Training Tips For Snowshoe Racing: Triathlete Brad Zoller Hits The Snow

When triathlete Brad Zoller lived in Chicago, he used to run the stairs to his apartment twice a week. He lived on the 23rd floor, and it took him about two minutes.

“I would take the elevator down, and then just run up the stairs,” he shares. “I would do that about six times through, about twice a week, and it was a really good workout.”

Now, as a resident of Avon, Colo., Zoller does his vertical training on mountains instead of stairs. Uphill intervals in any form, he says, are great for snowshoe race training.

“It builds strength and cardio, and it’s actually a really, really good workout for snowshoeing, because you’re lifting your legs a lot,” he says of the stair workouts.

Zoller recently won the first 5k snowshoe race on January 4 in the 2015 Beaver Creek Running Series: Snowshoe Edition. A crew team member in high school, and an off-road triathlete since, the endurance athlete competes in snowshoe racing as less regimented, off-season training.

“One thing about snowshoe racing, actually what I like about it — more than just regular road running — is it’s a lot like trail running where it requires strength,” he explains.

So, how does he train for snowshoe racing?

“Running in snow is good, but that’s pretty obvious,” he said. “But in the winter I don’t do too many specific workouts, just because the weather is always changing. I have to be pretty adaptive with what I do, because I don’t like training inside.

“It’s good to let Mother Nature choose your workouts,” he adds.

Here are some of Zoller’s recommendations for taking your fitness onto the snow.

Get A Training Partner 

Having someone to keep you accountable and challenge you during your workouts is important to keep training on pace. For Zoller, it’s his dog, Senna, a border collie mix, who plays that role.

“Having a training partner is probably one of the best things, for me at least,” he says. “And that’s why my dog’s so good, because she can outrun me no matter what sport I’m doing.”

Brad Zoller with his training partner, Senna, last year in Barrington, IL for the Frozen Zucchini 5k snowshoe race. Photo courtesy of Brad Zoller.

Build Your Strength 

Stairs and hill training will get you ready for the snowshoe races, particular because of the leg strength you are building while upping your cardio. Stairs running, above all, Zoller says, simulates snowshoe running in the mountains really well.

Hit the stairs, or hills, for interval training twice a week. Intervals are short sessions (between 1 to 5 minute spurts, for up to 20 total minutes) of high-heart rate work.

Diversify Your Endurance

Lateral movement training is important to keep you agility-ready and injury-free. While you’re pumping up your endurance levels, incorporate cross-training methods like skate skiing, downhill skiing on moguls and snowboarding.

“Skate skiing is really helpful, because there’s a lot of lateral work, and you never really know what you are going to step on or run into,” explains Zoller. “It’s great to have that lateral stability there to hold you in place, because you definitely slide a lot running on snow and ice.”

Play With Gear 

While a lot of competitive snowshoe runners have their running shoes directly mounted on their snowshoes (with no bindings necessary), Zoller says he runs in Northern Lights Elite snowshoes.

“I have heard the direct mount is very helpful, but I still like to snowshoe with my wife and not have my snowshoes specifically for running,” he shares. “These that I use seem to work just fine because they are light and hold the snow well.”

You also don’t have to always train with snowshoes on. Run on packed or groomed trails with snow spikes or Yaktrax for training too, because a lot of running in snowshoes can lead to overuse injuries, like in the hip flexors, for instance.

Like all successful workouts, it’s best if you have fun while you’re doing them.

“In the winter, I can do snowshoe racing and it’s fun and great cross training, and I love it,” says Zoller.

Follow Brad Zoller on his website at www.bradzoller.com. For more information on the Beaver Creek Running Series: Snowshoe Edition, visit www.beavercreek.com/events-and-activities/snowshoe-series.aspx#/RaceInfo. 

Brad Zoller with his training partner, Senna, last year in Barrington, IL for the Frozen Zucchini 5k snowshoe race. Photo courtesy of Brad Zoller.