Running On Ice
With winter in full swing my running has adapted. The trails are socked in with snow and the bare feet ice over after 2 minutes outside. I’m consigned to treadmills and more recently my zero drop road shoes. But one thing I’ve noticed is how my form adapts to the conditions. Think about what happens to your form when you run across a large patch of ice? Your back immediately straightens, your arms hover to the side, your stride shortens, and you land as softly as possible. It’s how you should land on every stride of every run! Recently I’ve been noticing how many circumstances force me to run naturally. Check out my article on night running where I found the same occurence.
Opposed to long powerful strides, running light short and quick is flat out the way to run. It’s efficient, fast, and natural. If you haven’t focused on your running form lately, take this winter season to fine tune your form. Start noticing the situations where you are forced to run lighter, quicker, and faster. You will be surprised to find how often your form adjusts to a more natural style. Whether it’s through barefoot running, minimalist footwear, or just an occasion ice patch, get back to your roots and run naturally.
December 25th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Awesome post Brian. It is amazing how when our bodies need to they will revert to the natural and appropriate way to do things as you have mentioned. I have also noticed this and with my modified running shoes it has made it a lot easier for me to feel the ground and adjust when needed and reduce injury and pain and so much more.
December 26th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Nice post.
Some input you may find interesting:
Here in Ottawa, Canada we had freezing rain for the past 24 hours (Dec 26, 2009). I just finished a 7 km run on what one may call awful conditions. I couldn’t run barefoot, but I ran in my terra Plana Vivo Barefoot Lesotho that have a 4 mm sole.
http://www.terraplana.com/lesotho-p-1038.html?colour=143. The shoes have no tread to speak of.
The conditions forced me to keep good form – very slight lean, small stride, balance.
The Rideau canal is going to freeze in a few weeks and we will have a 8km ice running track!
Thanks
BTW: I am not much of an athlete. 240 lbs, with a bad ankle and knee weak due to an ACL tear.
December 27th, 2009 at 3:02 am
You’re absolutely right. I’ve seen videos by POSE folks showing how a proper stride is how we run on ice (sorry, on mobile, so can’t get link to video at the moment). A recent rum on an icy trail in the mountains underscored this to me as well. Barefoot Ted explained in a clinic I took that there is far less slipping barefoot because you feel instantly if the ground isn’t right to hold your full weight so you stop and find a better hold. I noticed that my father and law who was ahead of me was slipping a lot in his boots.
Thanks for the post!
Clynton
December 31st, 2009 at 12:07 am
Wingtip- Glad to see people still get out in any condition. I should try the Terra Plana shoes they are just so expensive and ugly. 4mm sole is great though.
Clynton- I’m jealous you went to a clinic with Barefoot Ted. Nice site.