Experiments in winter running

Dealing with snow, ice and cold

January has been full on winter which is not something you always get in central Ohio. Back in December we were talking about running in the cold but in January it was even colder. In December I was noting the difference between 40 degrees and 30 or 20. In January, I was facing near zero or below temps. The other challenge? A bike path covered in ice and snow. Facing this challenge I did what any runner would do. Bought more shoes…

Changing Shoes in Changing Conditions

I will admit I am spoiled. Where I live has a wonderful bike path which allows me to run for miles without worrying about cars or other road hazards. For long stretches it is a wonderfully smooth paved path through trees and fields. You can often see deer and there is a stretch with cows.

But when we saw a decent snowfall that accumulated and then stayed, suddenly this path was a bumpy snow and ice covered surface.

Suddenly I was trying to figure out how I was going to get my miles in four days a week. When I saw that Brooks was offering a deal on trail shoes I had an idea: what if I treated the bike path like trail running? I have a pair of Nike Pegasus trail shoes but they don’t have a lot of cushion. I wanted to see if newer and more cushioned shoes would make a difference. I bought some Brooks Caldera 7s and went for a run.

I ran, literally, into two issues. One, because it was cold I lost some of the benefit of the cushioned shoes. I bought the Calderas because Brooks promised:

Super-soft nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 cushioning, our softest cushioning is optimized to be lightweight, responsive, and durable for plush comfort.

Well, when the temps are in the teens the foam loses some of its bounce. They felt a lot more cushioned when I tried them on in the nice warm store then they did outside in frigid temps (felt like 14 degrees).

A related issue is that for half the run I was running on a snow and ice covered path and for the other half I was running on clear sidewalks and road. Switching surfaces suddenly meant the extra grip and traction added weight and stiffness.

I did use the Calderas for a long run of ten miles on Saturday with a chunk of it on the bike path. They felt fine and I did appreciate the extra grip and stability the trail shoes provided. I just had to accept a slower pace and less cushion on the clear areas. But long runs aren’t about speed anyways (right?).

I also tried my Pegasus trail shoes for a 5K club run and while they too provided some traction I am not sure they made a big impact versus standard road shoes with decent grip.

I guess if I lived in an area where I had to run on snow and ice regularly, the Calderas would be a good choice but in the end I just chose to run somewhere other than the bike path.

What about Gore-Tex?

Did I mention it was cold? It has been very cold. I went out for coffee with co-workers the other day and it was minus one on my watch. Actual temperature, not “feels like.” Brrr…

This led to my other experiment: winterized shoes. Since I am shoe addict connoisseur, I see a lot of adds for running shoes when I am online. And I had been seeing adds for winterized shoes from brands like Puma and Hoka.

When it was hovering in the teens or below I decided to give this technology a try. I don’t have great blood circulation so my feet and hands are frequently cold. If something could improve this, I was all for it.

So I got a pair of Hoka Clifton 9 GTX and have been running in them for the last week or so. The marketing was attractive:

• Creel jacquard knit upper provides enhanced breathability

• GORE-TEX Invisible Fit with recycled content designed to deliver lighter, more breathable waterproof ventilation

• 360-degree reflectivity delivers enhanced visibility

• Compression molded EVA midsole delivers non-stop comfort

• Durabrasion rubber outsole extends rubber longevity

• Traction pods provide more flush ground contact

These were designed to keep my feet dry and warm while providing cushion and traction. Yes, please. Did it work?

Yes, and no. The Gore-Tex does retain the heat. Like boots and gloves you probably own, if you put them on warm they stay that way longer. My feet were notably warmer in these shoes. In fact, with temps reaching into the 30s and above they might be too warm.

They were also stiffer and needed some breaking in. On my first run I experienced some rubbing around the ankle where the top eyelet met my foot. The Cliftons were not as heavy as the Calderas but they also didn’t feel as cushioned as my New Balance Fresh Foam More.

I believe I had some Clifton 8s a while back and enjoyed them, but the GTX seemed a little less cushioned. It could be the cold was sapping some of the bounce. I am interested in trying them out in wet but warm conditions.

A Respite From the Cold

Thankfully, the weather is warming up and the ice and snow on the path is melting. As much as I enjoy the beauty of snow in our quaint little town, accumulated ice and snow makes running a challenge. I am excited about having the bike path back, especially for my Saturday long runs.

My experiment with shoes technology was rather inconclusive as I didn’t have a lot of data. I will report back when I have a chance to run actual trails with the Calderas and in wet conditions with the Clifton GTX.

Next time I am going to offer some thoughts on the reading side of Running and Reading…

Happy Running!