Hard’ack Fall Running Series Week 3

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The third and final installment of this year’s series looked far different than last year’s. It was a more typical mid-november day in St. Albans, if there is such a thing. As opposed to last year’s sunny skies, cold temps, and ample snow that made it feel like a perfect february day, this year featured cloudy skies, but temperatures warm enough to comfortably run in shorts and a t-shirt. Even though the lack of early snow is a small disappointment to some skiers who have been spoiled the last couple years, the conditions were near perfect for those runners who loathe the heat and relish the opportunity to suck in that cool, crisp air while still running free from the restriction of cumbersome cold weather apparel.

40 runners took the start line today, with the usual wide variety of speed in the mix. A number of local high school runners came to utilize their good form from the running season before they make the transition into nordic ski training. It was great to see St. Albans Nordic board member Perry Bland make it out for the final race after he had to forgo the first two events to sell some of his fine produce at the local farmer’s market. A special shoutout to all those who attended all three races this year: Sara Heth, Brook Hodgeman, Melissa Seymour, Damian Bolduc, Jessica Bolduc, Bill Simmons, Scott Magnan, Kristofer Anderson, Jackson Sargent, Roy Sargent, Ashley Sargent, Deb Riopel, and Hillary Stine. All of you are All-Stars. It’s a shame the Westford Turkey Trot is not happening this year, those Westford hills would feel a lot easier after racing on the hills of Hard’ack.

This week’s course featured another new route. It was billed as a less hilly route than the previous two races, and it was to some extent, but it was not flat by any means. Still, if you had the energy left, you could punch up the shorter hills, and find time to recover before the next one. We got lots of positive feedback on this course, so be prepared to see it again next year!

I want to thank everyone who came out to race over the past weeks. It was very uplifting for me to be able to bring you all together for these events. I want to wrap up this series by trying to answer the question “Why do we run?” There are some obvious answers, like “It’s a healthy lifestyle”, or “It helps me clear my mind and reduce stress.” Those are perfectly good reasons to explain why an individual may run, but it still doesn’t answer the question of why WE run, why we show up to run together at a race like this. If you really think about it, to an outside observer, it’s extraordinarily odd for 40 people of such varying ages and abilities to put so much effort into congregating at one venue so they can put their body through pain and suffering while weaving through the woods and meadows with no apparent real purpose. Perhaps we just like to suffer, because suffering heals us and makes us stronger. Perhaps we’re competing to see who is the best, or how we measure up against the best or against our rivals. I would suggest there is another purpose, a subtle but important one that has only become clear to me recently. We run together for the same reason that we sing and dance and laugh together, to express ourselves and release our emotions through the art of running, to share a common bond with our fellow human beings, to experience the true humanity that brings meaning into our lives and helps us deal with the harsh realities of the world. To an outside observer, what we do may seem frivolous or pointless, and it may defy logic, but to me, and to many of you, it is an essential part of our existence.

Thank you all again, best wishes, and I hope to see you sooner rather than later.

Tyler Magnan

Results

Harda’ck Fall Running Series Week 2

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The skies were much clearer this week, as the meadows and trails were fully bathed in sun on a beautiful, late autumn afternoon. The overnight lows dropped into the teens in some places, reminding everyone that winter is truly on its way, and the last holdouts who resist turning on their home heating were forced to give in. The early morning sun quickly baked away the night’s frost, and temperatures rose close to 40 degrees by race time.

This week featured a never before seen race course, a course that race director Tyler Magnan discovered this summer and fell in love with. After the tough but relatively short climb up the bottom of the sledding hill, the course gently rolls downward back towards the low point of the course. At this point, the runners took a direct route to the top of Mashtare’s Massacre, the highest point of the XC trail network. It is a nearly continuous climb for about a quarter mile, with only a short flat section for relief. Once at the top, the course is mostly downhill for the next half mile, providing some recovery time before hitting the dragstrip. The dragstrip is a straight shot across the meadows, stretching for about 600 meters. It looks flat, but locals know that running north across the strip is much easier than running south across the strip. Today, we were running south.

