[Volunteers_fosm] 20th Sandia Snowshoe Classic 2024, report

[Michael Madden]

January 20 was blessed with beautiful weather and a deep 3-foot snowpack on
the Crest... 30 @ 9am, with a high of 38 @ 2pm, 10 mph wind, no chance of
precipitation, 50% cloud cover. This was the best weather and snowpack
anyone could remember! With the early snows, we registered the 175 maximum
on Christmas Day, another first! 153 checked-in and ran... a fun time,
without incident! Ages ranged from 13 to 85. New this year: the race
started an hour later, at 11:00am, to allow runners more time to get up
the mountain(plus it's warmer to boot). The course was lengthened 400
meters to make it a true 5K. We thankfully hired a professional timing &
results company rather than doing it ourselves. *First of all*, I'd like to
thank the FOSM Snowshoe Committee: Silke Bletzer, Jamey Browning, Joe
Beman, and Jeff Young. (Shannon Braun had to drop out due to work
constraints.) They worked steadily since September to make everything come
together on race day. Silke with runsignup registration, FOSM website
updates, beanies, Cottonwood student coordination, poster design(with
retired graphic designer Ken Wilson), timing contract, etc. Jamey handled
coaster and sticker design, created a new course map, course distance and
directional signs, led the course marshal crew, and served as liaison with
Cibola SAR. Joe sought out race day food donors in ABQ, award donors, and
handled relations with TV coverage and the Journal. Jeff Y canvassed the
East Mountains for race day food and drink donors, as well as award donors.
*Secondly*, to the 22 FOSM race day volunteers, 12 of whom were course
marshals with such a high level of dedication that they walked the course
on Monday to treat any obstacles, then again on Friday in case anything
surfaced the day before the event. A special thanks to Jeff Huser, who
trailered tables, chairs, stanchions, cones, PA system, generator, etc.
Jeff H took a blank three foot deep football field area and created a whole
start/finish venue. *Thirdly*, to the 7 Cottonwood Classical HS students
and 2 faculty who took on parking the runners, check-in, announcing,
pulling bib tabs, staffing food and drink tables, etc. *And last but not
least*, to our partner Cibola SAR, composed of more than 30
volunteers, both on the course and at first aid stations. SAR made
arrangements for a BernCo EMS unit and three BernCo sheriffs to be
there. It 'takes a village' to pull this off... all 60 of us!

Mike Madden
Race Director
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