As the weather gets colder and the snow starts to fly, it’s more important than ever to be training outside for the Abominable Snow Race. Not only is it important to let your body acclimate to the lower temperatures, it’s also crucial to get used to running on slippery, uneven surfaces like you’re likely to face on the course.

So while it’s good to train on the flat track or road to develop speed, it’s also important to be hitting the trail on a regular basis. Ultimately, we’re not training for a track event or a road race. We’re preparing for a trail race with obstacles mixed in.

Even if we get faster on a flat surface, that speed won’t necessarily translate to an off-road race. The legs need to be conditioned to run on the uneven and/or slippery surfaces. There are a lot of smaller stabilizer muscles around the joints (ankles, knees, hips) and in your core that need to be strengthened through trail-running if you want to move quickly over rough terrain.

In addition to preparing the legs, trail-running also trains the eyes. When you’re off-road, you need to be much more vigilant about your footing than when you’re racing on a flat, even surface. Whenever I’m running an obstacle course race, my eyes are constantly scanning the trail to find the best sections for running. As quickly as possible, I want to find ground that’s firm so there’s an efficient transfer of energy with each of my steps. I also want to find ground that’s going to give me the most traction, because the more I slip, the more energy I lose.

Practicing on snowy trails may not be the best way to develop speed, but it will help you adapt your speed to the conditions you’re likely to face at the Abominable Snow Race. So, resist the urge to get on the treadmill. Get outside, get on the trail, and let it prepare you for race day.

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