What Happens to Runners in the Winter?
Replies
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Where are you in Georgia? I live in the Atlanta area and winter is phenomenal for running and outdoor exercise. No pollen. No heat and humidity. Totally awesome.0
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My question is, what happens in the winter? Do runners still run? I run outside.
Around these parts (Colorado) there are two main strategies for runners in the winter. The first is to keep running where ever they like to run. The second is to stop running for the ski season and ski, because hey, ski season!What about ice?
Great for ice skating, but harder to find large stable smooth patches than you might expect. If it's post-ice-storm ice (you know, everything coated in several cm of ice, top and bottom) then it's a decent idea to stay in for a day or two till the ice develops some texture or snow freezes on it.Is it safe to run outside?
Watch where you put your feet. Even in winter, fresh dog poo is still slippery. And watch out for cars, drivers seem to pay less attention in the winter.I like to run on trails too, like hiking trails, is that safe in the winter?
What kind of condition are the trails in? Flooded? Don't run. Smooth ice? Skate. Patchy ice? Run carefully.Or do runners just run on treadmills? Not a big fan of treadmills but will do what I gotta do.
Some do that during the summer to. I don't get that at all.
Some serious advice:
Wear layers... and it's better to be chilly than sweaty. Keep your clothes dry, remove layers before you sweat.
Water: you still need it.
Sunblock: sunlight and sunlight reflected form snow double the sun exposure, sunblock can make the next day way more comfortable.
Shoes: runners and trainers usually still work, but it's OK to run in boots if they make you feel better. But you still have to watch where you put your feet, whatever footwear you wear.
TL/dr: Q: How do you run outside in the winter? A: Go outside and run!0 -
Or do runners just run on treadmills? Not a big fan of treadmills but will do what I gotta do.
Some do that during the summer to. I don't get that at all.
Lack of area's to run.
Heat
Humidity
Safety
Mine personally....It was much easier and I was much better at tracking my intervals and splits on the treadmill when I was still a competitive 5K'er and in training.0 -
Or do runners just run on treadmills? Not a big fan of treadmills but will do what I gotta do.
Some do that during the summer to. I don't get that at all.
Lack of area's to run.
Heat
Humidity
Safety
Mine personally....It was much easier and I was much better at tracking my intervals and splits on the treadmill when I was still a competitive 5K'er and in training.
I'm in Colorado. We rarely get heat and humidity at the same time (yeay!!!!), and safety.. well... I've been unsafe indoors and out (and out has much better "run away" options, in my humble opinion - but I have an upper body with the musculature of pipe cleaners). While I don't get it, I presume that the people who do run indoors do get it. Not holding it against anyone if they do. But if you want to race me, expect to go to the park or the mountains. Sometimes when it's been really rainy, I have used an indoor track. It was OK, except.... it was indoors, like work is.... not so much fun for me.0 -
I got a pair of YakTrax for walking on the snow and ice last winter and they work really well. Loads more grip and stability than walking without them. I've never tried to use them for running but apparently people do; they even make a special model for running.
^^ I got a pair of these last Christmas and they work really well. I run outside all year around.0 -
Or do runners just run on treadmills? Not a big fan of treadmills but will do what I gotta do.
Some do that during the summer to. I don't get that at all.
Lack of area's to run.
Heat
Humidity
Safety
Mine personally....It was much easier and I was much better at tracking my intervals and splits on the treadmill when I was still a competitive 5K'er and in training.
I'm in Colorado. We rarely get heat and humidity at the same time (yeay!!!!), and safety.. well... I've been unsafe indoors and out (and out has much better "run away" options, in my humble opinion - but I have an upper body with the musculature of pipe cleaners).
Safety isn't just attackers...... Safety as in, lack of safe areas to run. Not sure how many times you've had a car not notice you on the shoulder inside....0 -
Cold weather doesn't make you sick.I am interested in this as well. I just started at the beginning of August, and love it. I want to continue through the winter and was going to just bundle up, but my fear is that I will get sick and then de-rail. :-(0 -
I'm in MN and run all winter. Layers, you usually need less than you think! I find it easier to run in the cold as well!0
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Or do runners just run on treadmills? Not a big fan of treadmills but will do what I gotta do.
Some do that during the summer to. I don't get that at all.
In the most brutally hot/humid months I take my runs inside to avoid heat stroke. It gets really hot and humid in Philly in the summer and as much as I love running I don't love heat stroke. But then I don't handle heat well to begin with. My temperature range for running outside is 50ish-80ish. If its a race day then I'll go outside that zone, but that is my sweet spot.0 -
As long as it's in the high 30's or above I'm running outside, I just have to bundle up a little extra.
