Across the northern tier of the United States, runners persevere through the winter months, slogging through snow and slush, learning to keep their balance on icy surfaces and endlessly experimenting with ways to see and be seen.
Running specialty retailers offer wide selections of hats, gloves, cold weather socks and in some stores, even treadmills. Although the running boom continues, the current runner may not be as immune to weather conditions as previous generations.
According to Corey Swan, general manager of Marathon Sports in Minneapolis, MN where single-digit temperatures are commonplace, more and more people are moving indoors during winter months. “The number of people running outside through the winter is declining every year. People arent as tough as they used to be. They are not braving the cold weather. They either have a treadmill at home or are hitting the gym.”
Since sunlight is at a premium during winter months, staying visible is a key concern for runners who remain committed to the outdoor trails. Headlamps, handheld flashlights and reflective vests are the most frequently used solutions.
Reflectivity is still important, but Swan points out that sales of vests have declined as apparel manufacturers have added reflectivity to their garments.
Borrowed from the climbing market, headlamps dont live up to runners expectations. Swan reports, “The headlamp technology is just not there. They are too heavy, too bulky and bounce too much.”
Jonathan Craig, founder of GoMotion Inc. has spent several years designing a running appropriate solution. Craig describes the shortfalls of current lighting options, “There are a lot of negatives of trying to run wearing a headlamp. Headlamps came out of the technical climbing market. They are perfect for that, but the lensing that is used doesnt translate well into active use where you need a broader range of light. There are a lot of people out there who have a bag full of lights and arent happy with any of them. Some people run with a small handheld that creates a challenge with the stability of the light. With headlamps most people want to take them off after five minutes.”
Craig addressed those concerns by creating a chest and waist-mounted performance lighting system. GoMotion uses high-output, low-profile LED technology to illuminate the width of a two-lane road at 25 feet. Craig explains a major turning point in the product development process.
“We came to that watershed moment in the design when everyone came together and realized that this is not a headlamp, but a ground-up new design. We were creating a new category. We wanted to make it a technical performance product.”
Craig notes that running specialty stores will be GoMotions primary method of distribution. Salt Lake Running in Utah and Road Runner Sports in Rhode Island have reacted positively. For the hard-core runner who prefers to run outside year round there seems to light on the horizon.
GoMotion
GoMotions chest- and waist-mounted performance lighting systems extend the day through use of exclusive CoreBeam technology: a high-output, low profile LED innovation that illuminates the width of a two-lane road at 25 feet.
Anchored to the sternum or waist, GoMotions stability is matched by its flexibility. A unique fresnel style lens provides a long-range beam width adjustability as well as minute adjustments of beam angle and beam strength.
Heat Factory
Keeping your hands warm during a cold winter morning training run doesnt mean wearing snowmobile mittens. The lightweight Heat Factory Mini Warmer pouches contain a mixture of ingredients that, when exposed to air, create an oxidation process generating heat. The Mini Warmers last 10 hours.
Yaktrax
Named after the sure-footed Tibetan Yak, YAKTRAX stretch over all footwear, including running shoes. Once in place, a grid of skidlock steel coils give users traction on hard-packed snow and ice. As you run, hundreds of edges bite into snow and ice, providing stability and grip in all directions. Users can take their normal stride without fear of falling or risking injury. The Yaktrax Pro comes with a strap across the forefoot.
Zeal Optics
Protecting your eyes from the cold often means dealing with fogged lenses. The Lazor features a
patented Passive Airflow System Ventilation, which allows cooler air from the outside to enter the front frame vents while pulling the warmer, moist air from the inside of the lens out through the side and top of the lens. The inner air space is continuously refreshed, virtually eliminating fog issues. The interchangeable silicon nose pads and PASV sweat guards allow you to customize the fit and function of your frames.
Aquapac
The Aquapac MP3 Case is created with 100% waterproof polyurethane and sealed with the legendary Aquaclip, which makes it perfect for those nasty weather runs. The Aquaclip is made of shatter-resistant premium polycarbonate with an integrated, ergonomic pair of easyto-slide levers, making access to your mp3 player as simple as the flip of a switch.
The clear front panel of the case provides easy use-through access to the click wheel or switches of any standard mp3 player or iPod. Aquapac Waterproof Headphones are sealed with resin to protect the electronics. The headphones feature a water-resistant membrane over the vibrating speaker. The headphone jack is nickel-plated and resistant to corrosion.
