 Drowne, cruising in the lead |  3 non-competing Pond Sprint hikers |
Jeremy Drowne (West Chazy, NY) and Shelley Field (Rutland, VT) raced to easy wins at the inaugural Pond Sprint Adventure race, held Sunday along the shore and mountains of Long Pond, in Willsboro, NY.
Drowne brought some excellent credentials into the event, having placed high in many of the region's top distance running and snowshoe races. In this race, he stayed on the shoulder of three-time Patch Sprint champion Cole Starkey (right) for the first mile, before making a move, and pulling away quickly. “I was a little chilly beforehand,” the winner said of the start time temperatures in the low-50’s, “but I warmed up pretty fast.”
The winning time for the 12-mile, two mountain course was one hour, 34 minutes and 35 seconds, with Drowne finishing some eight minutes up on Starkey (see results). “I felt good, but it was clear
Drowne brought some excellent credentials into the event, having placed high in many of the region's top distance running and snowshoe races. In this race, he stayed on the shoulder of three-time Patch Sprint champion Cole Starkey (right) for the first mile, before making a move, and pulling away quickly. “I was a little chilly beforehand,” the winner said of the start time temperatures in the low-50’s, “but I warmed up pretty fast.”
The winning time for the 12-mile, two mountain course was one hour, 34 minutes and 35 seconds, with Drowne finishing some eight minutes up on Starkey (see results). “I felt good, but it was clear
very early that there was no shot at staying with him,” said the runner-up. Three members of the Peru Nordic Masters team took the next three spots in the division, with Chris Rose ending up third overall. “I felt really strong, actually running steep parts I’d never run before.”
Shelley Field (left) ended up fourth overall in capturing the women’s title. “This was an incredible course,” said Field, who grew up in the Willsboro area, “...lots of fun, especially doing Rattlesnake that way!”
That Way referred to the unique, sparsely traveled approach to the popular mountain, thanks to special permission granted by the land owners from Highlands Forest, LLC. “It was beautiful,” echoed Drowne. “The only problem was that I wanted to stop (racing) and enjoy the view!”
By winning the race, Drowne and Field receive automatic invitations into the 2016 Patch Sprint.
The first-time event seemed to be a hit, not only to the winners, but for all. “We can’t stop talking about how fun it was,” said the Sedberry family, who traveled to the Adirondacks from New Jersey. “The weirdest thing that happened to us on the trail was that we had seen not a soul on the route, except the volunteers, and then hit the summit of Rattlesnake— tons of people. All of them cheering us on and wondering what we were doing.”
Shelley Field (left) ended up fourth overall in capturing the women’s title. “This was an incredible course,” said Field, who grew up in the Willsboro area, “...lots of fun, especially doing Rattlesnake that way!”
That Way referred to the unique, sparsely traveled approach to the popular mountain, thanks to special permission granted by the land owners from Highlands Forest, LLC. “It was beautiful,” echoed Drowne. “The only problem was that I wanted to stop (racing) and enjoy the view!”
By winning the race, Drowne and Field receive automatic invitations into the 2016 Patch Sprint.
The first-time event seemed to be a hit, not only to the winners, but for all. “We can’t stop talking about how fun it was,” said the Sedberry family, who traveled to the Adirondacks from New Jersey. “The weirdest thing that happened to us on the trail was that we had seen not a soul on the route, except the volunteers, and then hit the summit of Rattlesnake— tons of people. All of them cheering us on and wondering what we were doing.”
Course elevation profile, as recorded by racer John Rayburn
While the beauty, and isolation, of the course was a big hit, the route was also appropriately challenging. “The last two miles were the worst,” stated five-time Patch Sprint champion Jim Kobak. “I wanted to walk every uphill part, and did walk a lot of them. Of course, maybe I didn’t run enough to train, either!”
The event served as a fundraiser for Adirondack Scholarship Foundation and Long Pond Conservancy, with the donation total to be announced, after expenses are calculated. “We are, as always, so thankful for the generosity of our participants,” said race director Tim Singer. “I also want to thank the volunteers, and especially the folks at Highlands Forest for allowing us to use their gorgeous trails.”
Co-event manager Sharp Swan, who served as a summit timer on Sugarloaf, put the impressive racing into perspective: “I loved being on top of Sugarloaf and watching all the people arrive. 19 minutes and 30 seconds from the The Pok-O Queen (race start line)- now that's ridiculous! It took me - with driving to the base - 35-40 minutes. Crazy what kind of shape these guys, and girls, are in!”
The event served as a fundraiser for Adirondack Scholarship Foundation and Long Pond Conservancy, with the donation total to be announced, after expenses are calculated. “We are, as always, so thankful for the generosity of our participants,” said race director Tim Singer. “I also want to thank the volunteers, and especially the folks at Highlands Forest for allowing us to use their gorgeous trails.”
Co-event manager Sharp Swan, who served as a summit timer on Sugarloaf, put the impressive racing into perspective: “I loved being on top of Sugarloaf and watching all the people arrive. 19 minutes and 30 seconds from the The Pok-O Queen (race start line)- now that's ridiculous! It took me - with driving to the base - 35-40 minutes. Crazy what kind of shape these guys, and girls, are in!”
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