Coach Troy: Training in Ice and Snow

Winter got off to an early start here in the Mid Atlantic as we’ve already had two snow storms. At this very moment, we have about 5 inches of fresh snow on the ground from a storm that hit about 48 hours ago. Our little 2 year old is loving her first real ’snow experience’ and can’t get enough of playing around in the white stuff. The first few snow storms, especially around the holidays, are really beautiful and a welcomed change of pace. After about the 5th or 6th storm that causes everything to grind to a halt and interrupts daily routines, it starts to get a little annoying. And I’ve always wondered why it is that people have to stock up on toilet paper and milk before a snowstorm??

For athletes, the biggest inconvenience is that is causes us to do most of our training indoors. Riding and running on snowy streets can be dangerous even after they are plowed. Slippery “Black Ice” on the roads is a nightmare for cyclists and runners alike and cars are dangerous even on dry roads, much less slick, icy and snowy roads. I must admit that when I was younger and more daring, I’d be outdoors training in practically all crazy conditions but now that I’m older (and wiser??) and have a few more responsibilities, I ‘ve cut back on risky training behaviors.

There are, of course, alternatives to indoor training. Cross country skiing is a great alternative if you live in the right area and know how to do it. Running in snow with ’snow shoes’ is also as viable option although I personally find it to be very difficult and tend to band up my ankles with the ’shoes’. And there’s always ’snow mountain bike’ riding which is really fun as well.

Most of the time, however, when I’m snowed in I concede defeat and simply head down into my training dungeon where my trusty bike trainer, treadmill and vasa ergometer ‘live’. Indoor workouts are mentally difficult to get through but tend to be very ‘efficient’ in terms of the time:benefit ratio. So, as I get ready to do my 90 minute indoor ‘triathlon’ this morning, I’ll be thinking of sunny summer days and 80 degree temperatures and that will make the time go by a little faster.

Oh, and don’t worry…I have plenty of toilet paper. :)

Train smart and train safe,
Coach Troy