SR said:I'm new to jogging this year, and would like to jog outside through
the winter. My route takes me along sidewalks, paved roads and dirt
trails in the woods - none of these are particularly well plowed in
winter. Yesterday there were patches of ice on the ground, and I
found it difficult to keep my footing and my pace.
I'd appreciate any tips for keeping one's footing while running on
snowy/icy ground.
- Are there particular running shoes which are good for running in ice
and light snow?
Besides the screw shoes that Doug suggested, things to consider:
Some tread patterns have better traction than others.
Softer or grippier soles, like trail shoes for rocks, usually have
better traction on ice. Same principle as winter tires.
Some treads clean themselves better than others. Mine doesn't, which is
why I use yaktrax under certain conditions.
I only run trails (or roads with enough snow to be trail-like) now, but
even my old road shoes were selected for tread pattern since a
significant portion of my running is in snow and/or icy (now year round
in Alaska, but used to be mostly winter). I've not tried the screw shoes
since my trail shoes don't have enough even tread to be able to insert
screws.
Quoted message said:- I've found yaktrax to be helpful for walking and light hiking in
winter - are there similar products which are helpful for running on
icy snow? Has anyone used them and found them to be effective?
I used the original yaktrax on hardpacked trails last year, and got the
pro version this year, but the regular version works just fine (might
tie some string across instep). The Pro version is heavier duty and has
a velcro strap across the instep to keep them from coming off, which I
had an occasional problem with last year. They work well in the right
kind of snow, but obviously don't provide flotation for deeper snow.
They aren't sharp enough to dig into hard ice, but aren't too bad for
walking on the soft ice we've had recently (didn't try running).
To walk on hard ice, I used ice-joggers or something like them - points
will dig into ice that yaktrax won't penetrate. Spiked shoes might serve
the same function. However, I've found that my stride is different or
something so that running with ice-joggers on hard ice doesn't agree
with my legs. But I haven't had the issue since switching to trails -
since they seldom get black ice like roads. Some people have no problem,
but I avoid those conditions.
But to really get the most out of the snow, you need to take up snowshoe
running 🙂 This substantially improved the quality of my winter
workouts. They work best on about 3 inches or so of fresh snow, but you
can still run with more - if you're willing to put out the effort. If
the snow's about 1 ft deep and soggy, you can get a hard workout just by
snowshoeing - no need to actually run with them (I have the hrm trace to
prove it). They also work on hard-packed snow but they're noisy and not
as much fun - hard landings. That's when I pull out the yaktrax.
Running snowshoes are lighter than regular ones, but don't have the
flotation. Mine weigh about a pound apiece. And they've got cleats on
them to give great traction under most snowy conditions (may not dig
into hard ice). Most people use running shoes with them.
http://www.northernlites.com/
NFI, but I use their elites.
http://www.snowshoemag.com/
has some general info, but I should be able to provide more specific links.
It will be a harder workout than regular running esp if on over 3 inches
of snow, so use some caution when starting to avoid overuse injuries. Go
by time, not distance, and be willing to walk if needed rather than
risking injury. But it's a lot of fun to kick up a rooster tail in fresh
snow 🙂
Snowshoe running is easy to learn, but if you're new to running, be
careful not to overdo it as your muscles / tendons / ligaments are
probably still adapting. On soft snow, the landing is very cushiony, but
picking the feet up again is where you're more likely to overdo something.
Quoted message said:- Are there techniques which will help me keep my footing in such
conditions?
Small steps. Keep CG (center of gravity) centered over feet.
Enjoy!
Dot
Alaskan connoisseur of snow (and unfortunately ice)
--
"The eagle, who believed he was a chicken, wasn't. However, until he
discovered what he was, he was limited to live as one."
-Unknown but quoted from Lisa Butler on ultra list
