Snowshoers Hope Weather Turns

ROCHESTER (Thursday, January 26, 2006) - What happens if you hold what might be a first-of-its-kind event in the United States — a snowshoe duathlon — and there's no snow?

History in the near-making? Sadly, that could be the case Sunday at Webster Park.

Ellen and Dave "Boots" Boutillier, the organizers of the inaugural Lake Effect Snowshoe Festival, are "praying for snow, that is for sure." They're not alone on that front.



The refrain is common among those who will compete in the snowshoe run/mountain bike ride/snowshoe run.

"I can say, if there is no snow, it'll be an equally cool trail race," says Ellen Boutillier of YellowJacket Racing and Fleet Feet Sports Rochester. "The terrain has special Boots-like hidden features."



Dave Boutillier, a former pro duathlate, grew up in Webster and organizes — among YellowJacket Racing's 20 or so events — the annual Thanksgiving weekend Turkey Trot in his hometown.



Somewhere in the "recess" of his head, he says, the idea of a snowshoe duathlon emerged. "I have no idea where it came from," Boots claims. "I just thought it would be cool."



Frank Quattrone of Webster agrees that the idea has merit.

"Rochester is great for the 5 and 10K weekly races, but after many years of racing in them it's great to have the opportunity to try the unusual," says Quattrone, 50. "The combination of overheating on the snowshoe run and then the cold of the bike will make this race very interesting."



The Boutilliers have heard of multisport races that combine skating, skiing and biking, but never a duathlon that mixes snowshoe running and mountain biking. That's where the Lake Effect Snowshoe Festival comes into play.



"He loves to try to have 'out-of-the-ordinary' events," Ellen says about her husband. "His thing is events need to differentiate themselves whether by what



Jim McLaughlin, another Webster resident who is — in Ellen Boutillier's words — "an ice climber so he clearly likes different things," has been doing a lot of running and cycling events in recent months.



He spent the summer and fall riding: from Genesee Valley Cycling Club events to the Highlander Tour.



He did trail races in the fall and is running in the winter Freezeroo and PolarCat races.



"Basically, if there is some kind of event, we try to do it to stay in shape for climbing," says McLaughlin, 36.

It may not be for everyone.

First, if you aren't up for a 2-mile snowshoe run followed by a 12.4-mile mountain bike ride on roads followed by a 2-mile snowshoe run, you can do the Boutilliers' "Bailor." It's a half-distance duathlon: 1-mile snowshoe, 6.2-mile mountain bike, and 1-mile snowshoe.



Or you can just do a 4-mile snowshoe race. Or, if you are a beginner interested in trying out this growing sport or a kid or a family, you can do the 2-mile fun run.



But if you have ever done a multisport event or thought about trying one, the snowshoe duathlon could be for you.

"I really enjoy the two-sport aspect of duathlons and I thought this one sounded especially fun," says Anne Esposito, 39, of Brighton, who is planning to do the du with her husband, Rob Ganey. "I peer-pressured Robby into signing up with me. In return, I promised to do a marathon with him."



"Robby and I rented snowshoes from Fleet Feet last winter and ran the East Esker Trail at Mendon Ponds Park," she says. "This year, we haven't had the opportunity to do any snowshoeing, but we're hoping to get in at least one run before the duathlon."



As with many would-be snowshoers in the Rochester area, they have been frustrated by the non-winter weather, which has crippled most local snowshoe running and walking.



The Frozen Assets 5K, organized by Mort Nace and Tim Ratowski's Goose Racing, went on as scheduled earlier this month at the elevated Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area in Canadice, Ontario County.



But last weekend's Mendon Ponds Winterfest snowshoe races turned into trail-running events.

The same could happen at the Lake Effect.

Not to worry. People like Quattrone are eager to get out and enjoy the competition — whatever type it might be.



"Although I spend a good deal of time training with the likes of (Rochester Area Triathletes Hall of Famer) Dennis Moriarty, I am not one of the elite local athletes," Quattrone says. "Just one of your also-rans.



"Biking is a big part of my free time, but I am more of a roadie on a tri(athlon) bike. At age 50, I will probably never have the skill on a mountain bike that's needed for the technical routes. The opportunity to get out, whether it's biking, running or kayaking is what it's all about."



Snow or no snow, he and others are just looking forward to the chance to do something different.

Gary Fallesen is our outdoors writer. Besides finding him snowshoe running (or trail running), you can reach him at gfallesn@DemocratandChronicle.com or (585) 258-2454.

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