AUBURN - With temperatures well into the 40s and a bright sun - it didn't seem like winter was the right word for the Great Winter Race Sunday.

Nineteen teams of five members each started off at Casey Park with ice skating and 5k and 10k races winding through the city until they reached Highland Golf and Country Club, where they finished off with snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.

"It was perfect," said race director Steve Komanecky. "It was a perfect day, there was not one problem. You couldn't ask for a better day."

Attendance for the event was lower than was hoped for, but this didn't dampen the spirit of the race.

"It was not what we hoped for," Komanecky said. "But you have to look for the silver lining, everyone is happy."

There was still a group of dedicated, strong and unique teams who competed.

Among them was Team Duger. Comprised of Dan (snow shoeing), Abbie (skating), Robin (5k), Cody (10k) and Don (skiing) this team made its way to Auburn from Boston.

"We're from the Jordan-Elbridge area originally," Dan Duger said. "And my niece goes to Ithaca College. This is the first year we've all done this race."

"I race in Boston," Robin said. "But races dwindle this time of year. Team events like this really drive me."

For the Drugers, it was not simply about winning or losing, it was about how they did for themselves.

"We pulled a lot of personal bests," Dan said. "The skiing was a lot harder than we thought, but we ran better."

Dan had the fourth-best overall snow-shoe time.

Also making a surprise showing by winning in the master's (40-and-up) category was the team Curley's Drafts, consisting of Jim Genkos (skiing), Al Hastings (5k), Bill Mularney (10k), Doc Westee (skate), and Marty Keough (snow shoeing).

From the beginning, the team agreed they were more concerned with just having fun than going out and winning.

"We will finish," Hastings said. "But really we just want to get out and have a good time and get a good work out. But we will finish."

The victory came as a surprise.

"It was great, we didn't expect it," Genkos said. "It was total shock, unbelievable. I think we did so well because we all just enjoy going out and doing it."

Taking the top spot was Team Thorlo.

This team of Jack Kirch (skate), Jerry Mcomber (5k), Mike Brych (10k), Andrew Melnychenko (skiing) and Tim Walczyk (snow shoeing) has earned a real reputation over the past 12 years - they have won seven out of the past 10 years.

"You want to have five solid legs," Kirch said. "No weak links. If you have people in the top spots chances are you are going to pull out a win."

The team attributes Kirch's keen eye for the team's makeup.

"Jack is the best recruiter," Melnychenko said. "He just has a way of finding people. I look forward to it every year."

Part of the team's success, they said, is each member is dedicated year-round to staying in shape.

"I run all year round," Brych said. "I don't miss a day."

According to Mcomber, as dedicated as they are, it is important to have events like this to work for.

"It is a nice event to look forward to," Mcomber said. "It is an event to get psyched for otherwise there is no running."

But as happy as they were to win, Kirch said they are grateful to have an event like this in the first place.

"I'm thankful," Kirch said. "There are a lot of sponsors and we want to help support community events."