Training When Snow is Everywhere

Uh, maybe run in 6 inches of snow? It won't kill you. If you can't run on the roads doesn't snow provide much needed cushioning? Gunder Hagg used to toil through snow nearly up to his waist in Sweden and he ran OK. Lasse Viren didn't sit in the sauna when it snowed. Get your ass outside and stop being a pussy.

Try cross-country skiing or running/walking in snow shoes. My husband swears by cross-country skiing. We don't even bother trying to run on ice or snow anymore - too hard on the hamstrings and lower back. Good luck!

what about an indoor track. we got blasted with nearly 2 feet of snow so 6 inches sounds like heaven. look for a side road that is clear and run back and forth on it!

I agree with Canuck Runner. This is a question that should not have to be asked. Real runners always figure out a way. I ran through a record snowfall winter in Wisconsin and it wasn't fun but somehow we got by. Usually roads in the richer neighborhoods got plowed although it meant running out and back on the same 5 mile stretch every day.

A good workout is going out on a snow covered golf course. If its deep snow it helps if its very cold out for footing.

Eventually it will warm up in the 30's and footing on roads/sidewalks will get better.

Maybe join a "Y" and finish up you distance runs with 2 to 4 miles on the an indoor track.

Also laps around large parking lots are an idea. Watch the cars.

If you're concerned about stress fractures and don't want to run hard surfaces well, treadmills may be something you just are going to have to deal with until it warms up. Tough shit. How bad do you want it?

Nothing gets in the way of training if you want it bad enough.

6 inches!! thats nothing. When i was in college we got 40 inches. Never missed a day. Suck it up and run. I used to go out to the track and shovel(every flippin day) so i had a trail to run on. This was no 5 minute project. If you can't handle some snow you will never be tough enough to run Fast. If you don't like it go HIGH JUMP with your long baggie shorts on.

Three options I've heard of from some darn talented runners (names withheld). Unfortunately all are on hard surfaces are require willingness and ability to go at "off hours":

-- Industrial park -- parking lots and access roads -- they are usually well plowed with minimal traffic -- one miler used these for interval workouts

-- During a blizzard, one 10k-marathon guy ran a 90-minute run at a parking deck ...up and down the ramps, laps of the levels.

- During a hurricane, one marathon guy got into the local university's basketball arena, which has a concourse that runs the full circumference of the stands, and ran 2-plus hours doing laps on on the linoleum tile.

Then again, go outside and what you lose in speed you make up for in strength and toughness. But be extra careful and extra polite wiht the automotive traffic.

Run anyway. It's similar to running on sand. Great workout.

This has already been adequately answered for you, but I'll add one more - either get outside and deal with the snow or get over your treadmill ban. I don't know why everyone is so down on treadmills - probably because you see lots of joggers on them. I run on a treadmill about once a week at the fitness center I belong to (I mostly go there to use the weights and swim with the kids and sometimes run on the indoor track). These treamills go up to 12 MPH (that's a 5 minute mile) - more than fast enough for training.

Ken Martin ran 2:09 at the NYC Marathon after doing ALL of his long runs on a treadmill. Granted, I think that's a bit extreme, but get over the treamill thing already. So what if it's boring. Seems to me its just an excuse to miss a run.

Get a membership at Reggie Lewis for $60. Its good for January February, and March. Access to the track pretty much every night and weekends too (track meets non-withstanding). Excellent training facility. You can even use the weight room and the lockers (I think). Also when Harvard returns from break you can sneak in through the side door.

iv'e tried to run on a treadmill, but it makes you run to much on your heels, it might be ok for someone trying to gain fitness, but not when you are trying to run at 6.00 min pace for an hour or so, it totally f@#ks up my stride. maybe if your a marathoner, but not if your a miler. i think it's best to get out there and battle it out through the snow, it's tougher and works your legs more.

How are you supposed to do strides and workouts on a treadmill?

I have one that sits in my dark basement facing a wall.

What an incentive to go down and run.

Not only that, but 10 mph ain't fast enough to do ANYTHING!

Plus, 9 minute pace for me on the dreadmill feels for some reason remarkably difficult.

My breathing is OK, legs are OK, but it is REALLY hard!

Running outside is definitely the preferred way. I agree that running outside works the legs more. That's why I only run on the treadmill on average once a week. But, while it might "f@#k" up your stride, it doesn't do that for me, and I have done 15 mile runs on a treamill at 6 minute pace. In some ways running on a treadmill is harder because unless you are fooling with the speed all the time, it forces you to run at a constant pace even when you hit those patches when you'd like to slow down for a quarter mile or so.

