First things first: congrats to the Strout family on their new addition!
Back to running stuff... After slipping and sliding my way through Tuesday's run, Ben stopped at the local REI and picked up Yaktrax for me and some Ruff Wear Bark n' Boots for Molly. When I complained about unshoveled sidewalks last winter, Holly recommended the Yaktrax but I'm put it off, muddling through somehow. I should have listened.
The Yaktrax seem a little flimsy but they totally work. I've heard people complain that they don't last through a season and I can believe it, but for $30 a pair, I'd be ok with having to replace them. They don't weigh much, they grip super well on even slick ice, and they do OK on sidewalks, barely slippery. I ran at pace on clean sidewalks and less than :30 above on ice, though probably because I'm still not 100% trusting them, though I should. The only annoying part is the noise they make on concrete, which just means I have to turn up the volume on the Rush.
The boots, on the other hand... Molly walks all funny in them when we first put them on. Then she gets used to them. But today, about 2 mi in, she started going slower. By the 3 mi mark I could barely keep her at even 11:00 miles - ugh. I aborted the mission at that point, trashing two miles of my morning run, to walk her home and see what the deal is. Turns out the front boots were rubbing her dew claws raw, and one was bloody when I took the boot off. Back to the drawing board on that one.
All I want is a normal run, is that so wrong?
Ridden and Reviewed Kona Libre CR
8 months ago
6 replies:
Have you tried Mushers Wax?
http://www.wildmountainonline.com/WMmain.asp?Option=Detail&ID=203&Category=Sale
yup, that's what we used all last winter. it does the job ok, but she still gets rocks of salt stuck in her paws.
Ugh...I understand your dilema.
I am going to give those trax a try. Thanks for the write up on that.
Mushers Wax can be replaced with BagBalm (aka udderbalm) found at any Walgreens or CVS. A lot cheaper. I have found it does just a good a job, but it is everyones personal opinion.
I have had no luck with any kind of "foot wear" with my lab. He hates them and won't settle into them.
Using some balm on his feet before the run does the trick for us. We still need to stop now and again and brush out some salt. It's called Chicago winter...nutin you can do about it.
we used bag balm, BUT it's super greasy on your floors.
Bag balm is bad on the floors.
Note: Bag balm should be applied outside on the deck, porch, etc. I also wipe off the feet, before coming back into the house.
Yaktrax are the s**t!! I used them the other day and was amazed. But you're right they make a very weird noise on non-ice!
Andy had his first experience with rock salt today. After getting a bit stuck in his paw he decided to stop halfway across California and make me pick him up. Spoiled dog.
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