We had a really mild winter in ND this last year, so I started running outside again in February.0 -
If it is above 20 F I go outside and run. I didn't invest in winter running gear (I just started in January), I just ran in sweats. But this year I am going to invest in some thermal running gear as I have fallen in love.0
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This is one of the reasons why I joined a gym. I live in Detroit, and there will be many days when it is too icy and dangerous to run outside. I hate treadmills! But I'm trying to get used to them and other machines for my cardio. Running outside is my preferred method of cardio though.0
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Winter=Treadmill Time for me. I'm not that dedidcated to running, or living my life in a meaningful way to go outside in the winter other than to get in my car for work or to ski...I live in Omaha though so pretty much just the work thing.0
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I live in Canada. Our winters are certainly harsher than Georgia.
I ran outside all winter, except for a week or so when the temperature was well below -20C (well below 0F).
I dress in layers, I choose my running days based on the road conditions (I don't run every day). The roads don't stay icy for long (the salt trucks are out regularly). If it was too much of a problem, I would get those 'yak trax' to put on my shoes.
If you really want to run outside, it's do-able.0 -
I love dark, cold running! Scottish winters give me plenty of that and I am tougher come next spring :-)0
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Unless it's black ice, I run. I'll break out the wool running socks for sure, but I'll still run.0
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I've run and hiked through ice and horizontal snow fall from serious winds. Learn to enjoy it.
That said, I moved to Florida, so YOU learn to enjoy it. I'll be shivering in 66-70F winters now . . .lol0 -
I'm in Colorado. We rarely get heat and humidity at the same time (yeay!!!!), and safety.. well... I've been unsafe indoors and out (and out has much better "run away" options, in my humble opinion - but I have an upper body with the musculature of pipe cleaners).
Safety isn't just attackers...... Safety as in, lack of safe areas to run. Not sure how many times you've had a car not notice you on the shoulder inside....
Hey! That was on my very short list of serious advice! They pay even LESS attention in the winter. : )
When I've run in winter and the option has been available, I tended to aim for the snow. Fewer cars, less ice. Take high steps and wear gators if warranted. For that matter, wear snowshoes if warranted. A lot less traffic in the way on those days!0 -
If it isn't safe outside for you to run, I have a few suggestions that beat the treadmill. 1- Find a track. A lot of high schools in my area have tracks that are open to the public. In the winter, they're generally cleaned off and the rubber material the track is made of isn't slippery when wet. Some gyms or YMCA type places have indoor tracks, too. So you could look into either of those options
2- Do you have an ice skating rink around? I know this sounds absolutely ridiculous but the rink in my town has a sign up saying 8 times around the rink is a mile, and they even open early in the morning to accommodate for runners. :happy: 0 -
I live in California and also run. I run on the treadmill because I work out at 5:30 in the morning when it's dark and because drivers on the streets here don't pay that much attention to pedestrians, even if they're running. Sometimes on the weekend I might take a run outside, thought, on a trail or on a safe course I've created for myself.
So, for me, whether I am outside or on the treadmill, I wear shorts and short sleeved tee shirts year round, even when it's raining.0 -
In Canada they go to sleep.0
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I wear sub-zero running tights and warm wicking layers, a toque and gloves. I also have cleats that I throw over my running shoes, which work really well on compact snow... less so on ice. It hovers a few degrees below freezing most of the winter here.0
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Its not the cold that is a problem, but snow blocking the roads is. See if a local school has a track that tey clear, or an indoor track.0
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Georgia has harsh winters? LMAO! No, I'm in Ohio and while we have bad winters its nothing compared to Wisconsin or Minnesota. I've ran when its 0 degrees, on ice covered roads, in 1/2 foot of snow, etc. I adapted as most do and loved it. Also invested in spikes that slip on my shoes.0
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Well tomorrow is my long run day and the forecast is for torrential rain and 70mph winds. As I always do I'll still run and just adapt to the conditions. If everyday was the same it would be dull.0
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I live in Texas, so its pretty much the opposite. In the summer its too hot to run outside so I use machines at the gym. In the winter its perfect running weather. I just add an extra layer.
Sorry to sound super ignorant, but you guys in Texas have a WINTER?!? I'm from Canada, I always assumed that south from New York state, there wasn't such a thing anymore. Good for you. Winter's awesome.0 -
they just faaade away :laugh:
Just kiddin'!!!
<<<<Professional local dog walker here & I suppose just as I keep on, runners do as well. Though I don't see them out on the street when we have snow...the ones in our neighborhood go to the track by the H,S. or hit the trails by the parkways (LI,NY).
Where ever the path is clear, they still run :drinker:
ETA: I wonder if it's like me when I walk dogs, I prefer to walk in the cold because I can always move faster to be comfortable but when it's hot, sometimes there's no amount of slowwww to make it comfortable :laugh:0 -
I cant believe when I see the faithful joggers, here in Chicago by the very icy cold Lake Michigan, still running, and there are sheets of ice on the ground, they dont fall! amazing. they are out there in wind, rain, sleet, snow, everything.0
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In Minnesota, unless it's well below zero, I always see runners still going at it on the salted sidewalks. Most people I know move to indoor tracks here, but if you are determined to run outside in the winter, it can definitely be done!0
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