s holiday. \u00a0You need layers for running, layers to change into, boots to wear, shoes to run in, hats, mitts, scarves, balaclavas, extra socks and of course snowshoes. \u00a0This is what our living room floor looked like before leaving:<\/p>\n
The race took place at Upper Canada Village, about an hour and a half south of here. \u00a0The historic village kindly agreed to allow the race to take place on the property and opened up their large cafeteria to use as\u00a0a warm place for pre and post race activities. \u00a0Not only that, they turned on all of the Christmas lights for this night race. \u00a0How often do you get to run with views like these?<\/p>\n The route also took you out of the village through fields and along the St. Lawrence River. \u00a0Between the darkness and the blowing snow there were times I wasn’t sure if we were in fact on the frozen river. \u00a0Parts of the course put runners right into a cold headwind with temperatures supposedly in the minus 20’s with the windchill. \u00a0Even with my slow pace I never felt uncomfortably cold. \u00a0For anyone who was really running the temperature would not have been an issue at all. \u00a0I have quickly learned that as warm as I get running in winter, snowshoe running makes you sweat even more.<\/p>\n This was the perfect event for experienced and new snowshoers alike. \u00a0The mostly flat course made for a good intro and I am sure led to some incredible times for the top competitors. \u00a0A short 700 metre kids race allowed even the youngest of competitors to try out this fun winter sport. \u00a0The race was a little late to start, largely because many people chose to register at the race rather than take advantage of online pre-registration. \u00a0I love the advice that was given prior to the start; if you are not sure whether or not you want to register for a race, just register and then you will be sure! \u00a0Good advice for all of us \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n Food was supplied by Beyond 21, a non-profit organization that supports developmentally challenged young adults. \u00a0For a voluntary donation participants were treated to chili, chips, beautifully decorated cupcakes, cookies, oranges, bananas,\u00a0as well as\u00a0cold and hot drinks. \u00a0Members of the program also handmade the plaster snowflakes used as medals. \u00a0The top three winners earned horseshoe medals handmade by the village blacksmith. \u00a0If this wasn’t enough, there were so many door prizes that it seemed as if everyone walked away with something. \u00a0We brought home a snowshoe bag, a buff, a winter hat and a water bottle with sport gels. \u00a0Having only completed 2 snowshoes races and each time coming home with some loot, I am going to start expecting goodies at the end of every race!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n