It's that time of year again- cold, windy, snowy, and icy (at least where I live). It can be hard to motivate yourself to get out the door for a run when the weather is a bit nasty, and then when you add in the thought that it's really easy to slip and fall on icy roads, it can be pretty easy to convince yourself that you'd be better off to stay on the sofa.
I couple of winters ago I was having this dilemma, but I came across an idea that made a world of difference- putting sheet metal screws in the bottom of my shoes. A lot of people I knew were using Yaktrax or MicroSpikes, but I wasn't too eager to spend $40 for slip on traction, so I did some searching and found that a lot of people use sheet metal screws.
I went to the local hardware store and found hex head screws with the shortest shaft I could (to keep the point from poking up into the bottom of my foot), and it only set me back about $3. The real trick is to make sure you get hex head screws- the sharpness around the top of the screw digs into the snow and ice perfectly.
I couple of winters ago I was having this dilemma, but I came across an idea that made a world of difference- putting sheet metal screws in the bottom of my shoes. A lot of people I knew were using Yaktrax or MicroSpikes, but I wasn't too eager to spend $40 for slip on traction, so I did some searching and found that a lot of people use sheet metal screws.
I went to the local hardware store and found hex head screws with the shortest shaft I could (to keep the point from poking up into the bottom of my foot), and it only set me back about $3. The real trick is to make sure you get hex head screws- the sharpness around the top of the screw digs into the snow and ice perfectly.
Once I got home I used my cordless drill to put them in around the perimeter of the sole. If you have thicker soled shoes you don't need to stay on the perimeter, but since I tend to wear shoes that are on the thinner/ less bulky side, I didn't have a whole lot of rubber underfoot to play with. Even if you don't have a drill, it's pretty easy to get them in with a ratchet and socket.
Here's what the finished product looks like (not my photo- found this on google images):
Here's what the finished product looks like (not my photo- found this on google images):
I guarantee you'll be amazed how well you can grip the road. The only time it's at all annoying is when you run across bare pavement- you can really hear them clack and clatter, and the bare metal on the bare pavement doesn't feel great, but if there's any snow at all on the road or trails, these can be a lifesaver.
So, there's one less excuse for you to use to avoid getting out and running this winter! Play safe, and have fun!
So, there's one less excuse for you to use to avoid getting out and running this winter! Play safe, and have fun!