Tips for Running in a Snow Storm

I live in Mammoth Lakes, CA, and there is a winter storm warning in effect. I am still breathing hard from the run I just went on. This is a new one for my running log: 25 minute run around town, conditions = snowing, 25°F, wind 15-30mph. And it was a great run. Here are some tips doing a quick run in a snow storm (which is only advised if you are already comfortable in harsh elements and with dealing with traffic):

(1) Plot out your course beforehand: Avoid streets - cars can skid and snow plows are at work. Know where the sidewalks get plowed and stay on them. Or find a very empty street that has been plowed.

(2) YakTrax: I just bought some and they are great! $20 at Footloose Sports in Mammoth and they easily strap on the bottom of your running shoes. You can turn on a dime on slick ice! But they don't keep you afloat on powder, I found out. They are good on up to 1" of new snow and are perfect on ice and packed powder.

(3) Eye protection: Next time I'll wear some. I had to squint a lot and stop one time when a very large snowflake hit my eye. I guess I thought sunglasses would fog up and get wet from the snow and my snowboarding goggles would look too dorky. Maybe even a hat with a bill would help keep snow from hitting my eyes.

(4) Dry Equipment: I lucked out - my thicker pair of Asics socks kept my feet warm & dry and my cross-country ski pants were dry and very mobile. And any of the running shirts (often donated by Asics) you get when you are a member of the High Sierra Striders wicks away moisture.

(5) Wear Dark clothes: When the wind kicked up and created a temporary white-out, I was glad to be wearing black pants and a dark blue jacket - that way, the two loaders that were in the street could see me (hopefully).

(6) Don't mind the yells: I just got yelled at from a guy in the back seat of an SUV. An out-of-towner, excited to be in Mammoth yelled, "you ain't from around here, are you?" I ignored it, knowing he wasn't from around here.

He might have thought I was crazy to be running in this storm, but it sure beats running in a sweaty gym on a treadmill!

Snowstorm in Mammoth

Updated photo at 4:47pm n 12/18/07:

IT'S SNOWING! I think we are all sighing a collective sigh of relief as we get pounded by a storm that should bring 2-3 feet by the end of the week. The early ski season brought only a few feet of snow and I was worried that we'd have a sub-par season. Can't wait to get some powder!

Real Estate Update: (1) Two new listings in the Bluffs are priced well at $2.5M: Click Here to View 2 Listings. One of them (3,000 sqft at $833/sqft) is on the edge of the Bluffs with amazing views of the town, the ski area and across to the White Mountains. The other is on the interior of the Bluffs and is 4,100 sqft ($610/sqft). Our office listing at $2.3M (interior of the Bluffs $657/sqft) was just put into escrow.

(2) The "Hillside" property that was purchased by Roger Stauback's Cypress Equities has announed that their plans for ultra-luxury 5-Star condominium project will be managed by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. The project sits on 6.9 acres next to the Westin Monache and should be open for the 2010 ski season. Email me for more information.