Sask. runner has tricks for the trails to get runners out after spring thaw

Running is heralded as the most accessible sport — all that’s needed is a pair of running shoes.

That’s true, said Brian Michasiw, although having the right fit in those shoes and tools to be a smarter runner will take you even further.

Michasiw owns Brainsport, a running store just off Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon that opened about 32 years ago. Michasiw himself started running when he was 14.

“I was a little heavier as a kid and my brothers teased me about my weight,” he said. “I got tired of it so I just started by literally running around the block.”

Now 52, with more than 20 marathons under his belt — he has competed in Saskatchewan, Chicago, Boston, New York, California and Lisbon, to name a few — and having won six Saskatchewan marathons, it seems appropriate for him to consider running his thing.

He loves to run in the heat of the summer, but understands why some might be more drawn to the coolness of a spring jaunt — and he runs in the cold of winter as well.

It’s all about knowing the wind and having the right gear when it comes to winter runs. When spring hits Saskatchewan, he said runners can’t be too careful with their steps, calling the season “dangerous.”

Ice and snow still on the verge of melting along routes mean Michasiw prefers to run in the afternoon, when he can.

“I’d rather have wet feet than a cracked skull,” he quipped.

Spring is an exciting season in the running community, though, and at his store. Michasiw said it’s like a switch will flip unexpectedly.

“There’s maybe a smell in the air or maybe a little bit more sunlight and that gets people really excited about wanting to start to run,” he said.

Michasiw said runners who wait for the spring melt to lace up can get going just about any time now.

For those looking to get in their first run of the year — or maybe just start clocking their runs after the latest switch in season — Michasiw said he’s lucky to live near the Meewasin trails.

“You’ve got the beautiful river (and) you’ve got no traffic,” he said.

Some areas along that trail, like behind the children’s museum, are a bit icy still, but Michasiw said that doesn’t need to deter someone’s run.

“If you see it, just walk,” he said. “You’re probably not going to lose the Boston Marathon because you walked 15 steps.”

He said last weekend would have prompted a different directive, but trails and routes are looking much more clear for the coming weekend.

Michasiw also shared a few tips for running in the spring.

First, he said possibly the most common mistake runners make is starting out too fast. He learned 22 years ago during a running camp in Kenya that even he started “obscenely fast” for his runs. And the more inexperienced the runner, the faster the start, he explained.

Rather, Michasiw said a slower start has made is own runs more fun, safer and “more exhilarating.”

No matter who the runner is, he encouraged them to work on picking up the pace throughout their run and ending strong.

For distance runners wanting to know the best pace, Michasiw said one you can hold a conversation at is the goal.

Another tip to finish well? Check the direction of the wind to find out how it will affect a run before heading out.

Michasiw said every runner knows the feeling of having a great start, with a tailwind from the back, only to have to turn around and face that same wind to finish the run. It can feel a lot more satisfying to fight the wind at the beginning and finish with its support.