Winter's chill isn't stopping fitness quest

Mother Nature is dumping mountains of snow on the roads and trails of Utah, and the temperature is flirting with zero, but athletes of all sorts aren't waiting for spring to begin their training — or even competition.

For many there is no offseason, only a time when training takes a little more toughness or creativity.

Endurance athletes may be dressing in extra layers or staying indoors more often, but they're logging plenty of miles as they prepare for races of all sorts. Everything from local winter running series races to cross country skiing and 100-mile bicycle rides are on tap in the coming weeks.

It won't be long, in fact, before triathletes (both of the swimming and skiing variety) will be in action before long.

Here's a look at some of the bigger outdoor sporting events coming up in the next few weeks.

FAT TIRES AND FROZEN HOGS: Utah mountain bikers are known as some of the Beehive State's toughest athletes. Many of them will prove just how hardy they are on Saturday at the Frozen Hog race in Alpine.

The 6th annual running of the race isn't a terribly long competition but will have some of the most challenging conditions a cyclist could dream of. The expert class racers will cover about 8.5 miles while the sport class has a shorter loop. The Groundhogs Day race has become a staple on the local racing scene as cyclists battle for bragging rights and a share of the prize package.

This year, one lucky racer will win a new Marin Hamilton bike courtesy of Racer's Cycle Service. Cyclists can purchase raffle tickets for $10 with proceeds going to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in the name of Susan Nelson — the wife of Fatcyclist.com's Elden Nelson.

The race starts at 9 a.m. at Lambert Park in Alpine. For more information, check out UtahMountainBiking.com for registration.

IT'S TIME TO TRI: Winter sports geeks will be in heaven on Feb. 23 at Soldier Hollow for the first big triathlon of the season. The Battle at Soldier Hollow — BASH for short — combines a 5k run with a 9k mountain bike ride and a 10k nordic ski and will be a perfect prep race for those participating in the XTerra Winter Worlds at Snowbasin in March.

Registration information for the BASH can be found at BASHWinterTri.com

CENTURY IN ZION: Also on Feb. 23 is the Zion Country Spring Century. The 100-mile bicycle ride from St. George to Springdale and back rolls out of Bloomington Park at 8 a.m. for several well-stocked rest areas along the route through Washington, Hurricane and to the southern entry to Zion National Park.