Whisking through winter

Times Reporter     

 

Even through the wind-chill and the snow Ben Sader, and a determined group of runners, still take to Strathmore’s paths during the winter, rather than running indoors. 

“I have a hard time running on a treadmill. I just find I can go a further distance, push a little bit more,” Sader said, though he doesn’t mind indoor tracks. “Naturally, people are going to be run better outdoors. Their stride is going to be closer to what it needs to be as opposed to on a treadmill. You tend to run the same speed on a treadmill over and over again, which is unlike your outdoor setting.”

Sader says that any temperature colder than -15 C or -20 C is challenging, but is comfortable with -10 C, given there is little wind or snow. 

“You have to be a pretty big diehard to be out there when it’s -20 C,” he said. “I know there are folks that have asthma and other breathing conditions that make it harder from them to be outdoors and running. It’s whatever your body is able to do. Most people can breathe comfortably outdoors and not have problems.”

When running outdoors, Sader recommends products such as Yaktrax to give more effective grip on slippery conditions.

“People that run a lot tend to have more confidence running on the hard packed snow and ice with regular running shoes,” Sader said. “But you have to be really careful. If you run consistently through the winter, you develop the stride and the muscle memory that allows you to have that balance. You just have to be acutely aware of where the ice is.”

Sader says he’s noticed more and more female runners keeping up their training through the winter.

“The town does a good job of keeping our paths clear, and that’s helpful. I’m not the only one out there in the winter,” he said. “There’s a dedicated group of crazy people like me.”