Fit-Pic: Snowshoe Sunday

Bluebird skies, spring-like temperatures, 12 inches of fresh powder. Sounds like a great day for skiing, right? But snowshoeing? Isn't that more for the days when you're not itching to make fresh tracks, tear up the powder, or ski until your legs practically fall off?

Not today. Today was all about swapping the skis for the snowshoes. And racing--or at least crossing a finish line and having a time tacked onto the 5K you just logged.

At Beaver Creek Resort, Sunday, March 2, was the day of the final race of the 2014 Beaver Creek Snowshoe Series. I had already missed the first race of the series and skipped the second to ski, so the snowshoes were going to have to make an appearance whether I wished I was skiing or not. So snow or no snow, I'd be parting with my skis to strap on my snowshoes to tackle the cut trails and singletrack at McCoy Park, the resort's nordic center that sits 10,000-plus feet above sea level at the top of the Strawberry Park lift.

And I wasn't alone. Just look at these snowshoers snaking their way across the trail before getting to the singletrack. All people I wanted to catch up to as I got stalled at the start with a snowshoe that wouldn't stay on my foot. But more on that (and more pictures) after I've recovered from the weekend's active adventures. The Talons Challenge and Snowshoe Series take a lot out of this girl!

Fit-Pic: Three, Two, One, Snowshoe

It's Sunday morning. It's January. It's after most of the holiday hype has cooled off. So why aren't these snow bunnies skiing? Because January 6 was the first snowshoe race of the season at Beaver Creek Ski Resort. Each winter the Beaver Creek Running Series offers a snowshoe edition with races held on and around the mountain in January, February and March that draw pro and amateur racers.

According to the race announcer, roughly 350 snowshoers took to today's 5K and 10K courses that wound up, down and around Beaver Creek's west side. These athletes make the race look easy. If you watched me on the trail, you'd probably think otherwise (I'm convinced I held up at least a dozen people when our course turned to slippery, downhill singletrack). But more on that tomorrow (and more pictures too)--I'm still warming up after standing around for too long this afternoon in wet socks and layers.

Swap Skiing for These Sports

Some days you just don't want to ski. Maybe you don't want to get out of bed. Maybe your knees ache and your quads burn (my whole body ached my second day on the snow, worse than when I tried snowboarding). Maybe you're unsure of your skiing skills on the slushier than normal conditions, especially when there's ice lurking underneath. But that doesn't mean you have to abandon all hopes of exercise--or live it up in the fitness center all day.

Not even close, as people have been proving to me all week. I've seen snowshoers trekking up the mountain plenty of times--I even tried to bring mine this trip but they didn't fit in the ski bag. I've seen at least two fly fishermen wading in the waters of Gore Creek. I've seen bikes cruising along U.S. 6 and the Frontage Road. It's like playing a game of I-Spy. But it's also given me plenty of ideas for ways to keep my legs busy without putting on the skis as outlined in this buzz.snow.com post.

What to Love About the Craft PXC Storm Tight

Sometimes blogging just doesn’t go your way. It’s kind of like running when you have a race outcome that you’re not completely satisfied with. You wish you could remember where you went wrong, you wish you could remember the good parts instead of all the bad parts, you wish you could banish the negative energy.

Now transfer those thoughts over to writing and you’ll find my current position. I’m sitting in front of my computer, trying to recount the phrases that ran through my head during last night’s Spinning workout. There’s something about me and biking—and Thursday night, only Thursday—that revs the creative juices in my brain, giving me oodles (yes, oodles) of thoughts to run back home and jot down. Except last night I needed secret powers or magnetic energy, anything, to transfer my thoughts to paper before class ended. By the time I got off the bike, all the phrases I tried so hard to remember as I pedaled through climbs, headwinds and sprints weren’t coming together as well as they had during the sweat session. I can remember keywords like REI fleece pants, snowshoeing, slipping on ice and doubling up, but ask me to connect them all together in carefully crafted prose and I’m stuck in my tracks.

You see, all of those phrases are supposed to explain my affinity for the Craft running pants I modeled at the Fleet Feet Fashion Show last month. I’m practically as clueless as you, reading this for the first time, figuring out how I meshed them together in a cohesive, rational thought, which I swear I did but needed a notebook next to the bike so I could hop off and jot it down. Let this serve as a long-winded introduction to the Craft tights pictured above.

And now onto the review.

Fit-Pic: Super Bowl Snowshoe

Apparently we weren't the only ones looking to shed some calories before the big game. Forget the Super Bowl, our pregame consisted of some snowshoe and cross-country ski action across a snow-covered golf course along Lake Michigan. Chicago's third largest dump brought plenty of snow seekers outside with skis, sleds, boots and their dogs to romp through the snow, more than I've seen on any given Sunday. Even our beloved Lakefront Path had a steady flow of runners racking up their mileage.

Guess that means we could enjoy a few extra snacks during those commercial breaks?

Who Said Anything About Skiing?

