Just a "Meh" Kind of Week

Nothing much too report from me, just the same ol’ same ol’… battling with winter running and all that.  I went out for a snowy fun run during a lull in Sunday’s winter storm (more on that in a bit), went out for my scheduled runs on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then started to feel run down.  I didn’t sleep very well on Tuesday or Wednesday night, and well I don’t do very well on a lack of sleep.  I’m one that seems to always need a full eight hours.  Without sleep I often get sick if I don’t back off things a bit.  So that’s what I did.  Even with today (Friday) as a normally scheduled rest day, I took Thursday off of running.  It was just an easier maintenance run anyway, so no big deal.  My more important runs for the week are this weekend.  A not-so-bad 4 miler tomorrow, followed by 6 miles on Sunday.  I haven’t run for 6 miles since this last spring so we’ll see how it goes.

Looking back to this past week though, we did get a decent winter storm on Sunday.  In the morning we had freezing rain, then sleet, then snow, and then nothing.  Just after lunchtime the storm just stopped.  I was feeling antsy in the house and wanted to still get a run in (even with the 3 – 4 inches of fresh snow) so I ventured out.  Because of the snow depth, I wore YakTrax instead of my “screw shoes” which was a good call.  It really would’ve been a perfect time for snow shoes.  Besides the snow though, it was a beautiful time for a run.

I thought I would be the only one braving the outdoors for a run or walk, but there were actually numerous tracks already made.  Keeping it simple with the snow, I just went for a 2 mile jaunt through the local park.  To keep it fun (and more adventurous) I ran a route that I don’t normally run.  In those two miles though I never once made fresh tracks in the snow.  (I guess people always have to walk their dogs!)

At the last moment I decided to take my phone with so I could take some pictures –

Snowy tracks (from dogs and people).

There were even fresh tracks on the lesser traveled section of the park, like the lake’s little boardwalk (which doesn’t get cleared of snow in the winter).

The stairs definitely weren’t clear of snow, but there were still tracks.  With the snow, this 70+ step staircase wasn’t so much a staircase, but a long bumpy ramp.

People were out, but they weren’t at the beach…

Or at the archery range…

Or playing in the playground…

Or playing volleyball…

Or having a family reunion at the picnic shelter.

I’m realizing now that although I saw lots of tracks, I never actually saw any other person (or dog) while I was out there.  Weird. 

After I got home from the run, I commented how this was the most lame winter storm (especially as we were still under a winter storm warning.)  Well the weather apparently was listening.  About an hour later it starting pouring rain, then snowed for a while, and then poured rain again through the evening.  The next morning our section of town had an ice-induced power outage.  Ok, lesson learned.  Never poke fun at the weather. 

To Run or Not to Run, That is Never Really a Question

This is the internal conversation I’ve been having on a daily basis for the last week –

Do I have to run today?

Couldn’t I just take a nap instead?

I’m still tired from yesterday’s run…

Today’s going to be tough too.  It just snowed.

I mean really, it looks like this outside…

Do I have to run???

(Five minutes later)

It’s go time.

-     -     -

To explain, up until today it has snowed at least an inch every February day so far.  The sidewalks, paved paths, and roads don’t get plowed every day, just when the snow builds up enough to make it worth doing.  I’ve run out in the snow regardless – whether I have to run through a trace or three inches worth of the white stuff.  It’s been draining mentally and physically.  Of course these runs haven’t been that great in all that snow either.  They’ve been slow, tough runs… even bad runs you could say.  However – 

Even a bad run is better than not going for a run at all.

Running Shoe DIY: Winter Running Screw Shoes

As I stated in last Sunday’s post, I purchased some hardware at the local Fleet Farm – hardware that I would be using for running.  Well this hardware cost a total of $1.60 and came in the form of two packs of sheet metal screws.  Yep #8, 1/2” hex head sheet metal screws… screws that I then screwed into the bottom of my running shoes.

Before you go too far with the “He did what?” thoughts, let me back up.  First, I should mention that I purchased some new shoes a few weeks ago.  The Mizuno Wave Nirvanas that I had been running in were right at the 500 mile mark.  The rule of thumb (as I’ve known it anyway) is that running shoes should be replaced after 300-500 miles.  Although I’m a big guy and probably put more strain on shoes, I’m also very frugal so I always push it to the 500 mile mark.  Now normally, I would go to a running store for shoes, but as I was purchasing the same make and model of shoe I shopped around online.  Because of my wife’s frequent shopping on DSW, I used some of her acquired discount coupons and got a screaming on a new pair of Nirvanas.  They’re a different color scheme than what I’ve been using, but they’re still sharp enough.  Like any runner, I was as happy as ever to get some new kicks.  Of course, I opened up the box as soon as they were delivered, slipped in my required green Superfeet insoles, and started wearing them around the house to break them in. 

