Tips for Running on Ice and Snow?
George Grattan
As many of you know, the weather gods in the Northeast US have turned on us.
As we await the miracle of the January thaw, I'm wondering if anyone has
discovered what works (and what doesn't) for negotiating treacherous icy
roads, sidewalks, and trails.
For my own part, I try to watch for "black ice" as much as possible, shorten
my stride as much as I can in danger spots (though that can get tiring on
the muscles and joints and frustrating in the extreme), make sure my shoes
have generally good tread, and stay away from areas I know get flooded
regularly, since they're bound to have loads of built up slick ice.
Running off-path on the snowpack itself helps a great deal, but risks one's
ankles depending on the footing underneath--which is often hard to judge
under that snow. And, of course, if the snow is too deep, you're outta luck
without actual snowshoes.
Can't afford to fall this winter: any strategies I'm missing? There's only
so much one can do to crosstrain indoors... :-)
--
Shalom, Peace, Salaam
George Grattan
Joseph Meehan
"Treadmill"
I don't like falls and broken bones.
--
Joseph E. Meehan
26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math
Jeff Kalember
shoes. Awesome grip.
Get the 1/4 inch length screws though, they don't feel good poking the
bottoms of your feet.
Its like running with spikes.
JK
"Joseph Meehan" <sligoj...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:jD3S9.19265$GF.92...@twister.columbus.rr.com...
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.408 / Virus Database: 230 - Release Date: 10/24/02
Ross
Or even better yet check out:
http://www.yaktrax.com/pages/1/index.htm
I have been using these for years with great success.
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 80,000 Newsgroups - 16 Different Servers! =-----
Ben Kaufman
country skis.
Ben
George Grattan
> I have one tip and it can be summed up in one word
>
> "Treadmill"
>
> I don't like falls and broken bones.
Understandable, but I don't like pounding my feet, ankles, and knees, nor
the acute boredom that always sets in for me on treadmills. I know they work
for many folks-- they simply never have for me.
Dot
>
> Hello All,
>
> As many of you know, the weather gods in the Northeast US have turned on us.
> As we await the miracle of the January thaw, I'm wondering if anyone has
> discovered what works (and what doesn't) for negotiating treacherous icy
> roads, sidewalks, and trails.
I didn't have a completely snowfree run from mid-Oct to mid-April last
winter. I found the strap-on studs altered my gait a little, so I tended
to walk past the worst of the ice, which was close to my house anyway,
then start running when I got to snow. I viewed the unevenness in the
snow as similar to the unevenness of trail and good training. BUT it is
different than regular running, and you might need to back off a little
(or a lot if you're running in a foot of loose snow) on distance/time in
your long runs.
A lot of the footing depends on how well used a trail is. If a
snowmachine or 4-wheeler has been through, it may have packed a base and
not be too bad. But if you've just got a lot of people walking - or the
splash from vehicles on adjacent bike path - that can be rougher than
many trails because of hidden chunks of whatever. And toward spring the
trails become icy, but sometimes there's an edge of bare ground or snow.
You might be able to watch slope, aspect, elevation also - and move
among trails depending upon those conditions. But you might not have
those options.
If you got the same 2 ft that Doug got, then I'd be out there snowshoe
running and/or xc skiing depending on snow conditions, terrain, and
temperature (don't like skiing in warm, fast snow). Running snowshoes
are lightweight and have crampons built in. They are really a hoot!
Don't fight mother nature. Relax and enjoy what she has to offer.
However, when all was said and done for all the snow running I did last
year, I'm not sure I got that much aerobic conditioning because of the
slogging. Lots of strength, but not that much higher heart rate although
I was never strong enough to be able to snowshoe run very well last year
in the loose snow.
While I'm working through some rehab for achilles this winter, I had
decided that it made more sense to substitute some indoor cross-training
to get the effort level up where I wanted it. (running in snow has some
similarities to hills so I'm being more cautious than normal) On the 2-3
days I'm running outside, I select the trails according to my goals for
that day, and go out and enjoy them at a safe pace. For 2 hrs on Sunday
afternoons, I hit the indoor cross-training really hard with a group -
including 2 coaches. I'd rather be outside in the snow, BUT I'm finding
the cross-training instructive, challenging, and useful for my running.
This combined with exercises my PT gave me *will* make me a better
runner. I decided I was better off for long term goals by sacrificing
some outdoor run time this year, but I'm constantly struggling with
climbing walls.
>
> Can't afford to fall this winter: any strategies I'm missing? There's only
> so much one can do to crosstrain indoors... :-)
You must not be as creative as our cross-training coach :) We've been
going about 3 months now (2 hr on Sun pm - 12 sessions) and as soon as
we start getting the hang of something, he moves us on to something more
challenging. We did resistance running (using partner as resistance)
this pm (among other drills), and that has to be the closest thing to
hill running effort that I've ever done (on toes but not same angle of
foot placement). I'm sure more experienced folks have other training
regimes that rival hills.
Dot
Ruger9
>
>Or even better yet check out:
>
>http://www.yaktrax.com/pages/1/index.htm
>
>I have been using these for years with great success.
Good for you. I used them with great failure. I wouldn't recommend
YakTrax to anyone- at least not for running. Damn things kept
slipping off my shoes, and traction isn't much better than my Nike
waffle soles anyway. I've heard good things about similar devices
called "Ice Joggers."
As far as running on ice & snow, just get shoes with an aggressive
tread (like many trail shoes, or Nike's waffle sole), and RUN
CAREFULLY. Just like learning to run on trails, you have to learn to
run on ice & snow. And they only real way to do it to DO IT.
