Running in winter: Getting started on cold, icy days

For many people, running is an accessible way to exercise and raise the heart rate. It can also be inexpensive, requiring little more than suitable clothing for winter and a good pair of shoes. When ice and cold arrive, shoe traction devices can help you keep your footing on the running trail.

Outdoor exercise areas offer another place to train. With suitable shoes and equipment, it is possible to keep moving even in dark, icy conditions. The original reporting for this article also highlighted schemes offering older residents free traction devices, since the cost could be a barrier. Around 2,000 pairs were to be distributed in Skärholmen, with similar initiatives elsewhere in the Stockholm area. These were local offers reported at the time.

Running can support long-term fitness, including aerobic capacity and endurance. Monitoring your heart rate is one way to follow your training progress.

The article also described growing interest in combining running with another sport. Cross-country skiing was a seasonal focus, sharing running’s emphasis on endurance. Another example was running biathlon: running followed by target shooting, much like biathlon without skis. The challenge is to move at a high pace, then lower the heart rate enough to concentrate on shooting. It can be practiced in both summer and winter.

Dan Öhman wanted more people to become interested in running biathlon, while acknowledging that the use of firearms could make some hesitant. He explained that the rifle stays at the designated shooting range: participants do not carry it on their back or in their hands while running. This allows them to concentrate on each running effort. Öhman regarded the activity as an excellent way to exercise the body.

Winter training can help prepare you for the warmer season ahead. Put on suitable traction devices and consider joining a running group; there are plenty of people who enjoy training together.