By Vic Roth

Soon the cold weather will be upon us and you should think about “winterizing” your running or walking.

That lovely Cincinnati winter weather that gives us the “black ice” sidewalks can really curb your outdoor exercise.  The research staff at The Running Spot tried wrapping hardware chain around shoes which gave excellent grip and additional weight training, but we thought there might be a better product to offer our customers.  We have found the YakTrax to be an effective grip for your shoes.  The YakTrax are very light and take up very little space.  They simply stretch over  your shoes and give superior grip on snow or ice.  They are sized to accept a wide range of shoe sizes.  They were recently recognized by The Museum of Modern Art as a “masterfully designed product for everyday use.”  Yaktrax use a scientifically engineered coil design to give you 360 degrees of traction.  There is nothing to learn, just walk/run normally.

VISIBILITY
With the days getting shorter, it's important to wear some type of reflective clothing and/ or lights.  Most running shoes have some type of reflective features on them, but by itself is not enough.  Some clothing items have reflective seams or patches built in.  You can also use reflector vests or arm/ leg bands with reflective material.  An excellent product is "Amphipod Xinglet."  This is a lightweight reflective device that gives 360 degree reflectivity.  It is adjustable to accommodate all body sizes.  Keep in mind that in order to reflect, the light source (car) has to be aimed at you.  If a car is coming out of a side street, they will not see you until you are almost in front of them.  This is where a small blinking light comes in handy.  They can attach to your waist band, shirt collar or hat.  We even have hats that have a light built in.  This will help you stand out of the darkness when you exercise.

Anyone who exercises should carry some type of ID.  An excellent ID tag is "Road ID"  It can be ordered as a necklace, wrist or ankle band or shoe tag.  Unfortunately there have been recent events where someone was injured exercising and hours went by before they were identified and family / friends were notified.  It is extremely important to carry ID with you.  The Road ID would have your contact info as well as any medical conditions.

To learn more about reflective products, check www.amphipod.com and for information on a shoe traction device, visit www.yaktrax.com. For information on Road ID, visit www.roadid.com.