After nearly 15 years in Alaska, I’m no stranger to running on the snow and ice for 5-6 months out of the year. I can’t say it has gotten easier after all these years, but I have found the right gear that makes it more tolerable and the good attitude helps me be okay with the situation.
Because as we know, running during the winter time is no joke. We have to battle a lot of different elements: snow, bitter winds, sleet/ice, and then there is proper layering and the right footwear to figure out. I promise it gets better with practice and as long as the elements are too harsh, it can feel pretty hard-core to get out when most people would choose to stay inside.
Here are 5 tips for running on the snow to make your time a little more enjoyable:
1. Choose good footwear with added traction whether that is:
– putting screws in your shoes (1/2-inch sheet metal screws)
– purchasing Icebugs (they come with studs already in the shoe–ideal for ice, not as ideal for deep snow)
– using traction devices (most people are familiar with Yaktraxs but there are also Kahtoola NANOspikes for the ice).
2. Choose the best clear path/road in your area (unless that is a busy road–ha!). Ask fellow runners in your area where the better areas to run are. Here in Anchorage, there are a couple areas that get plowed first/are better maintained, but it took me a couple years of living here to figure this out.
3. Know your pace will be slower! But also know that you are still gaining fitness logging those miles. My pace is easily 30 – 45 seconds per mile slower in the winter (sometimes more), and while I get frustrated when it happens, I know it doesn’t affect my fitness that much (at least that’s what I tell myself).
4. If there is snow actively fall, I find wearing a brimmed hat helps keep some of the snow off my face. I will also wear a headband/ear warmer over my hat to keep my ears warm. And while wearing a headlamp is helpful for seeing if you are running in the dark, I find that it makes it more difficult because the headlamp illuminates the snow falling towards my face.
5. Accept that at the end of the day, the treadmill might be the best option. If fresh snow frustrates you too much, you have an interval/tempo/track workout to do, or the conditions make you nervous about falling, it is 100% acceptable to use the treadmill. I personally will almost always go to the treadmill when there is 2/3+ inches of new snow. It is just so hard to run on fresh snow, and it feels like you are running in the sand and just spinning your “wheels.”
And finally, enjoy the quiet serenity of the snow and know most people aren’t that dedicated (crazy?!) to run in these conditions!
