What’s it like to run in Minneapolis year-round?

I live north of Minneapolis, but we have similar conditions. The cold isn't really what holds you back. As long as you have your skin properly protected againat windchill, you can run in extremely cold temps and still be comfortable. The snow is annoying though. Big cities that get lots of snow typically have decent snow removal but still if there is a blizzard then it's hard to get a quality run until it's cleared. It's hard to do workouts on snow or slippery roads too, but its a good time for base miles.

What really gets me about winter running is the hastle. Gotta get all dress and undressed each time, and all the winter gear creates a ton of laundry.

snow problem wrote:

It's hard to do workouts on snow or slippery roads too, but its a good time for base miles.

I was thinking about just building a huge base during the winter. Or possibly working out on indoor tracks if that’s an option.

I'd say if you are really committed there are about half a dozen days where I absolutely wouldn't run outside per year and even then there are others who will.

For the most part any snowfall under about 6 inches is kind of like running on a really cold beach. You go a bit slower but otherwise its fine. Bigger snowfalls make 'running' almost impossible but trails are usually cleared up within a day or so and there are only a couple a year.

There are also a few ice days that you will either need some type of yak trak or something because it's like every flat surface is a skating rink. There are usually only a couple of these as well.

Then there are the absolute frigid cold days. Below about -15 degrees Fahrenheit I'll stick to the inside, but with enough layers I've run in significantly colder and there are others that still do, just lather up your face in Vaseline and wear enough layers.

It can sometimes be challenging to get good workouts in from late Dec to Feb, but if your flexible and can either take the really bad days off, can tough it out occasionally or don't mind an indoor track or treadmill for a rare run its not bad at all. Plus tons of good trails and a pretty robust running community.

I live in the metro area and run year round but most of my runs are on trails. I generally agree with others here but will add that I use my treadmill often in the winter. Being that I don’t use it much the rest of the year makes it less dreadful. I actually look forward to it some days when I think about suiting up to go outside or just throw some shorts on and put a show on the tv and run. Makes getting workouts in easier too.

Anyway been running year round for a decade here and even with the cold/snow there are options and ways to make it work. Good luck!

hemorrhoid wrote:

Thinking about moving to Minneapolis, but I’m concerned about the viability of year-round running with all the snow. How do you guys do it up there?

Testicles.

Back in my college days I used to run in cold temps all the time during the winter. Morning runs could be very cold and snow/ice were always out there. One positive is that with snow on the ground you can see a lot better at 6:30am. My PR is running 6 miles at -6F.

Fast forward to too many years and several moves to warmer climates due to jobs and I'm hard pressed to go outside to run if the temp dips below 40F.

Do you prefer some sunlight? There is that issue. Conditions on the roads or asphalt/cement trails around the lake are not great in winter, but okay. I moved to MN in elementary school and in MN through high school. I went south for college for winter avoidance. I am a MN resident still but I am snow birding it as I type. If you move to Minneapolis, I'll see you in the spring maybe.

I live in Minneapolis, have for a few years. I'm about to go run right now, the darkest time per year is now, it's 3:40 pm, still light but it'll be dark in about an hour. We just got some snow a couple days ago so some roads are still a little snowy, but they typically do a really good job at plowing the bike paths, sometimes they are better than the roads. You can count on it getting below 0 degrees a few times per year, but you can still run in that, you just have to wear enough layers. Like someone else said, there are only a handful of days per year that are probably miserable to run outside in, and maybe you'll have a treadmill for those few days.

We don't get as much snow as northwest New York by Buffalo or anything like that. It'll snow more than a few inches only maybe five times throughout the year. And a bunch of 1-2 inch snows. And people here know how to get rid of it.