Run Run Away

Question:

Right now the weather varies so much that you need to be prepared for just about anything. Any Anchorage people know of any clear roads or trails to run on right now? Mark Strabel

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was wondering what sort of shoe to get to run in this ice/snow/melting mess we have (in AK) and what sort of layers you recommend.  I have been running inside on the treadmill but want to branch out and get outside. Chrystal

Response:

Thank you, thank you thank you.  This is the post I was hoping for.  

I should have made my comments after I got back from running this evening If you had this evening’s stiff breeze (won’t give it credit for being a wind after last week’s 50mph) + brisk temperatures, you may want to keep with the mid-weight gear and not break out the light-weight stuff just yet – although I did use my lighter weight gear Tues night. Good footing is getting close! Dot

Response:

Right now the weather varies so much that you need to be prepared for just about anything. Any Anchorage people know of any clear roads or trails to run on right now? Mark Strabel

Mark, Depending upon how desperate you are for a dry surface (it’s been a long time since early October , many of the paved streets in Palmer are dry – as is most of the bike path past the high school, but I think the path along the Palmer-Wasilla Hwy is still grim. Gravel streets are still patchy ice, and trails (Crevasse-Moraine, Moose Range) are definitely still in snowshoe category – or running on about 1 inch loose snow. Dot

Response:

Mark, I don’t know of any clear paths yet.  I keep watching the one along the Glenn Hwy and in patches it’s clear but not for any complete stretch. In my neighborhood there are getting to be a majority of streets with some clear streaks but you’d have to want to run in the middle of the road  I found it wasn’t too bad to run on the 1-2" snow areas if you watch your footing, but if you want to keep fast pace this wouldn’t suit. Would the first AK runner who finds a clear path please post?  Thanks! Chrystal (aka AKQuilter)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Right now the weather varies so much that you need to be prepared for just about anything. Any Anchorage people know of any clear roads or trails to run on right now? Mark Strabel I was wondering what sort of shoe to get to run in this ice/snow/melting mess we have (in AK) and what sort of layers you recommend.  I have been running inside on the treadmill but want to branch out and get outside. Chrystal

Response:

Thank you, thank you thank you.  This is the post I was hoping for.  We still have a decent amount of snow on the sides of the roads but the sidewalks are pretty clear.  There is a good bit of mud/frozen mud around but it is getting better.  I guess that is why I want to get outside!  I have been looking at the XC pants you mentioned and I think I am going to go tomorrow for something like that.  I have top layers I can work with. Skinny Raven is where I have been pointed to often as well and it’s right beside my church so I think I’ll give it a try. Chrystal – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was wondering what sort of shoe to get to run in this ice/snow/melting mess we have (in AK) I’m not sure how much ice, etc you have left (we’re about 98% snow/ice free on my usual path except a couple patches), but I normally run in my Saucony Grid Stabils year round (these have triangular lugs and reasonable traction on cold ice, not this warm ice), but I may re-consider my NB904 next winter in slushy weather – after I’ve gotten them broken in a little more. We’re so warm right now (yea, I know it was +9F this am, but it’s warm in pm), I wouldn’t worry about any winter shoes. I usually let my biomechanics (overpronation) / fit be the controlling factor on what shoes I wear – with possible adjustments for trails / slush, etc although so far I’m not sure I’ve been able to improve on my Saucony’s (just starting to experiment). If you have water on top of ice, I would avoid that at all costs. That stuff is pretty close to frictionless. My little hill is almost past that stage. I generally walk on the snow berm to get by it or put my strap-on studs to walk past it. Then resume running.  and what sort of layers you recommend. For these temperatures, you can probably use running pants from Sears or someplace similar (about $20). If you’re going to do longer distances, I would get something not cotton.  This winter I used SportHill XC’s with various layers: no tights above +20 or +35F, tights from about -5F to +20 or +35 (depending on wind), fleece layer below -5F or when doing triathlon at +1F or training for tri below +20F (windchill on legs cycling at high cadence is significant). During most of the winter, I used an REI Switchback Gore-Tex parka (designed for hiking, etc, not running) over powerdry zip mock down to about 0F and added an expedition thermax layer below that (think -17F may have been coldest run). BUT now that I’ve got a lighter weight shell, I may change those layers, but won’t know until I experiment. And right now am using lighter weight shells with powerdry. I’m still experimenting at these temps. Last year I just wore cotton sweats under a supplex shell (very breathable) that airlines lost, so I’m having to discover what works again. We’ve been so close to having decent footing for over a week, that I can almost taste it – then it snows again, but melts rapidly. We only had about 8 inches when Anchorage had 30. And we still have lots of snowshoeing around. Good luck! Dot

Response:

PS: I would go to Skinny Raven’s in Anchorage for shoes. I’ve been pointed there several times, and their people are knowledgeable.

Response:

I was wondering what sort of shoe to get to run in this ice/snow/melting mess we have (in AK) and what sort of layers you recommend.  I have been running inside on the treadmill but want to branch out and get outside. Chrystal

Response:

I was wondering what sort of shoe to get to run in this ice/snow/melting mess we have (in AK)

I’m not sure how much ice, etc you have left (we’re about 98% snow/ice free on my usual path except a couple patches), but I normally run in my Saucony Grid Stabils year round (these have triangular lugs and reasonable traction on cold ice, not this warm ice), but I may re-consider my NB904 next winter in slushy weather – after I’ve gotten them broken in a little more. We’re so warm right now (yea, I know it was +9F this am, but it’s warm in pm), I wouldn’t worry about any winter shoes. I usually let my biomechanics (overpronation) / fit be the controlling factor on what shoes I wear – with possible adjustments for trails / slush, etc although so far I’m not sure I’ve been able to improve on my Saucony’s (just starting to experiment). If you have water on top of ice, I would avoid that at all costs. That stuff is pretty close to frictionless. My little hill is almost past that stage. I generally walk on the snow berm to get by it or put my strap-on studs to walk past it. Then resume running.  and what sort of layers you recommend.

For these temperatures, you can probably use running pants from Sears or someplace similar (about $20). If you’re going to do longer distances, I would get something not cotton.  This winter I used SportHill XC’s with various layers: no tights above +20 or +35F, tights from about -5F to +20 or +35 (depending on wind), fleece layer below -5F or when doing triathlon at +1F or training for tri below +20F (windchill on legs cycling at high cadence is significant). During most of the winter, I used an REI Switchback Gore-Tex parka (designed for hiking, etc, not running) over powerdry zip mock down to about 0F and added an expedition thermax layer below that (think -17F may have been coldest run). BUT now that I’ve got a lighter weight shell, I may change those layers, but won’t know until I experiment. And right now am using lighter weight shells with powerdry. I’m still experimenting at these temps. Last year I just wore cotton sweats under a supplex shell (very breathable) that airlines lost, so I’m having to discover what works again. We’ve been so close to having decent footing for over a week, that I can almost taste it – then it snows again, but melts rapidly. We only had about 8 inches when Anchorage had 30. And we still have lots of snowshoeing around. Good luck! Dot

Response: