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Sprinting on the Snowmelt

The Gazelle Running Group trains in Holland from January to October, and thanks to the snowmelt system, slush doesn’t slow them down.

The Holland snowmelt system expanded on 9th Street this year, offering more clear sidewalks, roads and parking in downtown Holland. The expansion is set to finish this Fall, and connects the system to the Holland Energy Park by installing two mains underneath 9th Street between Central and Columbia. Once complete, the snowmelt will offer nine miles of clear sidewalks. The project will also create forty-three new parking spots for downtown patrons and a bike lane down 9th Street.

The 602,000 square-foot snowmelt system circulates 95-degree water through over 60 miles of plastic pipe arranged under the street surfaces and sidewalk brick pavers. The system melts approximately one inch of snow an hour, keeping the sidewalks, roads and parking clear during average winter conditions. The system helps provide winter access to pedestrians and local businesses, but also provides a service to Holland runners.

On blistering cold Saturday mornings you can find a herd of winter runners bounding down the snowmelted sidewalks. Allison Land leads these hard core runners in the Holland Gazelle Running Group. Allison has been participating in the group for five years, and has been leading since 2015.

The Gazelle Running Group trains in Holland from January to October, and thanks to the snowmelt system, slush doesn’t slow them down. The group of about fifty runners train for 5K, 10K, 25K and marathons, requiring a variation of training routes. Allison uses the snowmelt to help design the courses.

“Our runners don’t have to worry as much about slipping injuries or not being seen by vehicles,” Allison said, “The snowmelt is the perfect well-lit and clear running path.” Most winter runners have the choice of running indoors, facing the snow on un-shoveled sidewalks, or running on the streets. Luckily for Holland runners, there’s a fourth option: run the snowmelted sidewalks. “When the weather gets rough, we don’t have to cancel our runs,” Allison says, “We can always stay in downtown Holland.”