"Hit the Ground Running"
by Suzanne Wintrob

Hollywood Residents aren't the only ones who can jog all year-round


Look around and it seems that everyone is running, with celebrities like Felicity Huffman, Renee Zellweger and Drew Barrymore leading the pack. But now, as the air gets chillier, many fair-weather runners are heading to the gym or tho their basement treadmill so they can keep the cardio level up - and the pounds off - during those dark, wintry months.

For diehards who don't feel satisfied unless they're pounding the pavement, take some tips from the pros. Safe and successful winter running is all about three things: staying dry, keeping hydrated and slowing down.

Dr. Howard Winston, medical director of the Centre for Health and Sports Medicine in Toronto, says that traction and exposre are the biggest risks of winter running. Much like sand on a beach, he says, snow, slush and ice create an "unsure surface" that puts extra pressure on the legs and bones and can lead to shin splints and stress fractures. Falls are common, too, causing fractures, sprained ankles, twisted ligaments and cartilage, and back injuries.

"[Running}" tugs at the muscle and bone over time and causes a weakness in the bone," he explains. "Eventually the bone will begin to develop micro factures. This breakdown of the bone causes pain to the point where the person can't run anymore. They virtually can't walk at times because the pain is so bad. When it's dry and you're on concrete that doesn't happen to the same degree, but if it's slush or snow, that leg has to work twice as hard and that puts a lot of strain on the muscle."

That's why it's important to slow down and change technique on unsure surfaces. John Stanton, Edmonton-based founder of the Running Room, suggests running with feet wider apart for balance and slowing down for better co-ordination.

If the need for speed is overpowering or the wind is fierce, Peter Donato, founder of MyNextRace.com, advises heading to the treadmill instead. It's softer on the knees than concrete, he says, and it's also "climate-controlled" and has a safe surface. Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman, 43, and her hubby, Williiam H. Macy, 56, both avid runners, work out in their home gym three to four times a week under the watchful eye of a fitness trainer. They run together as often as possible and are regulars at the annual Malibu Triathlon.

To avoid treadmill boredom, Stanton suggests surrounding the machine with inspiring posters of the outdoors, or running while watching a DVD of something like the New York City marathon. And always be sure there's a fan nearby to keep the body cool, he adds.

. . . Charlie's Angels Star Drew Barrymore, who shed 20 pounds after taking up running, says she runs up to an hour each day and hops on a treadmill at the gym when she can't get outside. She also offers her own piece of advice to women: no matter what the weather brings, be sure to wear a quality jogging bra. She finally found one she likes and believes it has done quite a bit for her love of the sport.

"I picked up running because I needed an outlet" said Barrymore, 31. "It has made my life so much better"

You can find the full story in the November, 2006 edition of Hello Canada magazine, page 88.