Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Not really. For those of you who know me, you know snow isn't my favorite thing. One of my least favorite things in the world is feeling cold: it's one of the most uncomfortable feelings. I'm a fan of the 90 degree weather in the summer and the sun blazing in my face.

Fortunately, it has taken longer than usual to cold this year, and for that, I am very grateful. But eventually and inevitably, the cold comes. It arrived this past week. Another disadvantage to the cold and the accompanying snow is the interruption to a good, running routine.

I don't particularly mind running in the cold, but running in slippery snow is not the safest (or the most effective) way to get in a good, hard run. When I saw an article on Runner's World, I was intrigued with the article about running in snowy weather conditions. I read the article about a week ago, and keep thinking about what was mentioned about treadmills. Like most people, I have a hard time running in one spot for prolonged periods of time looking at the time tick away (as a much slower pace than it does when running in an open area).

The following are a few beneficial tips if you, too, have to resort to running on a treadmill:

• Break up the monotony by adding a slight incline or speeding up your pace for a small period of time
• Take time to run for prolonged period of times on a treadmill (i.e. start with 30-40 minutes and gradually increase your time; due to the change of surface)
• Slow down if you feel fatigued--this naturally happens when running on your own so don't hesitate to follow the same pattern while on a treadmill

What are the Benefits?
Despite the boredom of a treadmill, it helps build mental stamina. Runners who have qualified for Olympic runs, like Chris Lundstrom (running the Boston Marathon in 2:17) have used the treadmill to keep themselves in shape during cold, winter months and Lundstrom gave credit to the treadmill for becoming more mentally strong for his marathon run.

Treadmills allow you to maintain a schedule: often times you have to rearrange your running schedule with snow. Nothing is more frustrating to me than mentally preparing myself for a run the next morning, only to wake up to large snowflakes falling on the ground.

Finally, treadmills help maintain a good pace. While runners should be careful not to exhaust themselves, I see a lot of potential of a treadmill helping me develop a constant pace for running.

Still Want to Run Outside?
If I still haven't convinced you running on a treadmill is something you should try, the following are a few guidelines from Runner's World to keep in mind:

• Run shorter durations and closer to home
• Avoid running longer than 30 minutes in temperatures under 32 degree Fahrenheit
• Layer your clothing: zippers are an effective way to allow variable body temperatures
• Get the right kind of shoes (see "Gearing Up")
• Drink the same amount of water you would in warmer temperatures
• Slow down (it's typically more difficult to breathe in cooler temperatures)
• Be flexible with the time of day you run (if the sun comes out, go running then)
  
• Consider running on soft surfaces, like treadmills (...sorry, there's no way around it)