Winters may be cold and dark, but that doesn’t mean your training has to end (or even suffer). And that doesn’t just mean you buy a treadmill or hit the gym, there are plenty of ways to stay warm and keep running.
The road is covered in snow and ice!
Run on packed down snow. Fresh snow is often covering patches of ice, so you want to avoid that. But packed snow will allow for some descent traction.
But it’s too cold to breathe!
There is no evidence that cold air can hurt your lungs, though it might be a little uncomfortable on your esophagus. Try wearing a scarf and breathing through that. Breathing through your nose also helps to warm the air as it enters your lungs.
My feet are too cold!
Since you don’t want your shoes all stinky, most manufacturers sell very breathable shoes. That’s why your feet get so cold. Try wearing some thicker socks. SmartWool offers some very warm socks that are made for running.
OK, fine, but where should I run?
Run on the road if it’s plowed or there’s no recent snow. Run on the sidewalk if it’s clear. Make sure the lighting is descent, or wear a headlamp at night so you can see any black ice.
Sometimes there’s a blizzard outside and it’s not fun or safe to go out there to run. In that case, hit the treadmill or take a day off and drink a beer. But there’s no reason to miss the whole season because of a little snow.
