Snow shoes

[Mossdog]

I love living in the North Pennines, and while the running doesn't quite have the loft majesty of the Lake, or the challenging gradients of other places, their elevated isolation and bleak no-nonsense bulk never fails to lift the spirits. However, when snow covered, and that's not infrequently for weeks on end in winter, running over snow and drifts can be a right pain. It's not so much the climbs, but the level tops, which with a decent covering become a challenge with each footfall being uncertain, varying for a few inches of snow, or if over a peat hag, up to your thigh. Different degrees of frozen surface and depending if there are tufts of grass below or not, makes each step uncertain. It's like you're stumbling every other stride. No doubt it has a training benefit, but it's a chew.

Today, I spotted a couple of walkers out snowshoeing, and thought I'd research to see if there are any shoes suitable for running.

A quick Amazon search came up with these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yukon-Run-U..._id=3076842031

Not cheap, but there are many more expensive.

Anyone had an experience of 'running' snowshoes?

[noel]

I remember there was an account of someone doing a snowshoe race - probably in the fellrunner mag about 5 years ago. Sounded fun.

[MattPo]

Iyhink there was an article on snowshoes on UKC recently. May have some information.

[Mike T]

I tried snow shoes on some gentle pistes in Morzine a few years back - I was with a group I used to run with a couple of days a week - it was such hard work - sure, you did not sink into the snow quite as much as you would without them, but even walking up the slightest gradient was exhausting - running more than a few steps was virtually impossible. Ordinary trainers on roads and prepared paths were much more fun.

[Mossdog]

Iyhink there was an article on snowshoes on UKC recently. May have some information.

Thanks Matt and others for your comments. That's helpful.

While searching on the UKC site I also found this article by Nick Small about running over Ovenden Moor and lessons from a recent winter 'mishap' .

https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/...ary_tale-13350