Does anyone use snowshoes to train in the winter?
I'm from Massachusetts and curious about trying it this winter.
Does anyone use snowshoes to train in the winter?
I'm from Massachusetts and curious about trying it this winter.
I got some running snowshoes a couple of years ago and really enjoy them. But, you are reliant on getting some snow. Dave Dunham, I think, has organized some races in the area.
Might try it myself this winter in Colorado. Check out a book called "The Winter Athlete" by Steve Ilg published by Johnson Books in Boulder. The guy's an animal. It'll give you some intriguing elements to mull over in your winter training.
If you mean snow shoes like those big waffle things, how could you possibly run with those? Besides, snow shoes are for very deep snow. Maybe you could hike in deep snow, but if you tried running in it, you'd probably get some kind of injury.
Maybe you mean clip-ons, or attachments that go on regular trainers to give extra traction. I've used these, and I feel that they work great. I have a pair that have some big sharp metals things that work great in snow and icey conditions.
They make running snowshoes. Mine are Tubbs 10k. They are much smaller than mountain snowshoes. It is a great workout-make sure you can get dry and warm after you workout as you will be throughly soaked with sweat.
There is already a fledgling snowshoe circuit in NH/VT, but it is obviously dependent on snow. A highly ranked trail runner in my club has run many a snowshoe race and is fairly competitive in the snowshoe races he enters (Top 10). His wife has actually almost run as fast in snowshoes as in regular shoes (must be because of the ability to launch down the hills).
Go to
, and then the "contact us" page. The email address you are looking for is Benjamin Nephew (look on the board of directors). He'll be able to direct you to where you need to go for snowshoe racing.
I did a lot of snowshoeing and I finally gave up on it. Basically the combination of the snow and the extra weight make it an anaerobic workout that you can only sustain for so long. The other poster was right, you sweat like a pig- but it is also hard from the first step so it is tough to warm up.
That is unless you happen to be running on a hard packed groomed surface, in which case you might as well be just running without the snowshoes.
My two cents, from someone who has to live through 6 months of snow a year, is that it is fun to do once in a while for the hell of it but not something you would want to substitute too much running for. There will always be enduro-freaks who can do anything like this and make it look like fun.
XC skiing, on the other hand, totally rocks. No pounding, seriously FAST, balls to the wall workouts that can last for 3 hours. By far the coolest sport I have ever done. It does make you a tougher runner as well, because your heart and lungs don't care what is working them, and it makes your legs [esp. hamstrings] incredibly strong. Ask Andrey Kuznetsov.
Colorado has 2-3 snowhsoe race series'. I've done a number of 5k snowshoe races over the past 5-6 years. My best time was in the low 23's and slowest was 44 minutes (yes, 5k). I'm a 17 minute 5k runner on the roads. Courses obviously differ in terrain and difficulty, hence the large discrepency in times. I've done a lot of snowshoe training along with the racing as well.
Persaonally, it's a tremendous strenght workout, less pounding on the body, a great mental and physical break from "regular" running, and a blast overall.
In addition, most of the races don't have a ton of entrants and have awesome give-aways and prizes. One year my wife won two pairs of snowshoes at two separate races (out of the 5 that she did). That's like a $500 value! They've even had a national championship in Colorado the last few years where the winner won something like $5000, 2nd $2500, 3rd $1000, I believe. Give it a try!
The records for snowshoe running are quite remarkable. There is even a hurdle record listed in an old book I have. Gerard Cote of Canada won Boston based on his snowshoe training. He actually ran as if he were still wearing them. Check out old pictures(1940?)I think.
Howie, do you do your skiing at Great Glen Trails by any chance?
Thanks for all your information.