Ask Dr. Daily: Snow and Ice

Brutal winter weather has runners slipping and sliding. What's the deal?

February 10, 2014
Slip and Fall Warning Sign

Readers, if you're anything like me, you are sick and tired of these winter storms and all the snow and ice they've brought. Also if you're anything like me, you saw this story about a million times over the weekend:

Runner Eats It Immediately After Interview About Running In Snow

As the headline suggests, the story is about a runner who eats it immediately after an interview about running in the snow. Specifically, a runner in Portland, Oregon, named Chelsea. She and her boyfriend, Michael, interrupted their nighttime run to chat with a TV news reporter about the crazy snow, and how they like being out in it. 

"It's the perfect texture for running," she assures the reporter. Then, a minute later, she jogs away and falls on her bottom. Hard.

Well, the internet practically wet its collective pants when this video got out. Which is unfortunate, because in weather like this, wet pants are the last thing you need.

But as the laughter subsided, we were left with a lot of serious questions. Questions like, "Is running on snow and ice just too dangerous?" and "Why do we laugh at others' misfortunes?" and "Could her jacket BE any more reflective?" For answers, we turned to a variety of experts, all of whom were skiing in Aspen. So we had no choice but to call up Dr. Daily. We apologize in advance.

Remy's World: Right off the bat, let me ask: Will this interview contain actual, useful information?
Dr. Daily: Not if I can help it. You want actual, useful information on running in cold weather, go here.

Thanks. I assume you're familiar with the recent incident in Portland, wherein a young woman is seen slipping and falling on some ice as she ran off after a TV news interview?
I sure am.

What was your initial reaction?
Dr. Daily:

That's not very nice.
Oh, come on. As Mel Brooks said, “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.” If he were alive today, I'm sure he'd be laughing right along with us.

Mel Brooks is alive today.
Really? Good for him!

So it's natural to laugh at someone else's misfortune?
It is. The Germans have a word for it: scHA-HA!denfreude. That's where Nelson's "HA HA!" comes from.

I see. So, is running on snow and ice inherently unsafe? Should we all stop doing it, and run on the treadmill instead?
Running on snow and ice is fine. It's falling down that's unsafe.

Well, that makes sense. How do you avoid falling down, though?
Slow down. Take shorter strides. And consider sinking tiny screws into the soles of a pair of old shoes, as RW's own Jeff Dengate suggests.

True story: On Facebook, someone recently told Jeff that the woman in that video "needs your screw technique."
That's awesome.

I know. Speaking of which: In a follow-up interview with Chelsea, a writer says, "My wife was telling me about these psychopaths who stick tacks in their shoes so they can run in the snow," and asks Chelsea, "Will you consider such a strategy in the future?" Is he calling RW's own Jeff Dengate a psycopath?
Yes. If I were Jeff, I'd cancel my subscription to Deadspin.

Also, it's not "tacks." It's screws. 
And that wouldn't be a strategy. It'd be a tactic.

Anyway, in the video, viewers can plainly see the icy patch that will send Chelsea down. And we see her heading straight for it. In general, runners in very cold weather should avoid any shiny spots, right?
Oh, yeah. "If it's shiny, watch your heinie." That's my motto. Shiny almost always equals ice.

Finally, another gear question: What was that jacket Chelsea was wearing? On camera, it radiated the brilliance of a thousand suns.
I believe that was a TAUNTSTOPPER® jacket, reflecting snide remarks from dozens of snarky Portlandian onlookers.

Makes sense. Well, Dr. Daily, as always, thank you for your time. Stay safe.
You too. Watch your heinie.