Different winter activities, including but not limited to, hiking, running, and even walking, require different equipment. Making sure you have the appropriate traction is an important step to staying safe outside in winter's slippery conditions.

Using proper winter traction is not just for hardcore winter outdoor enthusiasts - when your driveway is a skating rink or you’re simply trying to walk your dog, traction is necessary to avoid taking a nasty spill. Falling on ice can result in serious injuries such as broken bones and concussions if your head hits the ground.

The options can be overwhelming - luckily, I’m here to guide you in the right direction!

Here at Skirack, we do more than just find a shoe that looks good and fits your feet. We pair you with a shoe that functionally operates that fits your exact needs.

We do this by really getting to know the customer, getting to know what kind of runner they are, what their arch looks like, any past or current injuries, and what their ankle mobility looks like. The list goes on and on from there.

This process allows us to narrow down the wall because we have a very large selection. There are strengths and weaknesses to every shoe and we want to best accommodate what your foot is going to need.

Hometown: Bloomfield, NY

Years of Experience: Bike, Snowboard and Run expertise

Outside Interests and Hobbies: I love mountain biking, writing music, fishing, hiking, and camping.

So you’ve decided to start running, congratulations! Building up a habit of running can have lifelong health benefits, create lasting friendships, and generate endless fun. Starting out can often be the hardest part so here are a few tips and tricks to get you out the door and keep you moving through your runs!

Exercising in the heat can create many challenges. Hydrating, food intake, proper clothing choice, and many other factors are essential to keeping you out there on a sweltering day. Many people think water is the key to a hot day...sure it is...but you NEED electrolytes or your body will suffer. It is also important to understand how to carry your fluids as well. This can carry over to not only hot days, but any training day. I am going to break it down for you to help with training, racing, and general exercise during those hot days.

The purpose of exercise is to stress your body in a way that makes it stronger and healthier and gives you a feeling of well being. Whether it’s walking or running on roads or trails or something else, it’s important to pick a shoe that feels good on your feet with the proper fit.

Your running shoes are more than just cool looking fashion items, they are lightweight protective devices for your feet. Your personal experience may vary, but running shoes are generally expected to provide support and cushioning for 300-500 miles, depending on your physique and how you use them. And most of you tend to replace your shoes within six to twelve months.

A properly fitting running shoe influences three factors in your running and walking experience: injury reduction, comfort, and performance.

Having a shoe that is fit by a trained shoe fitter that has evaluated the way your ankle and arch moves can help determine the appropriate shoe category for your foot. The shoe category is correlated with the level of support in a shoe and is broken down into neutral, guidance, support, and motion control. Too much or too little support could potentially lead to injury or discomfort.

With COVID-19 concerns, winter has looked very different this year in Vermont. Since not many people are traveling and are staying home, there's been a huge uptick in people venturing outside and discovering what their backyard has to offer. Outdoor activity is a great way to get exercise, de-stress and spend time with your household. More people getting outside is great news! However, the influx is a concern because of the strain on natural resources. Services such as ski resorts and search and rescue will also be effected. With this resource guide, our goal is to provide some ideas to getting you outside in a new way, while offering other options for people to check out, in order to spread people out in any given area.

We encourage you to use this guide to find new ways of getting outside. Get educated, especially if you are going to venture into the backcountry; know before you go and share your knowledge with others. Nature is for everyone and we all share the job of making it comfortable and welcoming to others, as well as sustaining its natural habitats and beauty. As a reminder, please support the organizations (many are listed below) that maintain areas and trails in Vermont and provide educational resources.

We are somehow at the end September. Many runners are feeling simultaneously relieved about the reappearance of crisp air yet already nostalgic for twilight run-swims. This summer seemed to roll through at a frightening clip for a time when things have never been more uncertain. However, late summer melancholy aside, as runners we are coming up on prime time. Autumn in New England. Here’s a look at new shoe updates and trends in running this fall.

As we get into fall hiking weather and the amount of people getting on the trail increases, it's important that we still follow the Vermont Department of Health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We all need to play our part in maintaining a 6 foot distance from others and wearing a mask if you cannot do so - even when you are outside.

Navigating 6 feet socially distanced guidelines on a narrow trail can be a challenge, but with a little practice, patience and following these tips, I hope to help ease your anxiety and encourage you to get out. These tips can easily be applied to other activities, too such as running, biking, and winter sports, too.