Experienced snowshoe runner Ed Raymaker started off at an easy pace at the 7th Annual Great Pond Mountain Snowshoe Run Jan. 27. He placed 6th overall in the four-mile race.—STAFF PHOTO BY CYNDI WOOD

Snowshoers Take to Racing in the White Stuff
EAST ORLAND — Runners are a hardy group, likely to be found sweating it out in 80-degree weather or dodging snowdrifts along the roadways in January.

A snowshoer goes for an early-morning run along Joy Bay in Gouldsboro.—STAFF PHOTO BY CYNDI WOOD

Runners have a new piece of equipment for dealing with the winter elements — snowshoes.

“I think it’s a growing sport,” said Peter Keeney, an avid snowshoe runner and organizer of several local races.

“Any chance I get, I’m out there,” he said of his passion.

Keeney, who works as an animal care technician at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, started running in 1996 when he was living in Massachusetts. The sport is particularly popular in the Bay State and northern Maine. It is slowly catching on Downeast, according to Keeney.

“It’s kind of a growing thing,” he said last week. “You have to be prepared to drive pretty far to find a big race.”

Fortunately, someone interested in the new (well, new-ish) winter sport can take it up easily and inexpensively. The only necessities are a pair of aluminum snowshoes and a trail covered with seven to 10 inches of snow. Deeper snow is navigable but makes running more difficult. Soft snow without a thick crust makes for good conditions.

Local snowshoe racers recommend the trails behind the Woodlawn Museum in Ellsworth, trails at the Great Pond Wildlands in East Orland and the carriage roads in Acadia National Park as good running locations.

The other important element to keep in mind is clothing. Keeney recommends wearing two layers of moisture-wicking garments that can be removed easily if the runner gets too hot.

No matter how cold it is outside, runners get hot and sweaty fast.

As any snowshoe runner will tell you, the sport is hard work.

Keeney started the annual Great Pond Mountain Snowshoe Run seven years ago as a way to encourage the sport and support the Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust. This year’s event was Jan. 27 and drew 13 participants, which was about average.

Most runners did the four-mile course, while three opted for the one-mile walk. Some participated purely for fun and exercise, while others competed to improve their average mile times.

Stan Pelletier of Ellsworth, the winner of the four-mile race, completed the course in just over an hour. That is considered a good time for a runner encumbered with snowshoes.

“Ten minutes per mile is an excellent time and 15 to 20 minutes is pretty good,” Keeney explained.

Snow and giant shoes are a surefire way to slow runners down.

“It’s a lot harder, and you don’t go as far,” said Tom Kirby of Ellsworth, who said he participates in all the local snowshoe races he can find. Kirby, an avid runner, got turned on to snowshoe running over 12 years ago as a means to extend the running season.

In a regular run, Kirby typically completes a mile in about 7 minutes. Once he straps on snowshoes and tackles the drifts, his times go up to between 10 and 12 minutes per mile.

“You’re going to get such a workout,” said Shannon Horton of Ellsworth, who has been snowshoe running on and off in recent years.

Kirby recruited her to the sport, which is something he said he tries to do with everyone he thinks might be interested.

“It feels like waddling,” Keeney said. “It’s kind of like a shuffle.”

Keeney noted that some people trip and fall the first time they try snowshoeing.

A good distance run for serious enthusiasts is between 3 and 6 miles. Hobbyists would be better off attempting one to two mile trails. Those who try the sport tend to enjoy it, even if they don’t get addicted.

“When it’s snowy outside, it’s great to be able to strap on a pair and just go,” said Matt Hogan of Bar Harbor, summed up.