First Outdoor Run of the Year

FireStorm1972

First 1/2 comming up in May also. Did my 1st outdoor run last week after training on the treadmill for the last 6 months. It was GREAT. Other than my hands freezing, I found my times were faster than my indoor times. Indoor I run on average 6min kilos, I was averaging 5:40 with a low of 5:10 on one split. Northern Canada here. I ran straight thru the puddles, more like small lakes LOL.

FireStorm1972

brandiuntz wrote: »

I had the opposite problem...was afraid it would get too hot on me this weekend. Ran two half-marathons. The trail course was muddy, especially on Saturday, due to the rain we'd had all week. Much drier on Sunday and I felt fortunate I finished my halfs before the temps got into the 70's both days.

I live in the South, so I run year round outside, except the occasional rain/cold combination when I'm not in the mood. Has been colder than normal here and a lot of rain, so not my favorite winter of running.

I'll appreciate it, though, when the summer heats up and I'm running in the 90's with high humidity.

As for routes, I run at a park that has dedicated jogging trails. If you don't have one of those, perhaps a park where you can run on its roads, where there will be less car traffic? I have a "backup" park I run at with a 1 mile looping road for runners to share with the cars. Low traffic and the cars drive slow. Beats my neighborhood, where I never know what will be in the roads or on the sidewalks.

You ran 2 halfs in one weekend? Wow, great job.

StephannieL

omma_to_3 wrote: »

StephannieL wrote: »

omma_to_3 wrote: »

36 is kind of balmy for a winter run LOL. First and foremost, dress appropriately. Wear a hat, or at least ear warmers. Wear a shirt with thumbholes, or actual gloves. Wear sunglasses, even if it's not sunny (helps in the summer too - bugs in the eye are NOT fun - I wear Trifosi that have interchangeable lenses and one of the lenses is clear). Finally, find a good route where you won't have to dodge obstacles - many of the parks around here clear a portion of their bike paths throughout the winter for runners.

I did a half in February. I trained outside for all my long runs (it gets dark too early for me to run outside after work). There were only 2 weeks I headed indoors due to sub-zero temps. Truly, I prefer to head indoors when it gets under 20 degrees, but many people are OK at much colder temps.

I will have to remember those sunglasses. I have my Oakley's that I wear when it's the least bit sunny but need something on the darker, windier days. And LOL, no, bugs in the eyes are not fun.

Yes, I like my Trifosi. I had to switch to the clear lenses for the winter LOL. They have an orange lens too which is nice if you're in the woods - it'll brighten everything up!

@omma_to_3- I will have to look into those. Are they expensive?

omma_to_3

StephannieL wrote: »

omma_to_3 wrote: »

StephannieL wrote: »

omma_to_3 wrote: »

36 is kind of balmy for a winter run LOL. First and foremost, dress appropriately. Wear a hat, or at least ear warmers. Wear a shirt with thumbholes, or actual gloves. Wear sunglasses, even if it's not sunny (helps in the summer too - bugs in the eye are NOT fun - I wear Trifosi that have interchangeable lenses and one of the lenses is clear). Finally, find a good route where you won't have to dodge obstacles - many of the parks around here clear a portion of their bike paths throughout the winter for runners.

I did a half in February. I trained outside for all my long runs (it gets dark too early for me to run outside after work). There were only 2 weeks I headed indoors due to sub-zero temps. Truly, I prefer to head indoors when it gets under 20 degrees, but many people are OK at much colder temps.

I will have to remember those sunglasses. I have my Oakley's that I wear when it's the least bit sunny but need something on the darker, windier days. And LOL, no, bugs in the eyes are not fun.

Yes, I like my Trifosi. I had to switch to the clear lenses for the winter LOL. They have an orange lens too which is nice if you're in the woods - it'll brighten everything up!

@omma_to_3- I will have to look into those. Are they expensive?

Sorry - just saw this. You can find some online for maybe $60ish?

lishie_rebooted

I've only run inside this year for my speed work since the tracks have been covered with snow. It'll be late April probably before they're fully clear...

I was training for a half in February that got postponed then canceled. And training through ski season and all the snow/ice/cold made me pick a fall marathon for 2016 so I won't have to run 20mi in -10f

StephannieL

omma_to_3 wrote: »

StephannieL wrote: »

omma_to_3 wrote: »

StephannieL wrote: »

omma_to_3 wrote: »

36 is kind of balmy for a winter run LOL. First and foremost, dress appropriately. Wear a hat, or at least ear warmers. Wear a shirt with thumbholes, or actual gloves. Wear sunglasses, even if it's not sunny (helps in the summer too - bugs in the eye are NOT fun - I wear Trifosi that have interchangeable lenses and one of the lenses is clear). Finally, find a good route where you won't have to dodge obstacles - many of the parks around here clear a portion of their bike paths throughout the winter for runners.

I did a half in February. I trained outside for all my long runs (it gets dark too early for me to run outside after work). There were only 2 weeks I headed indoors due to sub-zero temps. Truly, I prefer to head indoors when it gets under 20 degrees, but many people are OK at much colder temps.

