Not your father's snowshoe outing

Triathletes, others find great workout racing wintry trails

Brian Metzler, Special to the News

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Every time I enter a snowshoe race in Colorado, I remember my first one.

About 12 years ago, a couple of friends convinced me I should enter a 5-kilometer race with them in Nederland. As an avid trail runner who wasn't averse to the cold of winter, I agreed. Running a race on snow sounded like a fun way to enjoy a morning, especially after the foot of snow that had fallen in previous days.

Dressed in a Gore-Tex jacket, running pants, a pair of hiking boots and a pair of mountaineering snowshoes, I showed up at the race with no idea what to expect. Those were my first mistakes.

But sprinting away from the starting line with the lead group was my worst blunder.

Five minutes into the race, I was an overheated, exhausted and stumbling ball of sweat.

I remember that race because of how much I learned about this fledgling sport. Snowshoe racing is a great way to experience the splendor of winter trails while also doing an intense anaerobic workout. Also, prancing through the snow - regardless if you're going fast or slow - can be a heck of a lot of fun.

The sport has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent years, thanks to advances in snowshoe design and the desire of many runners, triathletes and cyclists to test their competitive mettle during winter. Are you running a spring marathon? Training for the Bolder Boulder in May? Or do you have plans to do your first triathlon in the spring?

Snowshoe racing can be a valuable offseason training tool, Denver resident and pro triathlete Greg Krause said.

"Snowshoe races keep me motivated to train in the winter," said Krause, who won the 2004 U.S. Snowshoe Championship.

"I use the races as my only hard workouts in the middle of my winter base training, and I think it pays off huge in the spring and summer months during the 'tri' season. The strength I gain snowshoeing in the winter comes in handy when climbing on the bike or in the late stages in the run in a triathlon during the summer months."

The sport offers plenty for those who don't aspire to be a front-of-the-pack competitor, too.

It can be very rewarding to get out for an hour of unique exercise, experience trails in a way you might never see them and have the satisfaction of finishing a race in the lofty altitude of Colorado's high country.

In addition, snowshoe racing is rated near the top when it comes to calorie-burning sports.

It's a great way to get your heart rate up with little or no impact on your joints or bones, said veteran racer and Boulder resident Adam Chase.

"To me, it's just a lot of fun," said Chase, who manages the Atlas Snowshoe Racing Team. "In longer races, I enjoy the quiet of the winter mountainscapes. And I like running downhill at a fast enough clip that you spray snow over your head."

TIPS FOR SNOWSHOE RACING

Equipment

Racing snowshoes are short and sleek, which allows for quick leg turnover in a variety of snowy conditions. The best racing models, including the Tubbs Catalyst ($279) and Atlas Dual-Trac ($199), are made from lightweight aluminum and measure approximately 8 inches by 25 inches. But there are dozens of less expensive models that will suffice in a 5- or 10-kilometer race. Ski poles generally are discouraged, unless the racecourse goes through untracked snow and you have some difficulty with balance. Many races offer free or inexpensive demo models on a first-come, first-served basis, and many ski, running and outdoor shops rent and sell racing snowshoes.

What to wear

Despite the cold conditions, running on snowshoes can make you feel like you're running through the desert in a down jacket. Wear what you'd wear for a chilly morning run, but be sure to dress in layers for temperature control and moisture management. Veteran racer Adam Chase recommends a long-sleeve moisture-wicking base layer shirt, a lightweight shell jacket or vest, thermal running tights, thin wool socks, a thin, breathable hat and lightweight mittens. Most racers wear running shoes, not boots, because they are lighter and allow greater range of motion.

Snowshoe races

• Sunday: Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series (5, 10 kilometers), Beaver Creek Resort; bcsnowshoe.com.

• Dec. 31: Bravo Guild Snowshoe Resolution Run (5 kilometers), Vail Nordic Center, 1-970-581-5254.

• Jan. 7: Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series (5, 10 kilometers), Beaver Creek Resort; bcsnowshoe.com.

• Jan. 17: Nighthawks Snowshoe Race (4 kilometers); Eldora Nordic Center; eldora.com.

• Jan. 20: Meadow Mountain 9-mile Snowshoe Race, Minturn; 1-970-845-0931.

• Jan. 24: Nighthawks Snowshoe Race (4 kilometers); Eldora Nordic Center; eldora.com.

• Jan. 31: Nighthawks Snowshoe Race (4 kilometers); Eldora Nordic Center; eldora.com.

• Feb. 4: Frisco Gold Rush 7-kilometer Snowshoe Race, Frisco, 303-635-2815.

• Feb. 7: Nighthawks Snowshoe Race (4 kilometers); Eldora Nordic Center; eldora.com.

• Feb. 11: Jeremy Wright North American Snowshoe Championships, (5, 10 kilometers), Beaver Creek Resort; bcsnowshoe.com.

• Feb. 11: Screamin' Snowman (5, 10 kilometers), Eldora Nordic Center; racingunderground.com.

• Feb. 14: Nighthawks Snowshoe Race (4 kilometers); Eldora Nordic Center; eldora.com

• Feb. 21: Nighthawks Snowshoe Race (4 kilometers); Eldora Nordic Center; eldora.com

• Feb. 24: Vail Night Snowshoe Race (5 miles), Lionshead, Vail; 1-970-845-0931.

• March 3: Snowshoe Shuffle (5, 10 kilometers), Beaver Creek; bcsnowshoe.com.

• March 9-10: U.S. National Snowshoe Championships, Maple Grove, Minn.; snowshoeracing.com.