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| Feeding the fire. Topping off to win. Snowshoe racers who want to win make sure their fuel pack is carefully calibrated. Improper or insufficient intake can lead to collapse long before you cross the line. “There are two important factors to take into consideration for snowshoeing—altitude and temperature,” says Suzanne Farrell, a Colorado-based registered dietician. “At higher altitudes, you breathe more, and that results in greater loss of fluids. Plus it’s cold, so you’re not as thirsty. Warm liquids really help.” Farrell calls for beverages of six- to eight-percent carbs, which provide hydration as well as caloric support. “Small but continual consumption of beverages and snacks helps the body adjust to altitude.” On the snack front, the options are many: wafers, canned fruit, dried fruit, oatmeal cookies, instant breakfast drinks, juices, hard boiled eggs, whole wheat tortillas, grain bars, yogurt raisins, rice krispie bars, bagels, string cheese—just about anything that gives you carbs (and a touch of fat) without too much sugar or any chemicals with more than five syllables.
Getting in race gear. The smaller and lighter the snowshoe, the more fleet of foot a snowshoe racer will be. Major snowshoe makers like Tubbs and Atlas make ultralight, racing-specific models with minimal crampon assemblies, streamlined bodies and specially tapered tails—all of which deliver maximum velocity. You can race in mountaineering snowshoes, but you’ll suffer a distinct disadvantage. You’ll also need a pair of waterproof/breathable boots (again, the lighter the better) and outerwear with as little weight and bulk as possible (soft shell, with its sleek, body-hugging maneuverability, has become popular on the circuit, as has other forms of nonrestrictive, self-drying, athletically contoured attire). Above all, make sure your stuff is ultra breathable, because you will be donating some sweat. And don’t overdress—you should be a little chilly as you wait for the starting gun. You’ll warm up in a hurry. U.S. Championship Series. The U.S. National Snowshoe Racing Championships will take place at Vermont’s Bolton Valley Resort on March 24-26, 2006. Check www.Boltonvalley.com for more info. The Western Massachusetts Athletic Club hosts a number of snowshoe racing events throughout the season and is a great source of info for snowshoe races all over the Northeast. Check the WMAC schedule at www.runwmac.com.The United States Snowshoeing Association (USSSA) also lists races on its website, www.snowshoeracing.com <<< Back to Cardio King....||...More: Snowshoe Racing at the Top >>> .
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“Nutrition is sacred,” says Jeff Kildahl, a competitive multisport athlete and disciple of Steve Ilg’s Wholistic Fitness. “It has everything to do with your wellness and fitness, and it’s a discipline that requires constant attention. Snowshoe racers need to focus on food that stimulates anabolism and detoxification. It’s about cellular health, and a plant-based diet does that best.”
