This Fall it is critical to be building up your endurance and your skills in one of these activities if you plan to do it in the Winter weather as well. It turns out, a lot of people run, bike and hike in the snow. It can be a lot of fun but it is not the time to start those kinds of activities. Instead, start doing them now and gradually work your way into the snowy Winter months to get the most enjoyment.
I took the time to find a good article on each of these activities for further reference along with the summaries below.
The first thing I have to confess though is that I am a little bit of a worry wart myself. I like safety and at first blush, these do not seem like the safest things to do. But like any activity, if you take safety precautions and build up your skill level, these can be fun year round.
1) Running in snow in Akron – I know someone who is part of a group of people in Peninsula who run in all weather year round. And the person I know is very fit. She told me the only days they do not run are when there is lighting. So they run in snow, rain and extreme heat. According to this webpage on Running World, you can buy things for running directly on snow and ice. They suggest running in soft snow when possible and not on hard packed snow and ice. The interesting part of this article is the advice that you will get a great workout because of the difficulty, although you will not beat your best time. https://www.runnersworld.com/ask-coach-jenny/running-on-snow-and-ice
2) Biking in snow in Akron – With all the great bike trails throughout NE Ohio, it is a shame we cannot use them year round. But of course you can if you are brave enough to go biking in the s
now. My first impression is that you are going to be sliding a lot and some days that will certainly be true, but according to this article on bicycling, you can use any bike although mountain bikes and fat bikes will give you better stability. As I mentioned, you should be biking regularly before the snow hits, and not trying to practice a new skill in the worst possible weather. Find out more here. https://www.bicycling.com/training/tips/9-dos-and-donts-of-winter-cycling
3) Hiking in snow in Akron – Lastly, going hiking in the many Metro Parks in Northeast Ohio can be done all year long. Just like running, you are going to get a more physical workout because of the added challenge. Depending on the weather, you may want some more gear and even possibly some snow shoes to get around. Also, if you are hiking back into deeper places, be sure to go with a friend and mark your location on your mobile phone when you start in case you lose the path. Some of the paths that are easy to follow in the Summer may be nearly invisible when covered by snow. For more on hiking in the snow read this article on Hike It Baby. https://hikeitbaby.com/blog/hiking-in-the-snow/
You can play it safe in the Winter and go to the gym. But you do not have to do that and you can always mix up your routine with a nice winter hike, bike or run.
