Friday, July 25, 2025
Almost 20 years ago, back in the fall of 2005, I was introduced to the idea of running on snowshoes as a way to keep trail running during the winter when the trails are covered with snow. I ordered a pair of Dion snowshoes (founded and built by trail running legend Bob Dion) - though, since I really didn't know much and didn't have anyone to talk to about it back then, I ordered a "multiple use" larger pair that was listed as being good for hiking or running - and tried to put in some time on them during the early winter, despite the weather not really cooperating - we got very little snow prior to the end of December that year.
And I made plans to run my first snowshoe race, the I Love Woodford 5k in Woodford VT, on Sunday December 18. It turned out to be quite the experience after Woodford got something like a foot of snow prior to the race, and I learned very quickly that even walking on snowshoes can be a hell of a workout.
The RD for that race, and a number of Woodfords afterwards, was a fellow named Jack Quinn from Pownal VT. I've learned since that he was a founding member of the Battenkill Valley Runners club and a fixture at southern VT running events. One memory I have a Jack is his strapping on a pair of ice skates and skating around the parking area for the Woodford race on year when it was covered with a thick layer of ice.
Today I learned that Jack died about 3 weeks ago, struck by a vehicle on a Florida highway, while trying to rescue a turtle in the road.
