Tubbs Romp to Stomp Review
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Whether you’re passionate about finding a cure for breast cancer, love the activity of snowshoeing, or just curious about this growing activity, the Tubbs Romp to Stomp is an event worth taking a look at. I recently raced the 3k race in Frisco, CO at the Romp to Stomp and I had some time to observe the event and talk to some of its participants.
I started running the Race to Live 5k back in 1999 which eventually turned into Race for the Cure and I have run a number of Race for the Cure races since. The atmosphere in the Race for the Cure is very unique. It is a mixture of runners, walkers, and supporters that create an extremely positive and lively atmosphere. Breast cancer affects so many of us whether it is your mom, sister, aunt, grandma, friend, or yourself. So running or snowshoeing for a cause such as breast cancer can bring out a lot of emotions. And while I could go on and on about the vibe the race gives off, it is just something you have to experience and see to believe. While the atmosphere is 2nd to none, what is equally or more important is the number of participants and the money raised for such an important cause. Living in Colorado, I get to experience the largest Race for the Cure in the country, it attracts roughly 65,000 participants.
Participants ready to ROMP!
Almost 10 years ago, the Romp to Stomp was born with a similar vision, to raise money to find a cure for breast cancer. With the tremendous success of the breast cancer related running events, it was only natural to bring this cause to the growing sport and activity of snowshoeing. The distances in the race and walk put on by the Romp to Stomp are very manageable for all walks of life. So whether you are someone who walks your dog around the block for exercise or someone who runs 60 miles a week, the Romp to Stomp can be a fun event for everyone. Similar to the environment at Race for the Cure events, the Romp to Stomp events are fun and upbeat, all in support of a great cause.
In 2011, the Romp to Stomp sponsored by Tubbs had events in New Jersey, Vermont, Utah, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. In Frisco, CO I found the majority of people were there to support the cause. I was amazed at how much pink everyone was wearing. It really put a smile on my face. And since most people were participating in the walk, the air was full of laughter and good conversation. Sometimes at more serious races, you get a lot of competitive people worried about their spot near the starting line, and this was definitely not the case with Romp to Stomp.
Now onto the race. I snowshoe on a regular basis in the winter months, but I have never actually run a snowshoe race. Given the race was a 3k, I found it to be a great first experience for a snowshoe race. At the start, you get lots of snow flying in the air from all the snowshoes kicking up all the snow. The Race in Frisco started about 10-15 people wide at the start line and it narrowed down to single track after a couple hundred yards. Similar to single track trail races, it is important to get a good position in early on. I did not think of this beforehand and I started with a leisurely pace. On a single track course, it can be challenging passing people that might be a little slower than you. The snow on the outside of the track can be very deep and trying to sprint by someone while post holing is not always the easiest thing to do. That said, I did enjoy watching a few snowshoers try to pass people and end up face-planting into the snow though. Don’t worry, they did not get hurt, they just got a face full of snow which they all seemed to laugh about. After finding a few good places to pass people for myself, I was able to get in my groove and before I knew it, I was at the finish line. It ended up taking me roughly 16 minutes to complete the course which is a little short as far as races go for me, but I was happy to run it for such a great cause.
Participants walking the Romp to Stomp
The walk portion of the event had a lot more people than the race and I expect that to be the case with almost all locations. The walk portion of the event was staggered so there wasn’t a big mob walking through the course. A few friends of mine participated in the walk and they really seemed to enjoy the walk event. There was 6 of them in total and they liked the idea of supporting a cause that was close to many of them and it also gave them an excuse for a girls weekend in the mountains, not to mention get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
After the walk and race, there were plenty of local and national vendors supplying hot chocolate, soup, and other goodies. A great way to end a great race in my mind.
For those of you who are thinking about participating in the Romp to Stomp next year, but have never snowshoed before, I highly recommend giving the Romp to Stomp a try. I started snowshoeing 7 years ago when I moved to Colorado and it is truly an experience like none other. Having the Rocky Mountains as my background, I get to enjoy amazing scenery while getting in some great exercise all while enjoying the company of friends and family. For the flatlanders, snowshoeing offers a similar experience. If you can get into the woods and away from civilization, I recommend that. If you can’t, snowshoeing at your local park or even snowshoeing in your neighborhood offers great exercise and a great excuse to get outside of the house. If you aren’t in the greatest shape, start small and work your way up to a couple miles or more each snowshoe trip.
Lots and lots of Tubbs snowshoes!
If you are looking for a good cause to support and an exciting event to participate in, the Romp to Stomp sponsored by Tubbs Snowshoes is an excellent choice. For more information on this event and cause, please visit tubbsromptostomp.com
