I have been watching some of the threads and getting inquiries of late from friends and colleagues about snowshoeing. With the enormous amount of snow that has hit the mid-Atlantic states this season, the race staff has suggested to the participants of the Endorphin Fix that they add snowshoes to their gear list. So, we wanted to post our tips from Travis Macy (that appeared in our January 2010 issue) on snowshoeing.

If you’re looking to ramp up your fitness this winter and head into spring ready to race, then snowshoeing could be the sport for you. Here are five points to consider when getting started.

1. Gear Up. Buy, borrow, or rent a pair of lightweight, running-focused snowshoes. Redfeather got the ball rolling almost 20 years ago, and a number of companies now make high-quality racing snowshoes. Anything much larger than 8”x25” is probably too big if you’re hoping to run. I generally race in the Northern Lites Elite for courses featuring powder and the Northern Lites Elite Racer for groomed courses. If you’re serious about running fast, remove the bindings from your snowshoes and mount a lightweight pair of running shoes permanently to the snowshoes. Do this by drilling through the midsole and outsole and attaching with bolts, washers, and locking nuts.

2. Train Right. If you live in the mountains, nordic skiing, randonee skiing, and snowshoe running all offer great training for snowshoe races. If you only see snow at the snowshoe race itself, fear not! Running, cycling, and swimming all provide excellent carryover fitness. Snowshoe racing is a high-end aerobic activity, so I recommend high-intensity, uphill intervals for running and biking. Most snowshoe races occur at altitude, so any training and/or sleeping up high is good.

3. Dress Appropriately. Many first-time snowshoers dress comfortably for downhill skiing, only to find themselves excrutiatingly overheated minutes into the workout or race. I recommend dressing lighter than you think you should–you should feel cool when waiting on the starting line. I generally wear a lightweight, wool base layer on top and bottom with thin windpants, another lightweight shirt, and a wind vest (a full, non-mesh back on the vest is crucial in keeping the flying snow off). Sunscreen and sunglasses are important.

4. Think Technique. Generally, running on snowshoes is just like running without snowshoes. You may need to widen your stride slightly to prevent the snowshoes from hitting your ankles. Running on uneven snow may feel a bit awkward at first; this will diminish with practice. Keep your ankles loose and expect a bit of twisting and turning (trail running year round helps immensely here). On steep uphills, you can often travel just as fast and conserve energy by power hiking. Going downhill, lean back a bit, lift your knees, and allow the heal of the snowshoe to provide flotatation.

5. To Pole or Not to Pole? For snowshoers on a hike who may be unsure about balance, poles offer an added degree of stability. Adventure racing superstar Mike Kloser, who comes from a skiing background, uses nordic skiing poles when snowshoe racing because of the increased push when climbing. I come from a running background and do not use poles because they get in the way when descending. Give both options a try and decide for yourself!

Evergreen, Colorado’s Travis Macy has won the Colorado Snowshoeing State Championship and the Turquoise Lake 20-Miler Snowshoe Race, among others. He adventure races with Team Merrell/Akali and teaches reading, writing, and arithmetic at Denver Academy High School. Feel free to follow Travis’ adventures at www.followtravismacy.blogspot.com.