Unbeatable Alan Evans is beaten at the FL Snowshoe
Alan Evans finally met his match at the Finger Lakes Snowshoe 7.6-mile race, held in the Finger Lakes National Forest, in Hector Jan. 27.
Derek White, 28, of Fayetteville, N.Y. dug in his snowshoe claws, kicked up some snowflakes on Evans' home turf, and defeated the three-time, undefeated champion in a record-breaking performance of 1 hour, 29 seconds (1:00:29). The 37-year-old Evans, of Beaver Dams, placed second in 1:03:10.
"It's my first snowshoe race so I wasn't really sure what I could do," said White, a student at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. "I let Alan do all the work for the first half, and he ran pretty quickly. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have been nearly on pace for the record."
While Evans was off cross country skiing to warm up before the snowshoe race, White stayed at the Potomac Campsite and quietly eavesdropped in on conversations that spun tall tales of the legendary -- and unbeatable -- Evans. White may have added one more description: marked man.
"I just remember Joe (Reynolds) saying before the race, 'Alan knows the course; stay behind him,'" said Evans, a Corning Inc. research scientist. "That's pressure, especially when it's announced at the beginning of the race: 'Here's the guy you should try to beat!'"
White, a cross country, track and 5K-distance specialist decided to shadow ultra trail man Evans through the early miles.
"I just made sure I didn't go out too hard, trying to stay relaxed the first half," said White, heading for the national snowshoe 10K championships in Plattsburgh. "Alan offered me the lead at one point, but I declined it. I didn't want to lead for too much of the race. I enjoy hilly trails, but that last steep hill at the end wasn't expected. But it was fun."
"I tried to go with Derek when he first passed me, but he broke through cleanly," said Evans, also the Finger Lakes Trail 50K and 50-mile champion at the same site. "Then when he got into the fields he stopped, because he didn't know where to go. I caught back up, motioned him forward, then he made sure to put the gap on me again. It was clear he had control of the race the second half.
"This was a comparable performance for me to last year and the year before," Evans said. "This was definitely a fast course, but Derek is just faster, too."
David Boor of Horseheads finished third overall, setting a new masters record of 1:08:18. The 43-year-old dairy farmer should be humming the tune "Papa Got a Brand New Pair of Shoes" -- spring-loaded. The Christmas gift recommended by Runner's World, put the snowshoe rookie on the fast track.
"Snowshoeing is hard, and a different motion than running -- much more work," said Boor, who trained by showshoeing laps with his dog on the Soaring Eagles golf course in Horseheads. "The whole key is to think of efficiency, and not have to pick your legs up too high. You need to skim the snow and relax as you run.
"I was trying to run 10-minute miles, and be consistent throughout the race," said the father of three sons. "I love trail running, and this is just an extension of trail running in the wintertime. It was a very nice experience, and I'll be back to do it again."
Barb Bellows, 46, of Ithaca won the women's title -- and placed fourth overall -- in 1:16:21. Bellows, a Cornell University soil scientist who is moving to Arkansas in February, holds both the masters and open women's snowshoe record.
"During the first mile, I was concerned because I was behind someone slower, and couldn't pass," said Bellows, a 100-mile specialist. "Then once I got past, I was mostly out there by myself without anyone to pace off. It was a nice course that looks different every time. I love snowshoeing -- it's a lot of fun, and I'll really miss it."
Deb Springer, 27, of Syracuse placed second in 1:23:34, and Donna Lockett, 43, of Moravia placed third and first masters in 1:24:39.
"It was hard!" said Springer, a forest pathology major at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. "I run a lot of races -- I'm a runner by nature, and I snowshoe for fun. But this race was 10 times harder than any road race I've ever done. I'm really fit cardiovascularly, but my legs are burning!"
"This event gives snowshoeing a face in the Finger Lakes region," said race director Joe Reynolds. "Surprisingly, this is the busiest time of year in the Finger Lakes National Forest, especially with cross country skiing. There is always beautiful snow up here on the hills, and everyone should get out and see it. Everyone who came to this snowshoe race wanted an adventure, and they got one."
[Ed. note: Many thanks to the features staff of the Elmira Star-Gazette who sent out writer Jeffrey Aaron and photographer Maria Stinni to cover the human interest side of the race on Saturday. Their coverage, plus an awesome color photo of Evans and White racing down the trail, appeared in the Sunday edition. Then, my race article (see above) appeared on Monday. We appreciate their support!]
Thanks to Snowshoe suppliers: Ken Moses of Red Feather snowshoes, who provided about 14 pair (no charge), and created the T-shirts with the moose design.
And, John Stiner of Klein's All-Sports, who contacted Tubbs after they first refused our request for extra snowshoes (Red Feather came up short this year), and convinced Tubbs to send us about 10 pair, plus a box of "awards." Tubbs charged us for postage, but the extras were necessary.
Thanks to the volunteers:
Joe asked me after the race if it was "fun?" working the snowshoe race. Once I could feel my hands and toes again, I said, "NO!" A small crew of us volunteered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. so that our record crowd of snowshoers could have some fun.
