Running in Mornings in Winter

auteurfille22

So I'm not sure if this is the right forum, but I need advice. I want to get into doing my runs in the mornings; I've found that if I push them to later in the day more often than not they just don't happen. But as winter comes, it'll be really dark in the mornings when I run (probably from about 5:50 - 6:30 am) and there will probably also be things like black ice. That makes me nervous and I obviously want to be safe and not hurt myself. I can't really afford to go to a gym, so does anyone have any advice? Are there things for sneakers that can make you less likely to slip? Or should I just accept that runs can't happen in the mornings?

bornofthorns

I wasn't very active when I lived up north, however, I would suggest some alternate strategies. Find a treadmill, outdoor runs on weekends, and maybe do swimming or some other cardio.

You could also use this as a time to improve as a runner. Doing some HIIT training, incline work or more leg workouts so that when it warms up you are even better than the autumn.

jeepyj93

I wore Ice Grippers on my shoes last winter, I liked them better than Yak Traks. They were much sturdier and I found if I got onto dry pavement they weren't slippery. I ran everyday and never once came close to slipping. Remember wear reflective clothes and carry a light, maybe a headlamp.

BrianSharpe

I run outside all year 'round and it can be challenging (but so much fun)

In addition to traction aides (I use YakTrax when needed - I know some runners that simply put short screws, strategically placed, into their running shoe treads) shorten your stride, make sure your forward foot doesn't extend much in front of your hip and you are less likely to end up on your butt and it will help improve your summer running form!

+1 on reflective / high visibility clothing and a headlamp.

CarsonRuns

Find grass to run on. Golf courses are a great place to run.

atsteele

Befriend some of my MFP pals from Canada. They'll inspire you to keep going despite the cold and dark!!

KyleB65

I ran through the winter last year. Weekend mornings & weekday evenings (in the dark).

Not sure about where you live? My area is a suburb of Montreal. We have lots of decently light roads to run on. I am particularly lucky as there are several kilometers of water front bike paths where I can run in the winter where no cars drive.

To your question about ice. Yes, it's absolutely there and you will need to adjust your running pace & style. My 10k time went from around 55min a year ago October to 1:10 +/- by January. With ice and uneven road surfaces being the primary culprit. Not to forget the weather! Hard to maintain pace when it's snowing! I ran variations of 3 routes. So, I quickly figured out where there were areas prone to ice.

As for shoes. I bought cheap Reebok cross trainers because they had what looked like a decent grip. Not the smartest thing I have ever done! They worked, kind of, but I destroyed them well before winter was done. I have run with people who use the add on grips. The feedback is mixed. They work but the sensation is unpleasant on longer runs. For this winter I have bought Altra zero drop trail shoes. After a few mid distance trail runs in these I have high expectations. The toe box and whole front of the shoe is wide. And, the tread pattern has a great grip on wet rocks and gravel. If I was to make a recommendation, I would say that investing in decent trail style shoes with a good tread is a better choice than adding the grips to summer road shoes.

After running conditions and shoes, being visible is key! I have a cheap Walmart reflective vest that I wear along with a reflective cap any a light strap for my arm. My running buddies joke about it, but for me it's critical to be seen. Most of my running last winter was solo. For those places where I was running on roads with traffic. I wanted to be seen from a long distance.

One last though before I sign off. Last winter was my first running all winter. I had so much fun!! I went into it thinking that I would run until the weather got too cold and then switch to an inside track. But, every time I went out for a run it was a great experience! My favorites were Saturday mornings early. I would run along the water front as the sun came up. These were awesome runs! Seeing the new day reflect across the frozen bay was beautiful. I hope you get the same joy as you run this winter!

Chieflrg

So I'm not sure if this is the right forum, but I need advice. I want to get into doing my runs in the mornings; I've found that if I push them to later in the day more often than not they just don't happen. But as winter comes, it'll be really dark in the mornings when I run (probably from about 5:50 - 6:30 am) and there will probably also be things like black ice. That makes me nervous and I obviously want to be safe and not hurt myself. I can't really afford to go to a gym, so does anyone have any advice? Are there things for sneakers that can make you less likely to slip? Or should I just accept that runs can't happen in the mornings?

Yeah hit it in the mornings if that is for you. Not knowing how bad the black ice gets, you might find trails to run on, or grass as mentioned before or even a city park. I hit the streets on the week days and sometimes wear my trail shoes instead for a slight added grip. I know there are some grippers out there too, I haven't gotten around to testing them out personally.