Ruger9
amh
I'm a fellow northeasterner myself so I know what you're dealing with.
I live in NYC and the streets are usually clear of snow but melting
snow will freeze overnight and we get black ice on the streets.
What I do is look for crushed areas or areas where tire tracks have
been left in the ice. This surface will give pleanty of grip. If there
aren't any tracks then run in the middle of the road. The crown isn't
as severe so the surface will be more stable for your foot.
When I do get on to ice I really make sure my foot lands almost flatly
on the surface. Slipping will be reduced if your foot impacts the ice
at a 90 degree angle. I also will take shorter steps.
Also running in the afternoon may be better than running in the
morning. Things will have had a chance of warming up. And the salt
spreaders may have been out (if your community does that).
I'm with you about treadmills. I've never gotten beyond 3 miles on
one.
Andy
Bruce Warrington
actually tried it out, so just take it as an option to look at. It's just a
glue / grit combo you squeeze on the soles to increase traction, and it does
say it wears off in a few runs, or miles, or whatever, so if it works, you
would still have to buy several tubes of the gunk to keep using it for the
winter months.
Might be worth the $15 to try a tube of it, but I think I'd glue it to an
old pair of shoes first, just in case it sucked and I couldn't get it off
the soles without damaging them ;-)
See:
<http://www.shoetread.com/services.html>
Bruce
---------------------------------
Bruce Warrington
Bruce.Wa...@acxiom.nospam.com
----------------------------------
Andrew T Hass
--Leave any fast stuff for the indoor track. It's a good way to break
yourself when it's slick out.
Andy Hass
Ed Prochak
> Hello All,
>
> As many of you know, the weather gods in the Northeast US have turned on us.
> As we await the miracle of the January thaw, I'm wondering if anyone has
> discovered what works (and what doesn't) for negotiating treacherous icy
> roads, sidewalks, and trails.
>
> For my own part, I try to watch for "black ice" as much as possible, shorten
> my stride as much as I can in danger spots (though that can get tiring on
> the muscles and joints and frustrating in the extreme), make sure my shoes
> have generally good tread, and stay away from areas I know get flooded
> regularly, since they're bound to have loads of built up slick ice.
I highly reccommend the hex screw pseudo-spikes. Works very well for me.
Keep the screws along the outside edges and there is no chance of
poking your foot.
--
Ed Prochak
running: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/running-faq/
family: http://web.magicinterface.com/~collins
--
"Two roads diverged in a wood and I
I took the one less travelled by
and that has made all the difference."
robert frost
kjsperl
the middle of the road with very little traffic. Not much room left on the
shoulders. I usually cross to the other side when a car comes towards me. If
a car is coming the other way as well, then....
Was very pretty this AM tho. Sun came out, blue sky, snow covered trees.
Ocean got pretty pissed this past weekend. Saw a bunch of lobster traps
ACROSS the ocean road today.
"Ed Prochak" <edpr...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:3E1D9A0D...@adelphia.net...
George Grattan
>
>
> If you got the same 2 ft that Doug got, then I'd be out there snowshoe
> running and/or xc skiing depending on snow conditions, terrain, and
> temperature (don't like skiing in warm, fast snow). Running snowshoes
> are lightweight and have crampons built in. They are really a hoot!
> Don't fight mother nature. Relax and enjoy what she has to offer.
I will probably look into getting some, thanks!
>
>
>>
>> Can't afford to fall this winter: any strategies I'm missing? There's only
>> so much one can do to crosstrain indoors... :-)
>
> You must not be as creative as our cross-training coach :)
Probably not-- nor do I suspect I have as many cross-training options in
terms of space, equipment, and partners a some folks.
But I appreciate the advice.
George Grattan
>
>
> I'm a fellow northeasterner myself so I know what you're dealing with.
> I live in NYC and the streets are usually clear of snow but melting
> snow will freeze overnight and we get black ice on the streets.
Yup-- and in Boston this past week we've have light nightly snowfalls of 1-2
inches and consistently low temps, so there are now lots of spaces which
present special difficulties. I find myself just avoiding trails, paths, and
sidewalks altogether for the most part and staying directly on the roads--
which have their own risks, of course. :-)
George Grattan
True, true-- but it's also a way to drive yourself utterly insane. :-) I did
nine miles on the only indoor track available to me last Saturday, which
meant 72 trips around. Arrgh. Thank God for headphones.
Brian Mason
>George Grattan wrote:
>> Hello All,
>>
>> As many of you know, the weather gods in the Northeast US have turned on us.
>> As we await the miracle of the January thaw, I'm wondering if anyone has
>> discovered what works (and what doesn't) for negotiating treacherous icy
>> roads, sidewalks, and trails.
>>
>> For my own part, I try to watch for "black ice" as much as possible, shorten
>> my stride as much as I can in danger spots (though that can get tiring on
>> the muscles and joints and frustrating in the extreme), make sure my shoes
>> have generally good tread, and stay away from areas I know get flooded
>> regularly, since they're bound to have loads of built up slick ice.
>
>I highly reccommend the hex screw pseudo-spikes. Works very well for me.
> Keep the screws along the outside edges and there is no chance of
>poking your foot.
The hex screw option also worked great for me. I used a pair of shoes
with many miles on them (since I wasn't sure it would work) and picked
those with the thickest head I could get. For me they work much better
on ice than snow, though there also good in the slush melting into mud
yucky stuff on trails.
Brian
Barry and Janice Cooke
that you are running slower and it's harder (that's good) and it seems safer
(that's good)
regards
Barry
"Brian Mason" <elen...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3e1f22e5...@news.mindspring.com...