For those of you who never volunteer for anything, or think helping out at a warm summer race is just too much to do, I ask you this: How would you like to stand outside from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in blowing snow, on wet terrain, with no closed-in shelter ,and no chance to get really warm? That's what I thought.
The following folks did all that and more for our FL Snowshoe: Joe Reynolds, Julie Jones, Frank and Sally Rusby, Herb Engman, Tim Ingall, Diane Sherrer, Pam Carlucci, John Stiner, Bob Seacord (he cooked and served the chili) and Chuck Leske.
-- Diane Sherrer
4th Annual Finger Lakes Snowshoe Results
(Finger Lakes National Forest, Hector, January 27)
7.6-Mile Race:
1. Derek White, 28, Fayetteville, N.Y., 1:00:29 (course record!)
2. Alan Evans, 37, Beaver Dams, N.Y., 1:03:10
3. David Boor, 43, Horseheads, 1:08:18 (masters course record!)
4. Alan Lockett, 43, Moravia, 1:13:44
5. Barb Bellows, 46, Ithaca, 1:16:21 (women's winner)
6. Lawren Smithline, 28, Ithaca, 1:17:47
7. Tim Williams, 43, Cortland, 1:18:38
8. Trevor Holland, 29, Hector, 1:21:22
9. Mort Nace, 34, Rochester, 1:21:33
10. David Jones, 42, Interlaken, 1:23:33
11. Deb Springer, 27, Syracuse, 1:23:34
12. Peter Nix, 17, Ithaca, 1:23:41
13. Donna Lockett, 43, Moravia, 1:24:39
14. Earl Steinbrecher, Sr., 60, Windsor, 1:27:21
15. David Weiss, 52, Corning, 1:28:03
16. John McMurry, 58, Ithaca, 1:28:18
17. Doug Dziedzic, 39, Binghamton, 1:30:49
18. Tom Nix, 50, Ithaca, 1:31:59
19. Todd Mattison, 41, Ithaca, 1:32:32
20. Tessa DuMont, 31, Freeville, 1:34:08
21. Leila Hatch, 26, Ithaca, 1:34:10
22. Katie Stettler, 35, Ithaca, 1:36:11
23. Sam Familo, 47, Fulton, 1:36:11
24. Karla Eisch, 44, Binghamton, 1:37:51
25. Sue Aigen, 47, Ithaca, 1:46:21
26. Tanya Tersillo, 16, Seneca Falls, 1:40:41
27. Donny Densmore, 46, Seneca Falls, 1:40:58
28. Mary Wenck, 53, Corning, 1:42:19
29. LiLynn Graves, 44, Ithaca, 1:45:15
30. Bill Taylor, 50, Horseheads, 1:45:24
31. Jerome Lewis, 41, Binghamton, 1:45:29
32. Jerry Bonfiglio, 56, Lansdale, Pa., 1:51:38
33 Lorrie Marnell, 39, Locke, 2:01:09
34. Don Tily, 44, Locke, 2:01:09
34. Christine Omiatek, 50, Horseheads, 2:16:00
35. Tom Omiatek, 53, Horseheads, 2:22:18
7.6-mile Award Categories:
Overall Male: Derek White
Overall Female: Barb Bellows
Overall masters male: Dave Boor
Overall masters female: Donna Lockett [Ed. note: Donna pulled a "Renee Zellweger." When awards were announced, Donna was indisposed in the outhouse; at the Golden Globes, Zellweger was in the john when her win was announced.]
2nd open male: Alan Evans
3rd open male: Alan Lockett
2nd open female: Deb Springer
3rd open female: Tessa DuMont
male 19-under: Peter Nix
female 19-under: Tanya Tersillo
male 20-29: Lawren Smithline
female 20-29: Leila Hatch
male 30-39: Mort Nace
female 30-39: Katie Stettler
male 40-49: Tim Williams
female 40-40: Karla Eisch
male 50-59: Dave Weiss
female 50-59: Mary Wenck
male 60-up: Earl Steinbrecher
female 60-up: none
A Wing & A Prayer "Angst" Awards: Jerome Lewis and Lorrie Marnell
One-Mile Fun Run/Hike:
1. Jeffrey Juran, 44, Ithaca, 13:06
2. Amanda Shenstone, 42, Trumansburg, 16:34
3. Isabel Monk, 24, Syracuse, 16:41
4. Marsha Zgola, 49, Burdett, 20:27
5. Margo Zgola, 13, 20:28
6. Skip Ferris, 57, Watkins Glen, 22:12
7. Sara Juran, 12, Ithaca, 22:15
8. Dave Brown, 64, Ithaca, 23:48
9. Jennifer Wislon, 41, Cortland, 25:12
10. Jan Brown, 64, Ithaca, 26:36
11. Sharon Cross, 50, Watkins Glen, 26:49
12. Chad Cross, 30, Burdtee, 26:50
13. Conor Everett, 8, Horseheads, 50:28
14. Maggie Everett, 6, Horseheads, 50:30
15. Jack Everett, 5, Horseheads, 50:31.
16. John Everett, 36, Horseheads, 50:32
17. Vicki Everett, 36, Horseheads, 50:32