As a long-time Nordic ski racer the 1st time I saw those small "racing" snowshoes I thought "How impractical". Running to me has always been work. I only ran in the summer to condition for XC racing. Running on snowshoes when one could be XC skiing did not appeal to me at all.
Now XC racing is FUN (except on the 80th mile of a two day, 100 mile Canadian Ski Marathon). Showshoe racing...not so much.

Eric