By Tom Dalton
SALEM — Everything is falling into place for the big race tomorrow.
The 3.1-mile course has been laid out through Olde Salem Greens golf course and adjacent Salem Woods. The gifts and prizes — mittens, socks and stocking caps — are all lined up. And the hot chocolate is ready to go on the stove.
Even the gods are cooperating: There is snow on the ground.
"Until last week, I thought, 'Oh, no, it might have to be a trail run,'" said Eileen Dunn, the city's recreation supervisor. "I'm glad we have snow for it. This is great."
Not every race director prays for snow, but this is no ordinary race.
This is the Olde Salem Greens Snowshoe Classic, a 5-kilometer hop, skip and, most likely, tumble in the white fluffy stuff that may be the first snowshoe race ever held on the North Shore — or, at least, the first in many years.
Although this is the inaugural event, interest has been high. And that interest seems to peak every time the snow falls.
"I came back Monday (after a snowy weekend), and we had 10 to 12 registrations," Dunn said.
As of midweek, a total of 119 experienced and first-time snowshoers had signed up.
"It was a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be," Dunn said. "Definitely the word is getting around."
Word spread so quickly that the 40 pairs of snowshoes loaned by Dion Snowshoes of Vermont have already been reserved. There's even a waiting list for snowshoes. At this point, it's a BYOS event — bring your own snowshoes.
The race is being run by the city's Park and Recreation department with a big assist from a local snowshoe racing team, Dungeon Rock Racing, which was founded by several North Shore residents. The club is giving out gloves, adorned with the Dungeon Rock skull and crossbones logo, to the top finishers.
Instead of medals or ribbons, age-group winners will get knitted winter hats. And in place of traditional road race T-shirts, early registrants will get socks.
Dunn, it seems, has thought of everything.
"I've got an ambulance scheduled to be there just in case," she said.
If you go
What: Olde Salem Greens Snowshoe Classic
When: Tomorrow, 9 a.m. (registration 8 a.m.)
Where: Olde Salem Greens, 75 Willson St., Salem
Fee: $12 pre-race, $15 on race day
More information: Salem Park Department, 978-744-0180
