Coming up with a name for our marathon team was a lot work. Work that called for uncountable cupfuls of coffee and tea. Finally when we invented the word sleet we were both satisfied. What better captures the circumstances of our training environment? Winter in Helsinki - the ideal jogging climate. NOT! Really, the weather in Finland doesn’t always make hour-long runs an easy thing to do.
Anyhow, during these couple past winters as a runner I’ve learned a thing or two. A lot is up to the runner and the runner’s shoes and gear. When slippery in the winter, running shoes with metal spikes do the trick. When the temperature is below zero you manage with a woollen base layer and upping the dose of your asthma medicine.The sudden summer heatwave is just a welcome change and a bit of regular rain is not a special weather condition when compared to the ones mentioned earlier.
Running in sleet is taking running to a higher level of difficulty. Sleet really gets on your nerves. It’s slippery and wet which makes it dangerous and unpleasant. And to make things even more challenging for me, my running companion – a rather timid standard poodle – is afraid of sleet. I guess a car has splashed some of that icy slush on her some time in the past. And to be honest I also have a fear concerning sleet. I’m afraid that after a wet, muddy, slushy jog my running companion wants to warm up on my white bed cover...
Despite all this, running in sleet has been quite tolerable this winter. Preparation is the key. I leave the dog at home and put on my waterproof, spiked running shoes. The problem with weather conditions we’ve had this winter is the exceptional amount of snow. When the streets resemble a trail for mogul skiing rather than a marathon course I give up, go to the gym and hop on the treadmill. Running indoors, watching TV... that’s pure luxury for a weatherproof sleet runner!
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