This is my 3rd winter in Rochester. The first winter I did most of my running on roads or at the gym, and if it was too cold, or snow I wouldn’t bother at all. Last winter I went out in much colder weather, but if it was snowy I normally ended up either on the treadmill or at Cobbs Hill running around in circles on the well cleared roads.
This winter I haven’t run on a treadmill once despite it being the snowiest December in at least 100 years. I’ve also ventured out on some of the trails in the packed snow. I’ve let myself run a bit slower and enjoy the peace of empty stretches of trails through the snow. I don’t know why I was so hesitant to get off the roads in the winter, but I’ve really come to enjoy it this year.
As long as it’s not icy and there’s no traffic, running in the snow is great. The woods and trails have a totally different feel on those kinds of winter days. Enjoy!