Many beginner runners always in winter the question arises of whether it is possible to run in the snow and if so, are there any features of such a run.
You can run, but you need to know the nuances. In general, snow running can be divided into four types, depending on the depth and moisture of the snow cover.
Running on the packed snow
In any city, they try to remove snow from sidewalks and roads as quickly as possible. But more often than not, a thin layer of well-packed snow remains on the ground, in which it is impossible to get bogged down, but it delivers no less problems.
And first of all, it concerns the fact that running on it is rather slippery. Not everywhere snow sprinkled with sand and salt, so sometimes you have to run literally on a snow rink.
Rolled Snow Running Shoes
It is necessary, first of all, right here pick up shoes. Namely, it's best to have a soft rubber outsole that grips the road. Do not wear sneakers for jogging in winter, regardless of the amount of snow. In them you will be like a “cow on ice”.
It is not uncommon to sell sneakers, on the front of the sole of which a layer of soft rubber is specially glued. You can take such, only their problem is that when running on hard asphalt, the glued layer is quickly erased.
Running technique on packed snow
If your shoe grips well in the snow and does not slip, then running technique you can not change. If you didn't manage to get sneakers with soft soles, then you will have to run a little differently than on dry asphalt. This concerns the repulsion from the surface. It will be vertical here, since the leg will still slip. Therefore, running on a slippery surface is performed, in fact, only by rearranging the legs. In this case, the takeoff with the supporting leg will no longer go forward, but upward, and the hip will rise slightly higher than usual.
Running on dry snowdrifts
Snow up to 10 cm
You should not be afraid of snow up to 10 cm deep. Running on it is, of course, more difficult than on a flat surface, but this will not be a serious problem. Running technique will be not much different from running on packed snow. The only difference concerns the sneakers. They should be closed, that is, made of dense material, not breathable mesh. The outsole requirements remain the same.
Snow from 10 cm to the knee
Unlike shallow snow, when the foot practically does not fall into it, running in snow up to the knee causes additional difficulties. You have to raise your thigh higher so as not to "plow" with your foot. In this case, you can run on such snow, but always in waterproof Bolognese sweatpants. In addition, an unprepared person will not be able to run on such snow for a long time, since the front of the thigh will quickly "clog" with lactic acid due to the need to constantly kick the snow. As an additional workout of the legs and getting new emotions, such a run is perfect. But if you like easy running without obstacles and problems, then it is better not to climb into the snowdrifts.
Snow above the knee.
Everything is simple here. When the snow level is above the knee, ostrich races begin. Due to the fact that the snow is above the knee, it will not be possible to bend the leg and it will have to be carried in a straightened state from the side, as hurdlers do. Although, if you try hard, you can push the snow with your feet, but running in this way is extremely difficult. An untrained person cannot overcome and 100 meters on such snow. Here, of course, it matters how much above the knee the snow is, because in principle it is impossible to run in snow up to the waist, only as a submarine. Therefore, it is better to bypass such drifts. But if there is no other possibility, or you want new extreme sensations, then go ahead. The only thing, do not forget that you can swim on such snow. This is in case your legs are completely tired and refuse to move.
Running in wet snow.
It is easier to run on snow, which turns into a "mess" than on rolled snow or drifts, if you do not mind getting wet and splashing yourself and passers-by. Otherwise, I would not recommend run in the melted snow, since it will hardly bring you pleasure.
If you want to run in such weather conditions, be sure to wear plastic bags over your socks. And then wear sneakers. Otherwise, your feet will get wet and the likelihood of getting sick is very high. Moreover, if the sneakers are at least half a size larger, then the foot in them will ride while running, due to the fact that cellophane is slippery. Therefore, make sure in advance that your foot fits snugly in the shoe.
I strongly advise against running through deep snowdrifts when everything melts around. From above, the snow will look normal. But there is water under it, and few people like running in cold water.
Running on the packed snow with "potholes".
I want to highlight this type of running as a separate item, since it differs from running on packed flat snow. I strongly advise against running where pedestrians have trampled down small pits of snow. In this case, it is very easy to stumble, twist your leg and fall. We can safely say that beginners cannot run on such a surface. Since the foot is not yet strong. And a bad leg position can easily cause injury. In any case, if you have no other choice, and you want to run, then run as carefully and slowly as possible so that a regular run does not end with two weeks in a cast. If, for example, you have been running all summer and autumn, and your feet are strong enough, then you can run along such potholes. Although it is less likely to get injured in this case, it is still very high. Therefore, the main thing is attentiveness.
Running can be called an all-weather sport. But the main thing is to know some of the features so that jogging is enjoyable.
