Is there Astro Turf at the North Pole????

It's funny to watch people's reaction to something taken completely out of context. Case in point - my brand new Kahtoola Flight snowshoe system arrived yesterday to the delight of my kids. I'm darn lucky I had them shipped to work; otherwise they'd have had a go at them before I did (much to the dismay of our hardwood floors - and my wife).

I clomped around my office in one (slipped over my dress shoe) for a few minutes, but decided against putting the other one on just in case my boss (or anyone else) should walk in - why I figured I could explain away having one snow shoe on but not two is beyond me..

Once home, I used them as a teaser to get my kids in to their PJs (in record time I might add - nothing gets kids attention like a pair of Kahtoola snowshoes), and then put both shoes on for the first time over the shoes I'll be wearing at the Pole. THEY FIT (and felt) FANTASTIC!

As my brain so eloquently pointed out after pacing around our 8x10 rug for a minute or two, standing upright in the living room and moving 26.2 miles through ice, snow and wind in negative (I don't know) 1,000 degrees are at complete opposite ends of the performance spectrum. A glance up at the thermostat in the house proved my brain (once again) right.. It wasn't anywhere near negative 1,000 degrees..

Fast forward to 5:45 this morning at the Piedmont High School football stadium's Astro Turf track. I strapped on the snowshoes and was happy to see that they went on as easy (if not easier) outside in 52 degree weather as they did INSIDE in 67 degrees. Imagine how easy they'll be to work in -30 degrees! With my camcorder set up and ready to record my first (running) steps in the new shoes, I set off down the centerline of the field towards the goal post on the other end (of course, as a guy, I started fantasizing about being chased by a dozen or so defenders after fielding a punt inside the 10). After scoring the touchdown in my mind's fantasy league, I turned around and ran 100 yards back towards the camera (which was set up about 4 yards inside the end zone) to see that not only was it not on, but that the battery was completely dead... [insert audible scream here]

All of that aside (and I'm sure this doesn't come as a huge surprise to anyone), running in snow shoes is a lot different than just running. The major difference is obviously that your feet now have an extra 2 1/2 - 3 inches of width, so you have to be careful to keep them from hitting each other. The result is a running style that I can only imagine is like the sensation a child has running around with a poopy diaper on - hips spread ever so slightly, running takes on more of a forced march-like effort - you get the picture..

I was able to run about a mile in them before the high school soccer team came breezing by wondering what on earth I was doing (along with the 20 or so "real runners" who made it up and out by that time). Getting back to my original point about people's reaction to things taken out of context; I don't think I could have looked more out of place (short of being completely nude - except for the snow shoes).. Maybe next time I'll head over at 4am just to remove that outside interference element from the equation.

With no video other than a second or two of me running away from the camera, I packed up the shoes and headed home. That said, all in all it was a huge success! Whether conditions at the Pole support shoes, boots, or snowshoes, I think I'll be set and ready to race.

For more information on the Kahtoola Flight System, visit them at www.kahtoola.com