Thanks for the great day yesterday! I can barely walk and have some good bruises, but that's beside the point. I couldn't stop talking about it when I got home. I have NEVER been to the summit of anything before (without taking some sort of transportation there), never mind really done any hiking in excess of 2 hours. Maybe lacking a little confidence on the way down, but now I know for next time. Since joining Criticalspeed it's been one new challenge and experience after another. You really know how to teach people to try something and surprise themself. Thanks again, I had an awesome time! Sandy

Hello Team Snowshoe
(those who are intending on venturing into the winter playground)!

Welcome to the Criticalspeed snowshoe adventure season! These snowshoe outtings are quite advanced, but can be modified to meet each individual's abilities and needs. We move slow, but we get to the destination. If you are planning on competing in marathons, triathlons, adventure racing, Ironman, or ultramarathons, you should plan to attend these sessions. But not to worry, routes can be easily modified to accommodate any level of snowshoer. Do not feel intimidated. At anytime when you have had enough, you can stop, rest, wait for the group or turn back and head for home!

Our first snowshoe adventure will be in November. However, it is very important that you all are doing weights particularly strengthening the calf muscles and achilles tendons (the soft tissue that gets the most stress, tenderness and possible injury) prior to your first snowshoe outting of the season.

Training:

• Start with 2 sets of 12-15 reps (1 minutes rest between sets) in the weight room, but I would like you to be able to do 3 sets of 8 reps to failure (3 minutes rest between sets) before January 1st! So do two weeks of 2 sets of 12 then move to 3 sets of 8! While you are in there, make sure to do this for the leg press as well.
• Begin to incorporate some stairclimbing into your program (use the stepmill, stairclimber, lifestep, whatever)...if it is not on your schedule, maybe substitute this with a run.

It is important that you are prepared for the snowshoeing this year. The duration and vertical gain will progress to accommodate most, but when we add extra weight like your backpack, it is quite a stress on the lower extremities!

2009-2010 Snow Shoeing Adventures

* = This snowshoe take place on a Saturday and is part of our Volume Training Camp #1
** = This snowshoe takes place on a Saturday and is part of our Altitude Training Camp #2
*** = This snowshoe takes place on a Saturday and is part of our Altitude Training Camp #3

NOTE: Of course you do not have to do the entire route. There will be many people who will not snowshoe the entire duration or vertical gain. When we are at Sunshine, there are hundreds of options one which includes a 90 minute snowshoe to the upper lodge, read a book for 2 hours and drink hot chocolate and take a scenic gondola ride down to the parking lot! If you have any comments, questions and concerns please contact me!

This is going to be a great season!

CoachCal