How To Run In The Snow - Madaboutrun
How To Run In The Snow

How To Run In The Snow

Running in the snow is actually pretty hard work.

Don’t get us wrong, you can feel pretty cool while you are doing it, but this is one of the toughest workouts that you can try. 

If you considered yourself to be a pretty persistent and dedicated athlete then you will not want to let some snow get in your way. Absolutely not!

How To Run In The Snow

However, it is really important that you really know what you are signing up for if you are planning on heading out for a run in the snow.

After all, you do not want to injure yourself on your run, and you will want to be as safe as possible.

Make sure that you keep reading for our advice on how to go for a run in the snow in the safest way possible.

You Need To Know The Basics

So, the biggest and most basic piece of advice that we have for you is an integral part of running in the snow.

After all, it is pretty obvious that you can’t safely run in the snow if you do not know the hacks on how to avoid slipping. This is one of the elements of running in the snow that can lead to you getting injured.

Here’s the thing, some snow can be relatively soft and this is the kind of snow that can be pretty easy to run on.

Or, you might encounter that other kind of snow which is hard and icy and this is the kind of snow that is especially difficult to run on.

What Is Cross-Country?

So, cross-country is not a million miles away from marathon running. Cross-country runners will compete in distance races which usually occur on terrains that have non-paved running paths.

As an outdoor competitor, you will have to overcome challenges which track-athletes will not have to overcome. 

In cross-country, you have to run on surfaces that can be muddy and also sloppy in especially wet weather.

Anyone of any age can actually compete in cross-country running, and these races will occur across the globe.

How To Run In The Snow

It Is Important To Adjust Your Stride

The best place to start is with your stride, and something that will really help you out when you are on a run is if you shorten your stride. When you do this you must also ensure that you are keeping your feet low to the ground. 

Taking huge strides and swinging your feet up past your knee will make the running in the snow process a lot more difficult for you. And, this is something that can really lead to injury and this is not what you want.

The shorter and more shuffle-like stride will really help give you more stability and this will also give you less chance of losing your footing on the icier patches of snowy ground.

Alternatively, if you find that you are running in snow that is especially deep then you should do the exact opposite of this.

If you want to run in deep snow then you will actually need to lift your knees way up and much higher than normal, although it is important to note that you still should maintain a much shorter stride.

You Really Have To Adjust Your Own Expectations

Here’s the thing, the snow is an extreme weather condition and this is something that you will find a lot more taxing on your body than running on a ‘normal weather’ kind of day. This is all because of the muscles that you are working on.

Running in the snow means that you have to engage extra stability muscles, and also you will find that your body works so much harder than if you were to just go out for a run. This is a key fact when it comes to considering the pace that you are running at.

You will find that you should really reduce your pace and ultimately focus on not face planting into the snow. Ouch. If you are going to opt for a snowy workout then we would recommend that you give intervals and hill running a miss because this will add a lot of stress and intensity to your body.

Snowy Conditions Can Be Very Deceiving

It is important to remember that the snow is not a constant surface level. What we mean by this is that you could come across fluffy snow and then all of a sudden you will end up running across an ice rink. 

This is why it is super important to run at a pace that is especially comfortable for you because this will ultimately make it easier for you to adjust your technique when you encounter different snowy terrains. Also, this will reduce that slip risk too.

How To Run In The Snow

You Need To Build Yourself Up

We do not want to sound totally negative or rain (or should we say snow) on your parade in any way, but we do not recommend that you go straight in and try to go for a snowy run.

This is because this is a totally new experience for your body and for your muscles and this is not something that you should just rush into. We really recommend that you ease your way in.

You can do this by starting with some running on a treadmill, and you can mix this in with some outdoor snow runs before you take on a full run in the snow.

You also need to prepare yourself by running in suitable outwear. We are not saying to get your huge padded coats up, but you will need to consider seriously layering up because you do not want to contract hypothermia in the process of trying to push your body to its limit.

In Conclusion

Overall, running in the snow is not for the faint-hearted.

This is a pretty intense workout, and you have to be a very keen and passionate runner if you want to take this on.

If you are not sure about how your running journey is going or if this is something that you are wanting to keep up with, then maybe running in the snow is not your best option.

There are a whole host of ways that you can prepare for your run in the snow, but this is something that we do recommend easing your way into.

You do not want to rush into this because you could end up seriously injuring yourself, and then this will hinder your running on ‘normal turf’ let alone your snowy running endeavors.

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