She Trained Through Alaskan Winters to Run a Sub-3 Marathon. These Strategies Helped Her Fight the Cold and Stay Consistent.

When winter arrives, it’s tempting to put your running goals on hold until the temperatures warm up, the days get longer, and the roads clear. Cold temperatures make it harder to leave a warm bed, while snow and ice can turn a familiar route into a much slower—and more slippery—run.For months at a time, Michelle Baxter’s running routes in Anchorage, Alaska, were covered in packed snow and ice. After a snowstorm, plows could take days to reach every neighborhood, and by then, cars had compressed the fallen snow onto the roads. Even after the plows came through, the slick surface often remained.Baxter—now an RRCA- and V.02-certified run coach—spent 15 years living in Alaska and training through winters like these, figuring out how to keep running through harsh, unmotivating conditions.She trained for 12 marathons in that time, continuing to build fitness year after year. Eventually, she even achieved her most ambitious running goal: breaking three hours in the marathon. After eight years of attempting to break the barrier—and a heartbreakingly close 3:01:14 at Humpy’s Marathon in Anchorage in August 2021—Baxter finally ran a 2:58:24 at the California International Marathon in December 2021. She has since lowered her PR to 2:56:57 at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon.Your winter running routes may not be covered in snow and ice for six months straight, but chances are you’ll face your own challenges as the temperature drops in the coming weeks and months. The good news: Baxter’s experience can help you navigate tough terrain and make the most of your training.Here’s how you can put her lessons to work this winter so when the ice thaws, you’re ready to run your fastest race yet.Find Gear That Makes Winter Running ManageableWhat you wear can make or break a winter run, Baxter says. When you’re too cold, too warm, or worried about taking a spill around every tight corner, it’s hard to focus on any other aspect of the run. Baxter spent years figuring out what works, and her gear advice starts with two essentials: finding reliable footwear and appropriate layers for the conditions.→Getting a Grip on Slippery SurfacesIn Anchorage, finding reliable footing was Baxter’s biggest winter challenge. She initially resisted buying studded shoes, assuming they wouldn’t make much difference. But once she tried them, she was surprised by how much more confident she felt in every step.For packed snow, Baxter often wore regular trainers fitted with screws in the outsoles, which she added herself.On sheer ice, Baxter preferred shoes made with built-in carbide studs; she swears by the Icebug brand. “You can wear these shoes and make a 90-degree turn and feel so confident running on ice—like sheer ice,” Baxter says. “They were a game-changer for me.”You may not encounter sheets of ice on your regular running routes, but consider the conditions you encounter most often and look for an option suited to them.Now living in Minnesota, Baxter says she reaches for studded shoes if she expects at least half of a run to cover potentially snowy or icy ground. She notes that while the shoes may be slightly less comfortable than your normal trainers, protecting your body from harm is the number-one priority during the winter months of training.“I just think it’s worth it to feel confident running on the slippery surfaces and not risk injuring yourself,” she says.→Dressing for the WeatherOne of the most common winter gear mistakes Baxter sees runners make is overdressing. It’s easy to look out the window, see cold weather, and pull on every layer you own in an effort to stay warm on the run. But remember you’ll warm up once you start moving.Baxter’s rule of thumb echoes the advice of other run coaches: Start your run feeling a little chilly. After about 10 minutes, you should warm up and feel comfortable for the rest of the run.Don’t forget to consider the wind, too; Baxter generally recommends dressing for the wind chill temperature. She recalls learning this lesson during one particularly windy Alaska run when she dressed for the ambient temperature rather than the wind chill temperature and ended up feeling sick from potential hypothermia.If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to gearing up for a winter run, use our temperature-based layering guide, then pay attention to how you feel after each run. Were you still cold after warming up? Did you get sweaty and uncomfortable? Use your responses to adjust your layers on your next run.For Baxter, keeping her legs warm as temperatures approached subzero was a recurring problem. She first turned to wearing multiple pairs of tights, which helped with the cold, but the layers restricted her movement. Eventually, she found a thick, fleece-lined pair of running tights that solved the problem, recommending them to other runners for temperatures ranging from 15 all the way down to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit.She made a similar change on top: Instead of wearing a base layer, fleece layer, and wind layer, she found a high-quality warm jacket to wear over a base layer.Your biggest frustration might be cold hands or wet feet. For these issues, Baxter suggests putting hand warmers in your gloves, running-specific wool socks, and a waterproof shoe.For visibility during the winter months, Baxter wears a lighted vest. She began treating it as a non-negotiable in her running wardrobe after noticing, as a driver, how much easier it was to see runners wearing blinking lights rather than simple reflective clothing items.