Wandering Wally
Oh yes, especially don't shake a trail runners hand when they come out of the woods. There might be more than snot on it.
Run! Just Run!
Trail Runner Nation Podcast
Hobby Jogger
I ran through the record-breaking snowy winter two years ago, so I know I can deal with the weather, but this will be my first time trying to run on snowy trails. I've been doing a lot of running on some short loops of singletrack near where I live. I think I'll be able to keep a trail broken on these through the winter, unless we really get hammered by a couple of feet at once.
My biggest problem is that I have do do snow removal at work, including a lot of shoveling on the walks. Several hours of that can leave me too exhausted to run.
5/4/19 - Twilight Zone 24 Hour
Slower than you
I ran through the record-breaking snowy winter two years ago, so I know I can deal with the weather, but this will be my first time trying to run on snowy trails. I've been doing a lot of running on some short loops of singletrack near where I live. I think I'll be able to keep a trail broken on these through the winter, unless we really get hammered by a couple of feet at once. My biggest problem is that I have do do snow removal at work, including a lot of shoveling on the walks. Several hours of that can leave me too exhausted to run.
Yaktrax are good for snowy trails and even ice. And you don't have to put screws in the sole of your shoes!
"Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man" - The Dude
Upcoming races: AthHalf: 10/20
Do you have Raynaud's? Mine has been horrible already this winter.
Yes and mine has been pretty bad, too. I've been using Hot Hands (thank you Catty!), but even with those and 2 pair of gloves my hands are still painful at times. I saw a pair of gloves in the Lands End catalog that you plug in and they stay warm (or so they say). They're way out of my normal price range, but I'm considering splurging on myself.
No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.
Refurbished Hip
I have these mittens (I got them on sale a few years ago)... http://marmot.com/products/expedition_mitt
I wear them with gloves underneath and Hot Hands when I am walking my dog at the dog park. It's the only thing that works. Seriously, invest in a good pair of mittens. It really helps. I have a different set up for running, but it doesn't bother me as much *when* I am running. It's afterward that's a problem. And getting into a cold car. And in my house at night at the computer. I can feel it happening right now in fact. UGH. I only started to develop this a few years ago and it's gotten progressively worse every winter. It's really frustrating. What do you do when you have an attack and your fingers go totally numb and white? The only thing I can do is run them under warm water for a few minutes to get the feeling and blood back.
Running is dumb.
I have these mittens (I got them on sale a few years ago)... http://marmot.com/products/expedition_mitt I wear them with gloves underneath and Hot Hands when I am walking my dog at the dog park. It's the only thing that works. Seriously, invest in a good pair of mittens. It really helps. I have a different set up for running, but it doesn't bother me as much *when* I am running. It's afterward that's a problem. And getting into a cold car. And in my house at night at the computer. I can feel it happening right now in fact. UGH. I only started to develop this a few years ago and it's gotten progressively worse every winter. It's really frustrating. What do you do when you have an attack and your fingers go totally numb and white? The only thing I can do is run them under warm water for a few minutes to get the feeling and blood back.
I'll look into getting some mittens. I've always hated wearing mittens (I feel like I suddenly can't do anything with my hands!), but I think I'm going to have to suck it up if I want to keep running outside when it's cold. I do wear gloves almost everywhere, already and that does help some. I knitted my daughter a pair of fingerless gloves last winter and I'm thinking of making another pair for me to wear around the house.
When I get an attack the only thing that helps is hot water. I know you're supposed to take an ice bath after a certain amount of exercise, but I think that would probably kill me!
I have Raynaud's too. It's a frustrating condition to deal with when you are running. Sometimes I resort to putting my hands inside my clothes on my warm skin and just moving around in search of new warm skin - the neck is sometimes a good source of heat. Windmilling your arms while you run, to use gravity to get circulation back in the hands can help, but then you have to keep them warm enough for it to stay there. I wear gloves, mittens, etc. Sometimes they help, sometimes they don't. I also use the hot water bath trick at home, but sometimes windmilling is faster. I get attacks just about every day, most just minor - a few fingers go white. I hate when the whole hands go that ghastly blue or marbled blue and purple.
Don't make excuses for why you can't get it done.
Focus on all the reasons why you must make it happen.
Heavily-used single tracks will be the best packed, and you can run fairly normally. Seldom used wide tracks will be the place for your snowshoe running. And lots of options in between. Where I live, some ski trails are multi-use (non-motorized) and groomed. These can be good, but be sure you know your local trail etiquette for winter use. Single tracks in forests only get about half the snow as the wider trails because of the tree canopy protection. Some wide track trails get what I call "feedlot texture" for footing when you've got lots of people and dogs (and sometimes horses) on the trail before the snow has set after being groomed or the trail may not be groomed at all.
For traction, I'll use stud-like stuff on ice, and probably Kahtoola microspikes on deeper snow. In between, I might use screw shoes (but I change shoes frequently) or one of the stabilicer products (lites or sports). I get a lot more traction from the microspikes than the shallower screws or studs. (I don't use yaktrax anymore since they elevate my feet above the ice and the smooth coils glide down the hill with 0 traction. They're uncomfortable on ice or hard-packed snow, but probably ok on loose snow where you don't need flotation of snowshoes.)
running under the BigSky
to be honest I almost prefer to run in snow- I find the snow very easy on the feet (and joints), almost padded
I put sheet metal screws in my highest mileage shoes come winter, the screws stay put (I've never lost one!) and easily last a winter; for severe conditions (ice) I run in Microspikes, if the snow gets deeper than ~ 8" I run in snowshoes
dressing for cold weather for running can be definitely be challenging, once it gets below 20 it's a game of compromises between moisture mgt, warmth and blocking wind
I do find that on longer runs my core temp drops and I'm chilled easily when the run is done- a long, hot shower seems to do the trick
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