Attention runners of the far north!

[officehippy@mas.to]

Attention runners of the far north! I need some advice on footwear for doing a marathon in Arctic Finland next February. Could be -20C with windchill. I’ve never run in much snow before so this is new territory. Advice welcome #running #trailrunning

[randomized@masto.bike]

@officehippy

Grow a beard for #iceBeard

Otherwise don't listen to @WTL , he'll have you run in short.

[aaron@cutie.city]

@officehippy
@rolle I expect you must have some good shoes

[damianlehmann@mastodon.social]

@officehippy Sounds cool/cold! You might need spike shoes. Scandinavians are used to the Swedish brand Icebug. I used them a lot this icy winter in Austria! And I love the Salomon Winter Spike Cross. In icy mixed terrain I'd recommend to have Kathoola ExoSpike in your running vest. Or with some deeper snow in steeper terrain: Snowline Pro spikes.

[wtl@mastodon.social]

@randomized @officehippy I'd never tell someone to run in shorts in those temps unless they were already used to doing it.

I think it comes down to how cold your feet get. I've been fine in my normal shoes down to -30°C, but will add a second pair of socks. I find my feet get don't cold very quickly even when I'm out for 2-3 hours.

You may need spikes depending on route conditions (slick snow, ice). Running through fresh snow is *hard work* and will spike your HR quickly.

[sebastianhahn@mastodon.world]

@WTL @randomized @officehippy Fresh snow above 10 centimeters is pure hell. Lifting my feet that high at every single step, it's draining me completely within a few kilometers… 🥵

[woollypigs@sudomakecake.com]

@officehippy no footwear advice but just a general PSA: Yellow snow ain't food

[officehippy@mas.to]

@damianlehmann Thanks. That’s a lot of useful info

[mlvsnd@mastodon.acc.sunet.se]

@officehippy is it the one in Äkäslompolo? Cool, it's very beautiful up there! I ran a 100K race there a few years ago, but in summer. I have ran there in winter as well but not for a race. My profile photo is from the same place.
You will want shoes with spikes I think, they don't need to be extra warm, I find feet stay warm anyway unless they get wet. Wear layers of socks, preferably wool, instead. If you are not used to breathing cold air you could look into getting a mask of some kind also.

[mlvsnd@mastodon.acc.sunet.se]

@officehippy I have a mask called Airtrim that I use if it gets very cold, you look like Darth Vader but it does warm up the air and keep your face warm

[jerzone@techhub.social]

@woollypigs @officehippy
What are your thoughts on yellow icicles?

[woollypigs@sudomakecake.com]

@jerzone @officehippy hmm not tempted

[jerzone@techhub.social]

@woollypigs @officehippy
Maybe Sassafras flavoured …