NOTE: I started writing this in mid-December but obviously didn't post it right away. It was applicable in January and February as well. Sorry for the hiatus, I'm going to try to stay current from now on.
So, at this point, I can consider myself a cold weather, winter runner. I've never been one before. I've had to learn how to adjust to the cold and what clothing to wear. I think I have all of it down at this point.
Something interesting I've learned though, which maybe some of the rest of you knew, and is certainly obvious when you think about it, is that you have to run on ice and snow just like you walk on ice and snow. For those who live in the south, walking on ice can certainly be done if you tense your legs the proper way. Running on ice isn't much different, other than the fact that you're doing it all faster.
Using those different stabilizing muscles while running on ice and snow these past few weeks has caused aches in places I don't normally feel when I run. At first I really noticed it, however it's getting to be less and less of an issue. I've run on paved city trails covered in ice and packed snow. I've run on unpaved trails with sand and snow, and I've run through many inches of snow on the streets at this point.
The worst that happened was on a 20 miler when I slipped on the ice coming down a hill at mile 14 and really hurt my right hip. I also slapped my left hand on the pavement when I tried to stop my fall. My whole hand was bruised purple. To add insult to my injury, I also slipped at about mile 16 and this time when I went to brace my fall, my hands slipped out and my face smashed the pavement. I had two cuts, one below my nose and one above my lip, and had a very swollen lip for several days. :(
