January 2012 Running - Snow, stay away!

As long as you don't live in the metro DC area, I hope you get your snow! :-) Post your snow running tips -- how to keep your footing, do you wear normal running shoes, etc?

Back in the olden days, I ran in snow and enjoyed it. One of my all-time favorite long runs was through a State Park campground--I was alone--and it was snowing. There must have been an inch on the road but deeper off the pavement. It was one of the most peaceful moments of my life.

Moved back to the city, so no more easy access to that Park. Now I worry about slipping on an icy patch and breaking or straining something.

Ice is evil.

My first post in the running section... I intend to keep a more regular running routine this year. This morning I ran 5 miles. It was an average Chicagoland-style winter day: 24 degrees (wind chill was 8), winds of 25 to 35 mph. Luckily, I was facing the wind on the way out.

I like running in snow, but I do not care for ice on sidewalks and the puddles that form eventually at the edge of every block. Invariably, I will get soggy shoes at least once or twice every winter.

See, Selkie, there are several of us all over the nation that want snow! :p

As far as running tips on snow and ice -- I try to stay on packed trails (not pavement) and just wear trail shoes. Depending on conditions , as in ice or unpacked snow, I use Microspikes or Atlas running snowshoes (now THAT's hard work). While I have YakTrax which sorta work on pavement, I just generally stay away if the pavement is icy. Trails are a lot safer.

I also use Saucony trail shows which have a tight water-resistant upper and a heavenly loop for gaiters.

Most of what I know about running comes from yellow (though it turns out that she'll run 50 miles in a day but won't run at all in snowshoes cuz it's too hard! Wuss.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by yellow

(P.S. I'm going to go wash my car today, which I suspect will further increase the likelihood of precipitation.)

---

I think we should plan another TE-cyber event, a car wash day. Maybe if we all do it "together" we can make the sky fall.

The one trail I have nearby is next to the lake and it freezes -- it's a lot less dangerous to run on the sidewalks... {I think I still have a piece of a winter tight embedded in my left knee after flying into some rocks years ago. That hurt.} The other problem is that it is not well lit. During the winter, if I run before or after work, at least half my run is in darkness.

Hmm, in my neck o' the woods, Microspikes on icy trails where the teeth can dig in are far safer than pavement. And sidewalks scare the **** out of me. There are so many more edges and cracks to trip on. I don't know anyone around here who would run on sidewalks in the dark. Matter of fact, we had a long conversation with several people at the running shop about this just on Saturday. Lots of sidewalk horror stories, even daytime versions.

Perhaps I have been lucky and have not fallen (yet). The area where I live is a downtown area and is well lit, while there are no lights by the trail. The sidewalks are generally clean (with notable exceptions), particularly along the university area. Where I need to be more cautious is crossing streets, as slushy puddles are typical on the edge of the sidewalk.

Re: running on snow and ice, I am lucky in that I live in a place with a pretty dry climate, so ice is an anomaly (our snow generally stays cold and dry, which keeps it "sticky"). I have Microspikes but have only used them for hiking and backpacking (traveling across snowfields). I'm sure I would use them more if I lived in an icier place. I just wear my regular shoes (trail shoes) with wool socks and wear gaiters if the snow is deep (I have short gaiters). I do have a pair of studded shoes but have only worn them a handful of times; I just don't need them on packed snow. I focus on taking short steps and staying light on my feet. Running in the dark on snow is amazing (but then I really just like running in the dark and love running in the cold). If it's clear and the moon is close to full, you don't even need a headlamp.

If you have an old pair of shoes that you are willing to sacrifice to the winter running gods, you can try doing this to them. Low-budget studded shoes!

Ummmm, yeah. Running on snowshoes is really hard.

Edit: forgot to mention that I don't run on pavement, so I don't have any advice for that!

When I took my dog out for the first pee of the morning, I was slipping around on the snowy sidewalk. It wasn't that much snow, but it was dark and I wasn't wearing my glasses... Still, snowy pavement can be so treacherous.

Back to the treadmill again today-- I'm getting good value from my Y membership this week. It's really not all that bad, compared to the 5F windchill this morning. And they've been having some trouble with the heating system, so it was a reasonable temperature for once-- it took about 3 miles before I was starting to feel it was too warm in there. No one was waiting, so I got in my 5 miles (in 45 minutes flat!).

Did a 6 mile New Year's Day run. I had been sick the entire week before and did nothing remotely looking like "exercise." It was a bit of a shocker, but I wasn't going to miss it. Managed to avg. just over 8 minute miles--not too bad, just a few seconds off my average from last year.

Of course, my legs feel like peanut brittle now.

3 easy miles yesterday.

I'm working running back into my schedule, did 2 easy miles on Monday and will be doing 3 today. At the end of the year I was having a hate relationship with running and was about to kick it out of my life but the scale tells me my life is "better" when running is included in my workouts :rolleyes:

Was 17 degrees (-8.3 C) this morning.
I decided I really didn't want to bike commute in that, so I did a Runervals session on the treadmill instead. (Didn't want to run outside, either.) Maybe it'll be up to around the freezing mark while I'm standing around waiting for the bus later. :rolleyes:

Add me to the list of those who want snow. For now, we may have to settle for snow guns and man-made snow at a nearby ski area for a hookey day next week to see some white stuff.

First outdoor run of the new year-- finally! It felt so good to be back outside, and seeing a beautiful sunrise. What wasn't so great was the traffic around a couple schools I went past. Why aren't most of these kids walking or riding the bus????? Grrrrr.... Nearly got hit by a SUV at the elementary school, by an ancient minivan at the middle school. Both times I had the right of way...

Still, it was a delightful 7 miles, with the exception of the school incidents.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skhill

. Why aren't most of these kids walking or riding the bus????? Grrrrr.... Nearly got hit by a SUV at the elementary school, by an ancient minivan at the middle school. Both times I had the right of way...

Still, it was a delightful 7 miles, with the exception of the school incidents.

---

Buses??? What are those? I think the only kids who get bussed in my district are the special needs kids and the kids who can't attend their home school because it's full.

Veronica

5 miles. Feels good to have 'em behind me.