Question: I only have access to winter sports over the holidays -- and wonder what best pollinates across to bike and run with a week in the snow.

• Downhill Skiing:  Really minimal benefit from the bike and run, outside of some general leg conditioning, stability, and coordination.  This doesn’t act as a great cross-training tool, BUT it is super fun.
• Cross-Country / Skate Skiing:  A wonderful lateral and linear promotion of the posterior chain, which is exactly what we need for improved running and riding performance.  A super go-to.
• Snowshoe: An obvious one, with the walking action in heavier snow.  This is a good quality opportunity for run transfer.
• Ice Skating:  Good fun, nice lateral strength and coordination, but not the most ideal or without risk of injury.
• Yak/Track Running:  We cannot leave out running with spikes or tracks as an ideal add-on if the opportunity arises.

If you can do any of the above while on your vacation, then embrace it and enjoy. I would also suggest retaining some home-based core and stability work, and even a few ‘calisthenics’ (burpee, push up, dips, etc). Most of all, don’t forget we don’t need to obsess or drive forward. We just want to refresh and do enough to not retreat completely.

Enjoy and best of luck.

Matt