By Scott Graham

So you live in New England and you’ve never tried this sport/torture. Well let me tell you something, you’re missing out. As I type this I’m looking out my window seeing our first snow storm of the new year. Most runners would say to themselves “UGH, I either have to go out in that mess or get on the dreadmill.” But if you’ve taken up snow shoe running you have a sense of excitement, as if it were Christmas Eve. Especially the light fluffy stuff like today’s storm. In addition you get to do your run on the trails avoiding all the knuckle head drivers who try to run you off the road as one tried to do this morning to my running group.

One of the most beautiful things you can do in the winter is break fresh trails in snow shoes. The woods are alive with fresh powder. You will find fresh tracks of an array of animals, rabbits, coyote, deer and in Westford’s case, black bear.

Now I bet you’re thinking to yourself, “Gee that sounds like fun, but will I get a workout out of this?” The answer is YES!! I can’t highlight the word “yes” enough. This will be one of the toughest workouts you’ll ever do if you try and do it at your normal training pace. You’re heart will rip out of your chest like the creature in the movie Alien. So before you begin, reset your expectations. Know that you’re not going to cover as much ground and you’re going to be going much slower. But there also some advantages. First, if you know the area you are in, you don’t have to stick to the trails. Do a little bush whacking. Explore areas you’ve never been to. Go to the top of a hill and fly down the back side. The sensation on snow shoes is amazing.

What equipment do you need? Well snow shoes….duh!! But you’ll need running snow shoes. These are lighter and smaller then your normal snow shoes and allow for a more natural stride. However finding them can be a little difficult. Many of the national brands make them but they are tough to find in stores. So you may have to order over the internet. I’ve owned a couple of different brands and the brand that has become the runners choice are Dion Snowshoes. These shoes are made in Vermont and are different than all the other makers. They come in 3 pieces, frame, binding and cleat. Why is this important? Snow shoeing really pounds the equipment. With all the other manufactures the shoe comes in one piece. If you break any part of it you’ll be throwing out the set. Most of the manufactures do not even warranty their equipment. With Dion’s you can swap out the broken part. How tough is that? Well at one race a few years ago with 3 minutes until the start I noticed that my binding was ripping apart from a rocky trail I had run the day before. I yelled over to the owner of Dion’s: “Bob, do you have any spare bindings”. In 30 seconds we had the snow shoe taken apart and put back together with a new binding. REALLY, just 2 screws with a quarter turn each. I promptly paid Bob for the new binding after the race. Try that with another brand. Now, I do not work for Bob Dion and get nothing for recommending his products, but they are the best. Dion’s sells a couple different frames, bindings and cleats. The best set up for running/racing are the 121 frames, the quick-fit bindings and the deep cleat. This set up will set you back a few $$’s but it’s well worth it.

OK now you have the right snow shoes, what should you wear? Dress in layers, thin layers. Trust me you will get hot. VERY FAST. The worst thing you can do it over heat and have to walk. You’ll start getting cold very fast. Another thing you might want to invest in are a set of snow gators. These are covers that go over the tops of your shoes and go up over your calf. They help keep the snow out of your shoes which will keep your feet dryer and warmer. Speaking of shoes, just go with a set of training shoes. Heavy boots are NOT an option. You’ll be work hard enough without that kind of weight.

Now you’re all dress up and ready to go, where do you run. Well there are tails all over the place, even in Lowell. Shed Park and Lowell-Dracut state forest to name two right in the city. All the suburbs have lots of conservation land that you can have loads of fun in.

Now you’ve been out for once or twice and you want to test you metal in a race. OH BOY are you in for some fun. There are a couple of series right here in New England. First there is the Granite State Series, then there is the WMAC series. An there are a bunch of independent races. But you’re in luck. This year the national championship (yes there is such a thing) will be held in Woodford, VT. You do have to run a qualifying event but there are 5 year age categories and they take quite a few runners. If you’re interested please go to the National qualification page to understand how and where you can qualify .

What race should I start out with? Great question!! Trust me on this one. One person I know who’s name rhymes with Fason Gooy decided it was a good idea to do a half marathon snow shoe race as his first event. DON’T DO IT!! Select something in the 5K range as a starter race. Poor Fason Gooy had one heck of a day his first race. You have to remember a couple of things. First, you’re going slower. So your going to be out there anywhere from 2 – 5 minutes PER MILE longer than your normal 5K time. Second, your working your whole body. There is a lot of balance and corrective actions going on while your running on these things, so you’re going to get a full body workout. Third, most of these races have the word “Mountain” in the race name. So many times one of the key race features is your running UP a mountain only to be followed by running back down the mountain or in my case falling down the mountain. Yes, falling does occur often, but in most cases you fall off the trail and you’re in waist deep snow so you’re laughing at yourself. You just get back up and start running again. Lastly, most of these races are very low key events and everyone is out to have fun. Many times people will stop to check that you’re OK and help you up if need be. The are also two other things you have to know before you bust off the starting line. At the start there is a lot of snow flying. So much some times you can’t see where your going. Be prepared. Second if you’re out on single track and there is a faster runner behind you, step aside so they can pass you. No sense in blocking people. Someone will do the same for you. Trust me.

So take advantage of the wonderful New England weather and get one of the toughest, most fun work outs you can get in the winter months. Heck if you really like it you can run the sand dunes with snow shoes in the summer.

This was originally published on the Greater Lowell Road Runners blog. Want to try out snowshoe racing or are just looking to get some in? You’re in luck. Dave Dunham has organized the Maudslay Snowshoe Run tomorrow morning at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, MA. It’s free, except for a minuscule parking fee. Check out the event’s Facebook page to get all the details.