“Investing in a few quality pieces [of winter gear], I think you’re just going to enjoy your run more,” Baxter says. “You’re going to be safer and more comfortable.”Find Your Reason to Keep Showing UpEven with the right layers, leaving your warm house and getting out the door often proves difficult when it’s cold and dark.Baxter understands the struggle better than most. Anchorage gets less than six hours of daylight during the darkest winter months, and the city’s winter high temps hover around 25 degrees Fahrenheit.So, how did she keep getting out there? “Running just became a habit of mine,” she says. “It’s how I start my day. I get up, I go for a run.” Even during peak winter in Alaska, Baxter often ran seven days a week simply because it was a part of her daily routine.Baxter says each individual needs to find what helps them keep going, whether that’s a future goal, a training partner to run alongside, or a plan that lets you check off workouts.→Remembering What You’re Building TowardFor Baxter, her motivation and discipline to make running a habit often came from looking ahead.“I just know how important those base miles are during the winter,” she says. “So I know I need to keep putting in the work, keep doing some workouts, because it’s only going to pay off down the road.”If you have a spring marathon, a summer 10K, or another goal in mind, remind yourself how your winter routine fits into that bigger picture. You can also adjust your expectations for the season: Baxter says it’s okay to scale back during winter if that’s what works for you. A simple maintenance routine can help you arrive at your next training cycle ready to build.The point is, doing something is better than doing nothing.→Adding Secondary GoalsA goal months away isn’t always enough to get you out the door on a cold morning. Baxter suggests finding something closer to look forward to, too.Consider signing up for a winter race, even if it isn’t one of your main events for the year. A Turkey Trot, holiday run, or another low-pressure race with friends can provide a checkpoint and make winter training more fun.Find a Group That Keeps You AccountableSoon after moving to Anchorage, Baxter joined a training group that held workouts at The Dome, an indoor athletic facility featuring an indoor track. The group helped her settle into the running community while giving her a reason to show up for a workout each week.Once she developed those friendships, other runners expected her to show up, and those weekly track workouts were no longer optional.If you’re looking for a similar boost, check for a local run club or training group. A standing workout appointment can give your week structure, while supportive company can make a difficult session feel less daunting.Adjust Your EnvironmentBaxter generally followed the workouts on her schedule, but she changed where she ran to make them possible. The day after a substantial snowfall, she would head to the treadmill rather than plodding through fresh snow, for example. She also took many of her harder workouts to the treadmill or indoor track, where she felt more comfortable running fast.Her easy and long runs, meanwhile, almost always happened outside.You can take the same approach by considering the purpose of the day’s run. If you have a faster workout planned and the outdoors only offers slippery conditions, an indoor option may help you complete it with more confidence. If you’re running easy outside, give yourself room to slow down when conditions make your usual pace unrealistic.Look Big PictureMost of all, remember that one winter is part of a much longer running journey. Baxter’s progress—and eventual sub-three breakthrough—came from conquering multiple training cycles and years of running. The work you do this winter can be another step in that process.“You simply can’t deny the power of consistently stacking marathon block upon marathon block or just years and years and years of running,” Baxter says. “Endurance running is a long game.”Matt Rudisill is an Associate Service Editor who has been with Runner's World since 2025. A Nittany Lion through-and-through, Matt graduated from Penn State in 2022 with a degree in journalism and worked in communications for the university's athletic department for three years as the main contact and photographer for its nationally-ranked cross country and track & field teams. Matt was also heavily involved in communications efforts for Penn State football, men's basketball, and women's gymnastics. In his role with Runner's World, Matt has interviewed Olympians, world champions, and countless experts in the field to create service content that helps runners of all ages and experience levels train smarter and race faster. When he’s not out jogging, Matt can be found tweeting bad takes about the Phillies or watching movies.