Now what to do with the old shoes?  Well of course I’ll take them somewhere to be recycled eventually, but they still had some life in them.  I decided to do a bit of an experimental project.  The pair of YakTrax I use for running in slippery winter conditions were starting to wear out from use.  (The metal coils for traction were starting to break from getting worn down on the pavement.)  I then remembered this video on Runner’s World and then also did some digging and found this instructional webpage.  You can take a look at those two links, but the gist of the idea is just to take a bunch of hex headed sheet metal screws and screw them into the bottom of your shoes for winter running traction.

That second link suggests the use of a cordless drill, but I thought that might be a bit extreme for my first go at this.  Instead I used just a plain screwdriver as Runner’s World suggests.  I then quickly gave that up as it was a PAIN IN THE A$$.  Even with the screw’s sharp point and aggressive thread, there is no way a person could put enough pressure on the screwdriver to drive it into the shoe without the flathead bit slipping out of the flathead slot of the screw.  Looking for alternatives, I went into my “mechanics toolkit,” found a hex head screwdriver bit, and went “Duh!”  For the #8 screws I had, a 1/4” bit drove the screws in easily.  (After the fact, I watched the Runner’s world video again.  They cheat and pre-drill holes for the screws.)

As far as the screw pattern on the bottom of the shoe, I just sort of winged it.  I wanted a decent amount in back so I wouldn’t slip running down a slippery downhill.  Of course, I also wanted a decent amount on the forefoot so I could actually propel myself forward in slippery conditions.  I wound up installing 13 screws in the first shoe, coming out with this:

I then just basically copied this pattern on the second shoe and bazinga!  A pair of screw shoes!

I’ve run in these for two runs now and they’re great, better than running with YakTrax.  The YakTrax are good if you’re running in patchy snow and ice.  You can take them on and off if you would like.  However, I never do that.  I hate to stop during a run unless I have to.  Yes, with the screw shoes the screws are now always on my shoes and the screws can wear down on the bare pavement.  So what?  I replace a 5 cent screw.  It beats having to replace a $40 plus pair of YakTrax.  Oh and lastly, the screws are much less added weight on your feet than the YakTrax.  Today’s run I wore the screw shoes because there was 2 inches of fresh snow on the ground.  It was bad enough slogging through that in just the screw shoes.  The YakTrax would’ve really tired my legs. 

If you have an older pair of running shoes that you can add some screws to for winter running traction, I would definitely recommend you giving this a try.  There are however some things to keep in mind –

- Only use the hex head or combination hex head sheet metal screws.  It might be obvious but the rounded head screws ain’t gonna help much for traction.  The points and edges of the hex shape cut into the snow and ice for the traction.

- As I mentioned, I used 1/2” long screws.  This was perfect for the rear of the shoe, but in the forefoot I had to be really careful about screw placement.  There just isn’t as much rubber and foam in the front as in the rear.  If you can find them, try 3/8” or even 1/4” screws – especially for the front of the shoe (and especially if you wear minimalist shoes).  The shortest sheet metal screws I could find at any local hardware store were the 1/2”.  Besides only installing screws on the thicker spots of the outsole, I felt pretty safe that the screws wouldn’t poke through to my feet since my Superfeet insoles are pretty thick.  (Plus, if they did I just received a tetanus shot booster this past summer.)  I will say though that before today’s run (my second screw shoe run) I looked at the underside of my insole.  The most forward screw by the toes was coming through a bit, enough to mark up the insole.  I decided that it was probably a pretty good idea to move the screw further to the outside edge of the outsole where there was more rubber and foam.  I needed additional forefoot traction as well from the first screw shoe run, so I added a second screw on the opposite edge of the forefoot. 

- Don’t even try to install the screws with a flathead screwdriver.  Learn from my mistakes.  Go with the hex head bit straight away.

- Also, if you use shoes that you have been using for winter running, clean the outsoles off first.  I totally didn’t think about this and they were so full of dirt and salt… well my hands were really gross afterwards.

- Lastly, don’t be stupid with this project and don’t somehow hurt yourself.  I’m saying right now to use your own discretion and don’t blame me if something happens.  I’m not an expert on anything and I’m certainly not making you do this project.  (Ok, that’s enough legal lawyer speak.  It had to be said, but just saying that stuff made my skin crawl.)

Speaking for myself though, I’m glad I did this project.  Installing the screws reminded me of high school track.  All of us scurrying around on the bus, borrowing needle nose pliers or spike tools, trying to change the spikes in our shoes in time for the meet.  Most important though, these screw shoes actually work pretty darn well.  Like I said, today’s 3 mile run with 2 inches of fresh snow was great.  No slipping at all.  Will I be doing 6 miles in that same snow tomorrow though?  I might just settle for 4.