Tips on Running in the Snow

When running in the snow or over ice, remember that safety is the most important thing. You don't want to overdo it, so ease into it slowly. Even if you don't fall, you'll be using muscles differently than you're used to using them, and any weird sudden movements can produce a muscle strain. So, take it easy, run shorter distances at a slower pace, and you'll build those muscles over time.

We had a P.E. teacher at Parkrose High by the name of Ed Tribby who liked to give us advice on running. His license plate read "PHYS ED," so we liked to call him Physical Ed. He meant well, but like most teachers back then, he largely didn't know what he was doing. He "taught" a running class in the morning which was called "am jogging." We would simply run in the morning, and get a class credit for it. I'm pretty sure we all got A's. But, he didn't like the fact that those of us on the track and cross country team would skip running for a day or simply run easy if we had a meet that day, as if our coaches were undermining his ability to "teach" us physical education.

Anyway, Ed Tribby urged us to run in any weather, even if it was cold or windy, (those of us who were used to running every day didn't protest), but under no cirucumstances were we to run in snow or ice, as it was too dangerous. Well, he was wrong: you can run in snow and ice. I had seen Rocky IV, and knew that you could run in the snow, sometimes right up a mountain. So, I started running in the snow and ice whenever I could, and now I'm pretty good at it. Ed Tribby, however, is still a wuss.