All I'm saying is that if there were suddenly a big snow storm which for a day or two might make running outside impossible (we had 36 inches of snow one winter in one day, and there was no outside running for several days until they cleared all the snow away) that if you had to choose between not running and a treadmill, the treadmill is a viable option.

Better though when dealing with just 6 inches of snow is to suck it up and go outside.

I imagine every runner would choose running outdoors over a treadmill, regardless of the conditions. Some of my favorite runs took place during/just after a heavy snowfall - I liked getting an extra workout and the scenery was beautiful, too. However, after two lower back injuries (muscle imbalances) which have resulted in a combined 15 months of physical therapy, running in snow just isn't an option for the forseeable future. I don't have easy access to an indoor track, so for me it's the treadmill or nothing. It's certainly not my first choice but I'll take 45:00 on the treadmill over nothing. I'll vary the speed or add some inclines, and can usually devise a pretty good "workout." My husband's hamstrings can't tolerate snow either, but he loves to cross-country ski. When my lower back is stable enough I'll probably join him in skiing. So, not all of us who retreat to the treadmill in the winter are wussies. Some of us would rather be able to run *without* re-aggravating an injury or a return to physical therapy.

Try to find a dirt road to run on. They're better than sidewalks. Extra effort through the snow is good to build strength. Skiing is not effective cross-training. This is a running discussion.

I worked in Boston and lived in Brockton during the blizzard of 1978. If you don't remember it ask some of your older friends. I ran 105 miles that week including speedwork on packed snow/ice. Most businesses were closed and you were not allowed to drive unless it was an emergency. Anything is possible, just bet out there and run.

I've been running through the winter for several years, but admittedly take to the treadmill on the worst days. I hate the treadmill because of the monotony, but definitely find you can get in a hard workout, even on machines limited to 10 mph. Just crank up the incline to 5%, and you're cruising at the equivalent about 12 mph on a flat but faster machine (in my humble yet unscientific view).

I ran about 5.5 miles with a buddy on Christmas Day, and we were talking about the blizzard expected for the following day. I told him I didn't like to run in deep snow or slush, or on ice. Without saying so directly, he gently implied I was a bit of a baby for a seasoned runner.

Next day we got the foot of snow we expected, along with high winds, etc etc. I couldn't take the implied challenge lying down, so I've been out every day since (except Sunday) for 6 to 8 miles. The sidewalks are still partly snow covered, but the snow banks at intersections have been moved away. I've left the watch at home to avoid recording any evidence of substandard performance, and I have to say these have been some of the most enjoyable runs I've had in a while.

The moral here (for me as well as TrackGuy), is get off the couch and go for a slog through the snow. You just might like it.

For all those who have called me a wuss for not being a "real runner" let me set you straight.

My reluctance to run outside is not based on being a "wuss" or on the cold or anything like that.

I very much enjoy running on SOFT surfaces such as trails and golf courses. Quite obviously, these surfaces are not plowed and take especially long to clear.

I am looking for a high quality training winter and am not interested in slogging through half a foot of snow, which would obviously be VERY slow running.

As fasr as running on the road goes, on occasion I am fine with this. About a third of my miels are on the road.

But any more than this has led to NUMEROUS injuries in the past.

Not a lack of desire, but wisdom, tells me that it is not a great idea to run EVERYTHING on the roads and take a TREMENDOUS risk if injury.

Those who call me a wuss, try it yourself. Take every one of your 100 weekly miles out on the asphalt and concrete and see how you feel after a little while.

Granted, if I stayed on the roads just until the snow melted I might not have a problem in this brief time period.

But in the long time, those who make themselves out to be great big tough guy runners who will pound out 150 mile weeks on the road while snow covers everything because they have great drive and desire are really pretty stupid, as they will soon find themselves pool running.

Snow is Mother Nature's way of trying to force runners to develop a solid distance base before they start abusing themselves with intervals and races. An indoor track is the runner's way of trying to fool Mother Nature. Usually, you're better off not trying to fool Mother Nature.

If, during a long snowy winter, you occasionally feel the need to run fast on a snowless surface, treadmill running can be an excellent alternative. But don't do it in your basement. Instead, sign up for a month-to-month membership at a Yuppie health club that has decent treadmills that go up to at least 12 m.p.h. and have gradient controls with automatic adjustments. When you get on the treadmill, pretend that you are Tony Menero from "Saturday Night Fever," and all of the young lawyers and investment bankers are watching in awe as you stride effortlessly like a gazelle at a pace that they can only fantasize about. It's about the only opportunity for a distance runner to feel like he's the star attraction, so take advantage of it.

Quit whining you freakin wuss.