……top tips!
The weather forecasters got it right……a very rare occurrence! It started snowing this morning and hasn’t really stopped. My son’s school closed before lunch, and my husband stocked up on milk and bread on the way to collect him – we often get ‘snowed in’ here!
I love snow…….to look at! I don’t mind feeling cold, and I don’t mind being unable to get to work (obviously). I don’t even mind trudging miles through the snow to get essential supplies! But, I hate the fact that it interferes with my running!!
Today was a recovery run day, so I donned my cross country studs and ventured out. I was going to go over the fields but after just 100 metres or so I decided that it was an accident waiting to happen? Icy covered puddles lurked under the snow and the ground was hard and rutted. I thought I might sprain an ankle, or worse, so I headed back to the road. The road was very slippery where vehicles had flattened the snow, but I was ok running in the powdery snow on the verge. It was slow going however and I found myself adopting a very flat footed style. There is no way I will be able to do my scheduled threshold run tomorrow, not to mention my long run the day after. The weather could change of course – this is England after all…..
Anyway – as I was running today I thought of a few tips to pass on for running in the snow:
- Wear warm, bright / visibility clothing
- Consider your footwear – cross country studs for softer snow and maybe cross country spikes in compacted snow…
- Accept that you’ll have to run slower than you normally would
- Carry a phone
- Let someone else know your route
- Stop and stand in a safe place to let vehicles pass – they may lose control
- Consider low sun and how it may affect the visibility of drivers – assume you haven’t been seen!
- Stay close to home – run laps if you want more miles – you never know what might happen (injury, lost, cold etc)
- Consider cross training or treadmill
An adapted training plan is better than an injury that prevents you from training! FACT
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