In a cruel twist, a steady breeze from the south picked up just before race time, causing many runners to find that running the strip into the wind was more difficult than the climb. Tyler was aware of this risk, knowing a southern wind would suck some of the fun out of this course, but his strong desire to do this course and the lack of wind earlier in the morning perhaps clouded his judgment. Nonetheless, I don’t think it ruined anyone’s day. It was still a beautiful day for some fall running.

42 runners made the start line today. In an extra show of perseverance, Scott Magnan managed to get to the line after his car broke down. He could have bailed on the race, but he found a ride, borrowed a vehicle, and when he got to Hard’ack, he ran straight from the car to the start line, still pinning on his bib as the first racers left the start line. It was great to see the Georgia middle school runners come out in force. Jonah Gorman edged out Matias Citarella to get the win in the 2.5k race. Unbeknownst to them, a vintage tractor trophy was up for grabs. Perhaps Matias would have kicked a little harder if he had known.

Through the first lap of the 5k race, a battle for top honors was shaping up between Joe Frost and St. Albans Nordic board member Brook Hodgeman. Joe pulled away on the 2nd lap, posting a winning time of 21:07. Lurking behind in 3rd place was Damian Bolduc, whose race form improved from last week, but wasn’t quite enough to reel in Brook. Elisabeth Vachon took top honors for the females, finishing 4th overall with a time of 24:05, just ahead of local legend Bill Simmons, who has a perfect 5 for 5 attendance record at this series. The next 3 places were filled out by women, as Laura Schned, Jessica Bolduc, and Jessica Bunce put in strong performances.

Most impressive from the day was the amount of youngsters that tackled the full 5k. There were at least half a dozen middle or elementary school runners who took on the difficult 5k course. The older folks will look on with a mix of enthusiasm and envy as we watch these young runners start to set PRs in huge chunks as they grow older.

After the race, runners were able to enjoy the sunny skies, the company of fellow runners, refreshments from Hannaford, and the ample prize table. One of the younger runners went home with a slick new Salomon jacket, so he can look like a pro.

The final race of the series is coming up on the 14th, and runners will get a slight reprieve, as the course will not go up either side of the massacre. We’ll see what the weather brings. Anything can happen in mid-november.

Results

Hard’ack Trail Race, Week 1

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Anyone who woke up early this morning arose to what appeared to be a fairly nice day for late October. It was a bit cloudy, but the calm wind and 60 degree temps were a perfect combo for a running race. As runners finished their breakfast, and prepared to depart for the trails of Hard’ack, the weather took a dramatic turn. The skies opened up, first with a spurt of heavy rain, then a lighter rain. Some runners who had a bit of a commute saw the temperature drop about 15 degrees by the time they exited their vehicles at Hard’ack. It was a day where walking out the front door is the hardest part of the race for some people.

As runners arrived for registration, the rain was rather heavy again, and things looked rather bleak, but the 29 hearty runners were ready to go as they warmed up and tried to figure out the race course on the interweaving Hard’ack trails. Just before the race got started, the skies let up, and although the ground was well saturated, the runners would be spared the misery of a cold, drenching rain soaking through their clothes.

The course took the main perimeter loop through the wooded cross country trails. The challenging loop has a lot of twists and turns, and ups and downs. Even the sections that appear to be flat aren’t really flat at all, or they certainly don’t feel like it. It’s not the type of course you’re likely to set a PR on, but when you finish, you always feel good about it.

The field spread out quickly, as tends to be the case in a small field with such a diverse group of competitors. Lucas Calcagni set a blistering time of 17:59 to take the win, all the more impressive on a hilly 5k course that is slightly long, and he was running solo off the front. Brianna Welch was the top female runner, setting an impressive time of 21:05, even though she didn’t seem that thrilled about the tough hills after her pre-race course inspection. A couple of impressive young middle schoolers took on the 2.5k option, with Alice Kredell and Kate Carlson posting times of 11:49 and 12:46, running the first lap with some of the faster 5k runners.

