This town’s heated sidewalks make it a winter running paradise.<br />Located just off the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, the city of Holland is susceptible to a lot of snow.<br />The Michigan city averages 75 inches of snow a year – three times the national average.<br />Workout enthusiasts in any other city with those conditions would be forced to use a treadmill.<br />But in Holland, residents can run outside thanks to a unique feature: heated sidewalks.<br />The “snowmelt” system was originally created to help draw consumers to the downtown shopping district in the 1980s.<br />Water is heated to 95 degrees at a nearby power plant.<br />The system pumps 4,700 gallons of water per minute through 1-inch tubes.<br />The water is then circulated through 147 total miles of tubing beneath the city’s streets and sidewalks.<br />The heat generated is enough to melt 1 inch of snow per hour during 20-degree temperatures.<br />The city says it eliminates the need for shovels, salt, plows, and even winter footwear.<br />By not requiring special winterized shoes, the system allows for more casual runners to brave the elements.<br />TEXT QUOTE<br /> “We don’t have to be stuck inside on a treadmill all winter long, we always know no matter how much snow and ice is out there, we have miles worth of clear path.” on the snowmelt.” - Kerrie Esmeier, Holland Running Club<br />The Road Runners Club of America named Holland one of the country’s “most runner-friendly” communities.<br />Groups such as the Holland Running Club and the Gazelle Sports Run Camp have thrived thanks to the snowmelt.<br />As many as 120 people will show up for weekend group runs.<br />The scene has been compared to that of a local road race.<br />TEXT QUOTE<br />“I don’t think we would be nearly the club we are without it. It has kept your casual runner interested.” – Ben Burry, Holland Running Club<br />Many Holland-based runners will log around 80 percent of their winter miles on the snowmelt.<br />TEXT QUOTE<br />“When it gets brutal like this and it’s icy, this is the safest place to be and we’re just very, very lucky to have it.” – Vicky Kavanaugh, Holland Running Club<br />They say the system gives runners flexibility in their routes.<br />TEXT QUOTE<br />“If you do it right, it’s easy to not get bored—you can get a very nice 5-mile route with almost no overlap.” – Ben Burry, Holland Running Club<br />The businesses that benefit from the system have embraced the blossoming running community.<br />They will offer coupons and discounts to runners and even organize their own events.<br />The snowmelt currently covers 4.9 miles of roads and sidewalks.<br />Holland claims it is the largest municipal snowmelt system in the country.<br />Nearby Grand Rapids and Grand Haven have developed their own smaller versions.<br />Their systems only cover several blocks each.<br />There are no plans for any major expansions right now, but local runners say they are always pushing for more routes.<br />The Holland Energy Park can expand to support a snowmelt system up to four times its current size.
