This is my first winter running. After picking it up in the summer, no one is more surprised and impressed than me that I’m still keen to go out running in the middle of winter. But… what do you do when it’s icy? When the country lanes near me got muddy and slippery in the autumn, I got some different running shoes to provide better grip - and they’ve worked a treat - but now it’s so icy, I'm worried about slipping and injuring myself. What do you do in these conditions? Sit it out or risk it? If the latter, what kit would you suggest to make it as safe as possible? Hope everyone’s keeping warm in this cold spell?! Pic is from my first doggy morning run a few days back… I’ve never had dew drops on my eyelashes before and it hi-lighted chin hair I didn’t know existed! 😆🏃♀️🥶☃️
Winter running: icy conditions: This is my... - Bridge to 10K
Winter running: icy conditions
Don't run on ice!!The fracture clinics as busybthis time of year!!
Jan 19th last year slipped on ice on way to work.
Complicated dislocated elbow a year on still painful. Put me out from running for months.
Repeat Dont run on ice the risk is to high
Best wishes
Jet
So agree... ice.... NOT nice!
For me as for so many of us, ice is a no go. Far too risky for me... I slipped on ice once, not running ... Christmas Eve, many, many years ago . landed on the bottom of my spine...and I still remember the pain...
If it is icy, then I increase my indoor exercise ..loads, to do to keep us fit...
My post on S and F this week will be addressing this subject!
There are ice grips available for this sort of terrain . Yaktrax are just one... but for me , it is winter walks, off road with my great grip walking shoes or boots... 
This is exactly what I expected but just wanted to reassure myself that I wasn’t the only one having to sit it out. I will continue to do weight training but add in a bit of YouTube cardio stuff at home. 👍🏻
It's all ice where I live Oldfloss, however, as the sun was shining I put on my thick winter jerkin and walking boots and went a slow careful 12K walk this morning , this walk was mainly on trails but I had to be very careful not to fall.Tomorrow is my running day, first of all I'll check the route , if it's icy I'll run on a nearby disused football ash pitch with some grass which isn't slippy, if I do it that way it means running around that disused pitch 15 times for a 3K,[1K is 5 times around],on December 30th 2020 I ran a 8K around that pitch in icy weather 40 times
Good plan Al...I walk..but never run. Trouble is I can't access my fields without going on road or pavement!The snow from this morning has melted and the pavements and lanes are like skating rinks! X
That's the problem, snow melts then it freezes at night leaving the roads like a ice rink, the weather is to get milder by next week but before then we have to get a few nights and some days of sub 0C temperatures.
Freezing here now and snow forecast for tomorrow as well ! I have not had a run in9 days!
Better safe and not running than run then having a nasty fall, tomorrow I will report here how my run went, it might be on the disused football pitch or maybe on the path in the park, the short run will be around 1.15 pm.
Thanks Al.
Update Floss 2pm Tuesday, I am just back from that short 3K run, the temperature was above freezing at +2C and the paths had been salted by the council, in fact on the first lap I met two small trackers who had salted the paths in the park, no need to go and run on the disused football pitch, I met a fellow runner from parkrun, but he was running in the opposite direction, as the weather is to remain cold until at least next Sunday I will probably repeat that run on Friday at the same time.
I'd stick to the treadmill when it's icy but running on grass is OK. I went cycling in icy conditions once- a very bad idea it proved to be!
Sadly I don’t have a treadmill anymore or gym membership but I did a YouTube cardio workout at home this morning. ✅
In recent weeks, I've taken to running laps on a local sports field when the ground icy. I slowly and carefully walk the ten minutes from my house to the field where icy grass tends to be ideal for running on.
I used to live opposite a big sports field with full running track etc. Wish I had that now!
There's ice and there's snow. Snow can be delightful for running provided the temperature is well below zero and it's reasonably fresh and not compacted. Ice? A big nope from me. Where I'm currently staying the pavements are covered in ice and slush. I've managed 10,000+ steps a day outside (gosh I'm keen 😂) and am so thankful for all the balance and ankle strengthening exercises I do.I did manage about 100 yards on a running track because MrY wanted to take a video but as I stopped an old guy walked past me and said 'Be careful'
Good advice!!
I live in Montreal, Canada where there is a lot of snow and ice. I run outside in the snow but not the ice. In the snow I wear crampons or yaktraks but when it’s too icy I run on a treadmill. The cold can always be dealt with by wearing lots of layers. Injuries are not fun. As I get older I’ve become more cautious.
Love the last comment "As I get older I become more cautious" or as Yoda would say "More cautious become as get older I do" Ha HaIn essance stay off the ice leave it to Torvill and Dean!!
Best wishes
Jet!
Yep, avoid icy pavements at all costs! If I go out on icy days, I will also look for somewhere safer to run. I love a trail or around the local fields where there is less chance of slipping. However, you have to be mindful of other risks, as frozen ground can be hard and rutty and a risk to ankles if you go over.
Slipping on ice is not a great idea. Thankfully the only times it's happened to me I've landed on my bum, and the only thing injured has been my pride.
You can get spiky grips to attach to your shoes for ice runs. (Wouldn't work for me.)
On the other hand, running in fresh snow is great fun. I have even once done a short run barefoot on snow!
I've taken to wearing three layers on top in the cold: inner skin-tight base layer, an appropriate middle layer (sometimes thin like today when it was windy but 5°C, sometimes thicker like Thursday when it was hovering round freezing) and an outside layer (sometimes a slightly fleecy top, sometimes a more specialised winter running top).
Bottoms: running tights down to about 3°C, trousers below that. My legs don't feel the cold as much as my trunk and arms. I've even seen guys out in shorts when the temperature has been near freezing!
Gloves. Check whether your gloves can go in the washing machine: many can't. I sweat a lot through my hands when running. Really thick gloves (eg. ski gloves) rapidly become uncomfortable when running.
And don't forget a hat or cap to limit heat loss through the head. Even more important for us who used to have hair up top but don't any more.
Factor in the expected wind chill and how wet you're expecting to get.
If it's been below freezing for a few days and the air is still you might actually need less insulation than if it's close to freezing but damp. Low humidity feels less cold than high humidity at the same temperature.
Do not wear waterproof tops. You will get sweaty and uncomfortable in them. Even permeable membranes (like Goretex) are useless if they're saturated on the outside.
Bear in mind that you will get chilled if your cool down walk is too long. I find that 10 minutes is about my limit. It can sometimes be wise to extend your run to get you closer to home.
Once you've got chilled it's difficult to get warm again whilst you're still outside.
That’s really helpful, thank you for taking the time to respond in such detail.
It’s my ankles that get cold and as they’re my problem area for injury, I know I need to stay safe so have avoided any running in these icing conditions. I have even thought about some 80’s style leg warmers to keep my ankles toasty! 😆 And as I also suffer with Raynauds Syndrome, there’s no chance I’ll be trying barefoot running in the snow!
I hadn’t thought about wearing a hat - good tip. I usually wear a buff round my neck when it’s cold and another on my head and forehead to keep the sweat out my eyes. But as I usually run mid morning, I’ve thought about wearing a cap just to keep the sun from blinding me.
For your ankles, thick winter running socks which are at least calf length are great. I tend to wear Injinji trail or ultra socks in winter. (Yes, they have individual toes.)
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