My 2025 race season has officially begun.

Last weekend I headed up to Traverse City for the Bigfoot Snowshoe Race. It’s just what the name says. You put on snowshoes and follow either a 5K or 10K course through Timber Ridge Resort, part on groomed ski trails and part bushwhacked “singletrack” through the woods, including squeezing between trees and stepping over them at times. Plus a switchback hill climb near the end. Many people walk the course, but me? Moi? Surely you jest.

I learned the first year I did it that if I don’t sprint out of the gate, I end up in a conga line of slower shoers in the singletrack. Passing them means stepping into deep snow and pushing hard, which takes a lot of energy. So ever since then I line up near the front and bust my lungs for the first half mile to the singletrack, where I can catch my breath and more importantly, set my own pace. Then it’s merely breathlessness and hard running to the finish. At least I keep warm!

This year marked twelve consecutive years of doing the 5K since I strapped on snowshoes for the first time ever in 2014. If it’s such a sufferfest, why do I keep doing it? I don’t know, other than I must enjoy it. When I figure it out for sure I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I’ll just keep showing up, strapping ‘em on, and shoeing through the woods.

And I have to say that the results continue to surprise me. After initially getting to the top 20 on a semi-regular basis, I’m now regularly in the top ten, for heaven’s sake. Last year I just missed the podium (4th overall male), and this year I was 7th overall (hey, but I beat all the women this time). You might say, “Not bad for a guy over 60” and it’s true, but four (4!) of us finished in the top 20 and thrashed everyone in their fifties and most of those younger, too. All this at the largest snowshoe race in the country. Damn, am I in a tough age group!

But that’s just the beginning…

Up next is my first ultra, and first big challenge, of what’s going to be a year full of challenges.

This Saturday, February 1, is the Rocky Raccoon 100 down in Huntsville, Texas. It’s billed as a great first 100, or for those wanting a new PR for that distance. While there are plenty of rolling hills, there aren’t any mountains, glaciers, or deserts to cover. Just five 20-mile loops through beautiful country – but watch out for those tree roots.

Yeah, like that one! (Found via Internet search.)

This is the third time I’ve signed up and planned the trip down there, only to be diverted by, well, family health issues. This time, it looks like the stars have aligned and the omens are favorable. Looking forward to it, both the event itself and what it promises to tell me about my readiness for the Really Big One in June.

I’m as prepared as I can be, I think. Recovered from my foot injury last year, shorter ultras in November and December successfully completed, and new shoes for the occasion! Now I just need to eat like a pig this week, ‘cuz it’s all coming off on Saturday (*). And believe it or not, eating a lot is really hard for me. I’ll do my best.

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(*) The weight, not the clothes.