I'm not shy about my love for skiing. Heck, I married a skier, only solidifying that either I will be taking vacations to snow country for the rest of my life or moving there. But some--OK, most--of my friends and family don't exactly share this affinity. Skiers and riders, I know what you're thinking. How can anyone not want to ski or board?

I definitely don't have the ultimate answer to that question--I'm the one who'd take a ski day even in July--but I do have some solutions, an assortment of activities that work for skiers and non. Whether you're trying to sell your non-skiing friends on the reasons to visit a ski resort or you want to stay active without your skis or board for a day, check out these snow sports I shared for buzz.snow.com. And the best part? You don't need a lift ticket to do them.

Two More Reasons to Love Colorado

I know I should stop dreaming about Colorado now that I'm back home and into reality, but snow reports and events from the Rockies are keeping my eyes wandering. That and after I posted a few reasons to stay in the Rockies, I realized I had a few more.

• Snowshoeing. Beaver Creek held a snowshoeing event on Sunday that brings families and individuals to the mountain armed to walk the snow. It's a ton of fun for both competitive athletes and leisurely strollers. While this past weekend marked the last of the adventure series' races, the Snowshoe Shuffle completes the season April 5. Held at McCoy Park, the nordic center facility nestled midway up the mountain, the shuffle offers event distances for all, a post-race party and proceeds to benefit the Shaw Regional Cancer Center.
• If you're not active, there's something wrong with you. OK, that might not necessarily be true but it sure seems like everyone is active in one way or another. At least everyone I met, that is. They all ski or board in the winter, then hike, mountain bike or road ride in the summer. But that's not all, some people cram more into their day in terms of active endeavors. Take the ski instructor who led us through the Talons Challenge at Beaver Creek: not only did he ski the 13 toughest runs at BC with us (and with bumps on most of them) but he had worked out before hitting the slopes that morning, lifting and running. Another ski instructor talked about doing trail marathons. And a friend had spent a weekend skate skiing, then hit the snowcat backcountry trails with us on telemark skis on Monday. And those lunges did not look fun in the heavy powder we encountered in the backcountry.

Eek, I'm making myself wanting to hop another plane out there as soon as I can. I still haven't unpacked so it's almost too tempting to head back. Any Coloradans have a floor or couch I can crash on? Posted by Kate

Snow way!

As I've mentioned, I'm training for a spring marathon. I'm putting in most of my miles on the treadmill (or the "treadie," as I've begun faux-affectionately referring to it), but the gym is a mile from my apartment and unless the wind chill dips below zero, I run over in whatever Mother Nature throws at me. This weekend, it was snow. Lots of it! At first it's kind of pretty and festive. But then it gets in your eyes and stings (note to self: wear a baseball hat under my stocking cap) and it's slippery and you sorta feel like you're running on uneven mounds of beach sand...except without the sunshine, salt water smell and crashing blue waves.

Since it took me a whopping two minutes longer than usual to get to the gym (and I couldn't get going fast enough to rev up my heart rate), I wondered if I was doing myself any training favors by running through the snow. I did some Googling around and came across a Runner's World article that says runners burn 1.6 times as many calories when they hoof it on the sand instead of asphalt. I figure snow is pretty similar in terms of consistency, so I'm giving myself extra credit points for every mile I log in the white stuff. Posted by Liz

Fit-Event: Winter Trails Day

Photo grabbed from ann j p at flickr.com

How are you spending your Saturday? If you're looking for a way to get outside for fresh air--even in the middle of winter--squeeze in some mindless exercise and maybe try a new activity, plan to take part in Winter Trails Day on January 10.

Now in its 14th year, Winter Trails Day occurs across the country at various resorts and facilities as a way for children and adults to try snowshoeing and cross country skiing for free. Local businesses and organizations offer this program in their area and create a day full of snow-filled events--and sometimes snacks and hot chocolate, too.

I'm bummed because I don't see any events listed for Illinois this year, but with our recent snowfall--and prediction for more overnight--that doesn't mean I can't go out anyway. Some places to hit up include Camp Sagawau in Lemont, Arrowhead Golf Course in Wheaton, and Morton Arboretum in Lisle. While they may not be participants in Winter Trails Day, all three facilities offer rentals and tons of trails to wander down. The Nordic Fox Ski Club offers cross country ski lessons at Arrowhead on Saturday mornings through February 14.

OK, enough of my local connection. Not sure which activity to try? Snowshoeing has the easiest learning curve: just strap your boots into the snowshoes and take off walking. But cross country skiing can offer one of the most comprehensive total body workouts.

Need more convincing? A fact from the Winter Trails Day organizing committee says that in 2006, more than 11,000 people participated in Winter Trails Day and burned a combined 5.5 million calories per hour. For an hour of exploring the trails, an average-size person can burn roughly 500 calories for each activity. Sure beats slogging away on the treadmill.

Check out the Winter Trails website to find an event near you. Posted by Kate