Run Snow!
There is no typical Michigan winter. Last year we had a very unusual couple of months of heavy snow across the state with no meltdowns. For running, it sucked.
On the flip side, those of us runners who have taken up snow shoeing, never missed a beat! Snow shoeing is the snow belts fastest growing sport, a sport for runners! Were not talking huge numbers but a good guess would be a that 2-3 thousand Michigan runners strapped on snowshoes before heading out for their winter workouts, and the number is growing fast. Its hard to pin this number down but from discussions with representatives of Redfeather and Crescent Moon snowshoes, 2-3 thousand is a good guess. This number is based on sales of performance snowshoes, the smaller frames designed for strapping on your running shoes.
The western states and eastern areas like Vermont and upstate New York are the snowshoe hot beds. 4 years ago, Traverse City Running Fit managers Jeff and Daniel pulled a Midwest coo, convincing the US Snowshoe Association to hold the USSA National Championships in Traverse City, Michigan!
! (They must have told quite a story.) Qualifying races in Tahoe City, California, Killington, Vermont, and Vail, Colorado shook out the best. 120 snow shoe-ers lined up on a warm, thin snow morning in Traverse City to Hammer 10 km and determine the top dogs, the national team! The on and off trail course through old snow made for some fast times. The Rocky Mountain Shoe-ers gave the Michigan course a thumbs up. No fresh powder but plenty of hill climbs, log jumps and fast packed stretches of the well known Vasa trail. Complete results can be found at www.runsnow.com and www.snowshoeracing.com.
Consider joining us as Traverse City hosts the Midwest regional qualifier at the Bigfoot 5 & 10K on January 26, 2008 - go to www.runsnow.com. No experience necessary, theyll even rent you snowshoes! Unlike cross training, snowshoeing "is" running, tough running that will make you faster and fitter. Will snowshoeing become the new winter Olympic sport? The United States Snowshoe Association hopes to make it happen!