I will have to remember those sunglasses. I have my Oakley's that I wear when it's the least bit sunny but need something on the darker, windier days. And LOL, no, bugs in the eyes are not fun.

Yes, I like my Trifosi. I had to switch to the clear lenses for the winter LOL. They have an orange lens too which is nice if you're in the woods - it'll brighten everything up!

@omma_to_3- I will have to look into those. Are they expensive?

Sorry - just saw this. You can find some online for maybe $60ish?

LOL that is quite alright! Thanks!

JenMKEWI

I love running outside, but agreed that when it's negative numbers on the thermometer, I am hitting the treadmill... This winter was mild of us, however I did encounter black ice and scraped knees on a few runs..... Cannot wait for Spring to be here for good!

acorsaut89

I just started running (in general) in October 2014 and so far have only been doing treadmill running. I've got to a point where it really feels like I've hit a wall but apparently running outside will help me with that.

I have my first 5K scheduled for the last weekend in April. I'm running between 2.5 and 3 miles approx 3 days/week but that's all inside. I've read enough to know my first few outdoor runs will probably not be half that if I can manage but I want to get outside so I can be a little more prepared for it.

I have a bit of cold weather clothing nothing too much though and I was prepared to run outside this weekend but we just got hit with another couple inches of snow this morning UGH! I really hoped winter was over. I had mentally prepared myself for the cold but I don't know that I can run with snow.

gobonas99

I do not understand this "running inside" thing of which you speak. I've run exactly 1 mile on the treadmill in the past year, and I did that only because it was for a VO2 Max test. I've been running outside ALL winter (my first outdoor run of the "year" was on January 1st) - including 0*F with a windchill of -16*F (granted, on the super cold days, I kept my runs to 30 minutes or less), I've run in snow, I've run in 20mph wind (35+mph gusts), I've run on hardpack/ice....I've had icicles form on my eyelashes during numerous runs. I've NEVER had an issue with being cold. The key is to wear appropriate clothing.

StephannieL

gobonas99 wrote: »

I do not understand this "running inside" thing of which you speak. I've run exactly 1 mile on the treadmill in the past year, and I did that only because it was for a VO2 Max test. I've been running outside ALL winter (my first outdoor run of the "year" was on January 1st) - including 0*F with a windchill of -16*F (granted, on the super cold days, I kept my runs to 30 minutes or less), I've run in snow, I've run in 20mph wind (35+mph gusts), I've run on hardpack/ice....I've had icicles form on my eyelashes during numerous runs. I've NEVER had an issue with being cold. The key is to wear appropriate clothing.

LOL you are a better woman than I!!! No way in h#ll will I run outside in that god-awful cold! LOL
Just thinking about you running out in that kind of weather makes me cold. LOL

dawnmcneil10

I used the winter weather as a challenge to myself. I didn't get out and run as often as I'd have liked but I learned I love to run in the cooler weather. My favorite temps are 20-25, the spitting snow adds a sense of calm to the run. If the streets are rough I run in quiet suburbias, you know those big housing developments, they always have clear streets and usually very little traffic.

I did find running in snow that had built up was something I didn't care for, like running on the beach you don't go far for the effort but it's still a good workout. I do however like to run the beach but that's a rare treat.

I even tried running in freezing rain, oddly I liked it, dangerous yes but no traffic so with careful footwork it was actually almost fun. Like a kid jumping in puddles.

Treadmills bore me, I thought about it a few times during the really cold snaps when it wasn't safe to be outside but in the end knew my heart wouldn't be in it so I just did other indoor exercise.

To each their own, inside or out but yes if you're going to run 5k's - marathons and want to have decent times then I'd suggest you brave it a little and get in that outdoor run.

gobonas99

StephannieL wrote: »

gobonas99 wrote: »

I do not understand this "running inside" thing of which you speak. I've run exactly 1 mile on the treadmill in the past year, and I did that only because it was for a VO2 Max test. I've been running outside ALL winter (my first outdoor run of the "year" was on January 1st) - including 0*F with a windchill of -16*F (granted, on the super cold days, I kept my runs to 30 minutes or less), I've run in snow, I've run in 20mph wind (35+mph gusts), I've run on hardpack/ice....I've had icicles form on my eyelashes during numerous runs. I've NEVER had an issue with being cold. The key is to wear appropriate clothing.

LOL you are a better woman than I!!! No way in h#ll will I run outside in that god-awful cold! LOL
Just thinking about you running out in that kind of weather makes me cold. LOL

Seriously....you just need the right clothing! Layers are everything! Especially at night (90% of my running this winter was in the dark). I will say though, that on the coldest days that I ran, my workout was actually a brick, so I was already really warm from the bike before I went outside for the run.

Curtruns

BrianSharpe wrote: »

There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing (not quite true, I run outside all year 'round and it gets cold here but I won't run when there's been freezing rain......)

I agree with this.....I also stay inside when I see lightning