Screw shoes (Read 1130 times)

I found it helpful to read about other folks' experiences, so am posting mine.  After a run that reduced me to tears and required me to phone home for rescue on Tuesday (sniff sniff) I ran on a treadmill twice, and put in two miles on the indoor track (21 laps, just like a hamster on a wheel).  These experiences finally drove me to make the effort to get to the hardware store and buy a box of 1/2" number 6 sheet metal screws.  I wanted 3/8" but the hardware store didn't have any.  We put them in an old pair of shoes -- I wear Asics 2140s.  I found that I had to be careful with placement in the front of the shoe.  The 3/8" screws would have been better. 

 

I ran 6 miles on them this morning, about half on bare pavement/asphalt/brick, half on ice and packed snow.  I didn't fall.  No one else running with me fell either.  I didn't slip.  Everyone else had at least one "ooo" moment of almost slipping.  I have no idea if the shoes helped me or if I was just lucky. 

 

They were fine on asphalt and pavement.  The brick was a bit slippy, though not impossible.  But brick is not a runner-friendly surface, as just about everything makes brick slippery.  (I think most places don't have quite as much brick as we do, so this is moot point for most people I guess). 

 

There was one screw under my big toe that I could feel if I came down hard, and I'll pull that one out before I run again.  I'm not sure I'd want to do a long run in these shoes,  but I didn't notice the screws as much as I thought I might.  

 

screw shoes are the best!

Mamaofthree, thanks for the screw shoe info. I also run in 2140's and was curious about penetrating into my foot with the screws. I'll look for the 3/8's Thus far I have used yaktrax with good success. I have read some accounts of a heaviness to the run with the yaks. My feeling of heaviness seems more related to general road/snow/ice conditions.

I feel like I failed by hitting the treadmill at the gym this morning. Maybe I should get outside for a double today. 

My experience with screw shoes has been they're not worth the trouble.  I think they'd be awesome for running on trails with ice and snow on top, or on pure ice, or on roads that are completely hardpacked snow and ice.  But usually when I run in bad wither weather the roads are some mix of bare/wet pavement, unpacked or deepish snow and slush with only intermittent hardpack where the screws even do any good.  After a few tries I found that constantly replacing the screws as they got worn down from the road just wasn't worth it.  So this winter I just slow down when it's snowy/icy.

they look badass though.. i want to do some and use them on a treadmill

Geez....from the subject, I thought this was another thread on barefoot running.  Try screws with that...

I gotta go +1 on the screwshoes.  I'm lucky if my route includes 50% cleared sidewalks, so these things have saved my life/knees more than a few times.  While they don't exactly do too much for slush/fresh snow, the difference over ice or packed snow is amazing.  Just don't be afraid to replace the ones that get ground down!

I gotta go +1 on the screwshoes.  I'm lucky if my route includes 50% cleared sidewalks, so these things have saved my life/knees more than a few times.  While they don't exactly do too much for slush/fresh snow, the difference over ice or packed snow is amazing.  Just don't be afraid to replace the ones that get ground down!

 

You wear a Cunning Hat...