Fit for the Romp

Snowshoeing offers a great workout. It is easy to learn, burns lots of calories, and is easily adaptable to your current athletic ability. Tubbs Athlete, Danelle Ballengee, has some great suggestions for getting fit for the Romp:

The Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer is just around the corner. The snow will be flying before long and it will be time to strap on those snowshoes! It’s time to get ready for winter now! Here’s some pre-season ways you can start preparing for the Romp.

Start walking now!
Start with 15 or 20 minutes on flat terrain. Gradually add 10 minutes each week to build up to a 1 hour walk, 4 to 6 times per week.

Add some hills!
After 2 or 3 weeks of walking on flat terrain, add some hills to your workout to build strength and endurance.

Hit the trails!
Try some off-road walking to build better balance. Get used to walking over roots and rocks and you will use some different muscles and improve your balance, making walking on snow that much easier when the time comes.


Do some strengthening exercises to strengthen snowshoe specific muscles
These are the abs, low back, hip flexors, hamstrings, quads and glutes. So…do some crunches, sit ups, squats, leg-lifts, etc. All of these can be done at home, or see a personal trainer for more specific strengthening info.

Add jogging!
Not for all of you, but some of you may feel the urge to pick up the pace as you get more fit. The Romp offers a race division which is typically a more challenging course and lots of fun. Snow is easier on the joints than the pavement, so it’s a great way to get an unbelievable workout.

Get your equipment ready
Dust off your snowshoes and winter clothing, or buy some new. You’ll need some Tubbs Snowshoes; a warm hat, gloves, and socks; a base layer, mid layer, and outer layer. Some winter boots or Gore Tex sneakers with gaiters. Poles if you like them. Also a day-pack so you can carry an insulated water bottle or bladder and your winter first-aid kit. Make sure your equipment is in good shape and fits well.

Sign up for the Romp!
Get your friends to sign up also—maybe form a ‘team!’ (visit www.tubbsromptostomp.com for details). Make the commitment now and it will help motivate you to get in shape and stay in shape. The sooner the better to start fundraising for the Komen Foundation. Put your coins in a jar to save up!
Grandparents and the kids love snowshoeing. It’s easy and fun to learn. Sign the kids up for the ‘Lil’ Romp’ and give them a fun, physical activity to look forward to.

Attend a snowshoe clinic or guided hike! It’s fun to meet other snowshoers and pick up some pointers. Check at your local outdoor store for opportunities.

Volunteer for the Romp!
If you have the time and energy, Tubbs could always use a helping hand to help promote and prepare for the event.

Want to learn more? Check out Danelle’s snowshoeing work-out plan.


Danelle Ballengee is an endurance athlete well-known for a resume chock full of top finishes in triathlons, duathlons, marathons, adventure races, and snowshoe races as well as her inspirational survival story that made national headlines in 2006. During a trail run with her dog, Taz, she slipped and fell almost 60 feet. Stranded and immobilized with a broken pelvis, she spent 52 hours in the Utah backcountry near Moab, only to be rescued by Taz, who lead search and rescue teams to her location. Snowshoeing played a huge part in her recovery and her first athletic event post-accident was the Tubbs Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer. She’s also a new mom who has used snowshoeing as a way to keep in shape during her pregnancy.