A few runners completed this same course in last year’s series. Scott Magnan improved his time by nearly 9 minutes, but it’s worth mentioning he was pushing a baby stroller last year. The biggest improvement was by Theodore Tremblay, improving by nearly 2 minutes over last year, and doing it with tougher conditions.

After the race, runners enjoyed refreshments supplied by Hannaford, and got their shot at the random prize raffle. Most of the prizes were donated by members of the nordic ski community, a testament to the support and passion for the sport that these community members have. Of course, the Maple Syrup donated by Runamok Maple was once again a highly coveted prize. Everyone left with a prize, but the real prize was being able to come together with people who share a love for running, and all those people who made it out the door this morning were rewarded. I don’t think anyone went home regretting it.

Next week, the race falls on Halloween, and costumes are welcome if so choose. There will be a different race course, and there will be a scary climb in it, but also more flats. You’re gonna love it.

Results

Keep the Torch Burning

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The following is an account of the annual BFA Citizen’s / Alumni Race held on March 15th, 2020. Authored by Tyler Magnan, it is not just a report about a tiny ski race, but an essay that exemplifies the passion for nordic skiing that lives in this community and is just waiting for an opportunity to blossom into something greater.

2020 BFA Citizen’s / Alumni Race Report

While the rest of the sporting world has been prematurely sent into the offseason, a small group of skiers descended upon a small farm in St. Albans to battle it out and earn the coveted epithet; The Pride of St. Albans.  This special farm tucked away in a cold hollow behind St. Albans Hill grows much more than grass, maples, and Angus beef.  Hundreds of local skiers have taken their first strides in these meadows, and honed their skills on the twisty, hilly tracks through the woods.  The roots of St. Albans nordic grow deeper and deeper on this property with every passing year, and are now older and stronger than many of the maple, birch, and beech trees that populate the landscape.

The warm March weather had taken it’s toll on the snowpack at the Dickinson Farm, closing down about half of the already limited trail network.  A combination of natural geography and snowfarming efforts earlier in the season produced good coverage on what remained.  The 1.25k race loop was groomed beautifully on Saturday afternoon, and with a deep freeze overnight, it was firm and fast, but very skiable.  The attempt to scratch up the surface in the morning was thwarted by a machine with chronic mechanical problems, but the course was deemed good enough for a race.  A touch of lightly falling snow came just before race time, and while it wasn’t enough to soften up the course, it was a welcome sight to see some snowflakes instead of raindrops.

The course started at it’s lowest point in the bottom of the horseshoe, went up, and took a right through the narrow connector and under the sap line, which some spectators graciously held up for the racers so they wouldn’t get clotheslined (or saplined?).  After a very brief flat section, the course headed up Doc’s Hill, steep at first, but mellows out the second half, a great place to gain some ground if you haven’t burned up on the steep section.  At the top of the hill, you enter the woods to do the rolling, twisty middle loop counterclockwise.  Then with a brief section of two way traffic, you wind your way back down the hill through the woods and meadows, under the sap line again, and down to the bottom of the horseshoe. 

About 15 racers took the start line.  Most notable was the presence of Damian Bolduc, Scott Magnan, and Perry Bland.  It was very fitting that these three were on the start line today.  There was every excuse to not show up today, but these are three of the original NWVE club members, and they built the club on the motto that you show up for a ski race anytime, and anywhere.  Anytime I see these three men gathered together, I know I’m in the right place. 

Besides these three, there were many more familiar names in the mix as well as some fresh faces from the high school team.  Other alumni included Tyler Magnan (NWVE), Brook Hodgeman(St Mikes), John Thompson (Castleton), and Meredith Mashtare.  Jessica Bolduc raced as an Alumni-in-law.  The rest of the field was filled out by some devoted high school skiers who show the passion and perseverance necessary to succeed in this beautiful but humbling sport we love.

