Running On Ice

[Far2Fat4ThatDress]

Okay went out for a run this morning and flipping heck I felt like Bambi on ice - is there a technique?

[useitorloseit Graduate]

Yes. Don't slip over!!! Black ice all over the road this morning. I was placing my feet very gingerly. The other day it was so bad I actually turned back and found somewhere which had been treated and driven over quite a bit so the ice had melted. I think if it feels really slippy, it's better just to stop rather than risk breaking something.

[Far2Fat4ThatDress Graduate in reply to useitorloseit]

Hi - in the end I headed for a playing field and ran around in circles - felt like the dog that was there who was chasing his own tail!

The username came from a chap that I met at a presentation evening and he said 'I don't think you can get much more into that dress' - it made me laugh so much and I felt like Sophia Loren!

[useitorloseit Graduate]

Btw I love your username!!

[AncientMum Graduate]

Best technique for running on ice?? Go home and wait for it to melt.

Learning to run properly is tough enough without adding ice skating into the mix. There are 'add-ons' called Yaxtrax that you can clip onto your shoes like crampons to tackle snow but I'm not sure if theyre effective on black ice. Good luck

[AdamB Graduate]

Yes - stay off it. I run (gingerly) on the white crunchy stuff at the side or on the frozen grass verge rather than the icy path itself.

If in doubt, I run on the road itself (assuming it's been treated). If running on the road I tend to go out early morning and run on the right i.e. facing any oncoming traffic. I choose quiet, gritted roads 20/30mph limit with streetlighting and then move off the road onto the verge should I see a car approaching. Although it's not an approach that everyone would be happy with I feel the risks are minor when compared to those of going over head over tail. I am very careful about which roads I do this on, mind and appreciate that not everyone has the opportunity to find similar routes.

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Run somewhere the sun has been shining so the ice has melted, or stay home until it's safer...

[Slookie Graduate]

Wouldn't choose to run on ice, but if there is an unexpected patch raise knees a bit higher and aim to land without too much forward oomph. Bit like running on the spot action with exaggerated knees but moving forwards a bit and taking complete control of the feet. Not infallible though!

The longnose dog gallops down the hall, realises he can't stop in time and does a high leap straight up in the air landing gracefully on all four feet at a halt. Four long legs, that's the answer.