Staying active and healthy during the lockdown

Erick Oland From City Park Runners Shares His Tips to Help You Get Outside This Winter.

Earlier this week Chief Public Health officer Brent Roussin said in regards to the pandemic, "You need to find ways to stay active. It is very important to stay active, both when you are at home finding ways to stay active and also when you are out and about enjoying some of the winter."

One of the best and simplest ways to get outside is to put on a pair of shoes and go for a walk.

City Park Runners at 2091 Portage Avenue is a hub for all things running and walking. Owner of City Park runners Erick Oland takes pride in providing footwear for all types of people, whether they just want to go for a stroll or they are doing some hardcore marathon running.

The pandemic, however, has created a whole new rule book for this coming winter.

"So far it’s been crazy with people calling about winter running," says Oland, "Usually people go to the gym and stay inside to run and walk during the winter in Winnipeg. This year it has been an explosion of people asking what do I do?" 

The main thing Oland wants is for people to get outside. It begs the question; if I am going outside what I am looking for in a shoe?

"Traction and warmth are the two most important things," says Oland. "Trail shoes offer a preferable answer to a full-on standard running shoe. They tend to have a better grip for ice and snow." 

When it comes to the question of warmth, "a Gortex shoe can help, but when you’re out moving around, the blood starts pumping and your feet generally do not get as cold as your hands and face do," he says. 

If you are running in snow and your feet go get wet and cold, then the answer is as simple as a good pair of wool socks.

Running in a loop that has lots of places where you can stop in if you need to is also a great tip.

"If you are out running in the country and you bail, you could be in real trouble." If you fall, having a place where you can stop and warm up and regroup can be a big help.

City Park Runners is not just for runners.

"70 per cent of our customers do not run," Oland says.

Walkers are always welcome, and Erick and his team are experts in finding shoes for all types of feet, no matter the size, shape, or walking gait. City Park Runners also specializes in working with people who have mobility issues.

"I’ve worked hard to build relationships with different foot care professionals in the city whether they be physiotherapists, podiatrist, or pedorthists," says Oland. "Sometimes if people have orthotics they might not know where to go."

The showroom is closed for now due to COVID 19, but Oland says they have found ways of working around the Code Red conditions. Phone consultations, virtual fitting guides on their website and Shopify links have really helped. City Park Runners also does curbside pick-up and free deliveries.