It was an uphill start, but the fast conditions kept the pack tighter than it normally would be in a race of this size.  By the top of Doc’s hill, things had begun to sort themselves out, with Tyler taking the lead, followed closely by Brook and John.  Behind them was a mix of current BFA team members and alumni including Jacob Tremblay, Ethan Mashtare, Damian, Scott, and Lydia Hodgeman.  Further back, the field spread out quickly, as most were focused on staying on their feet while navigating the technical course in difficult conditions.  On days like this, even the most experienced racer can be swiftly brought down by a small rut or a poor weight shift.  At the front of the race, Tyler soon looked back with disappointment to see that nobody could hang with him, as Brook had some issues with soreness in his shins and resorted to double poling.  John took on the chase, taking 2nd quite comfortably and proving he is very much worthy of the BFA all-star team that was supposed to make an appearance at Craftsbury next weekend.  Things were a bit tighter behind, but Jacob pulled ahead and took a podium for the high school team, while Brook had to double pole into the uphill finish to fend off Ethan and Lydia, who won the women’s title for the first time.  Damian came in shortly after, while Scott, Jessica, Meredith, Perry, first year skier Maya Frost, and a couple more skied strong to the finish, even with no positions to fight for.  

While victory in this race is highly coveted by some, people show up to keep the torch burning; the torch within your soul that lit your passion for the sport, and the torch that brings energy and life into the local nordic community.  Back on November 16th, this community had the honor of hosting the first ski race in New England and possibly North America.  Although it’s nothing to celebrate, we may have also hosted the last race of the season in North America.  Here in St. Albans, the race must go on, and the sport will live on.  

A Message from the President

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I’ve been heavily involved in Nordic skiing since my freshman year in high school in 1997. My older brother had just taken the job as head coach of the BFA high school ski team, so I joined it, not having any clue how much that decision would impact my life. Since that moment, I have invested an enormous amount of time, money, and physical, mental, and emotional effort into this sport. Some would say an absurdly foolish amount, but I don’t regret any of it. This sport has kept me healthy, it has brought many great people into my life, and it’s just a lot of fun.

Most of that time, I have invested in making skiing enjoyable for myself, but over the last couple of years, I have discovered that making it more enjoyable for others is even more gratifying, and I’m in love with the sport more now than ever. I discovered something else in my efforts to help out. I learned that when you only have a handful of people with virtually no money, and few resources, it is impossible to build something great.

As long as I have been involved in nordic skiing, the St. Albans ski community has almost entirely revolved around the high school program. Coach Scott Magnan has done an amazing job building up that program since he took over 20+ years ago, but the students in that program are the only people in the community who get any real support. Most of the students who arrive in that program have never skied before, and a lot of them rarely, if ever, ski again after they graduate. We see the same thing with their parents, where they get involved by volunteering or participating, but then they disappear when their children leave because there’s nothing to be involved with outside the high school team. This is not a recipe for sustainable growth.

We are here to change all of that. Our central mission is to broaden that community, so people have a place to go and enjoy the sport from the day they are born to the day they die. We want a community where everyone can enjoy skiing at their own level, whether they want to be an elite competitor, or slowly plot around the fields with their family, or anything in between.

Please support us in our efforts. Subscribe to our newsletter to get trail updates, learn about new programs, and hear how we are making this community stronger. Click the big green Donate button to help us. Every little bit helps, even if it’s just $5.

Thank You,

Tyler Magnan
President of St. Albans Nordic

Hard’ack Fall Trail Running Series Is Back!

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Last year’s inaugural series was a great success, even amidst some amazing early season snowfall. Last year, we had over 50 runners for week 1 with moderate temps and clear blue skies. Week 2 saw 35 runners trampling through an inch or two of fresh snow with cold temps but clear blue skies once again. Week 3 was a real adventure. We got 6-8 inches of new snow during the following week. We could have cancelled, but we’re tough nordic skiers, so we groomed it out beautifully for skiing, and gave people the option to run, snowshoe, or ski the course. It was another cold day, but beautiful and sunny. The 20 people who showed up had a great time and all went home with smiles on.

The past few months have been loaded with uncertainty, but as last year proved, we take the attitude that the race must go on! Our goal is to make the event as normal as possible, but there will certainly be accommodations made for the situation. Stay tuned to the facebook page for the latest updates. We hope to see you there!

See the full details on our event page.