running into the wind

valentine4

Hi all,

just wondering if anyone has any tips yesterday for running into a strong wind.

I did a 10k yesterday and was completely floored by the wind! it was on a loop on a beach, the first couple of km was great I was flying along with the wind at my back but when we turned to head back up the beach the wind literally took my breath away. By the second loop I really really struggled I was completely puffed finished.

I was round in 60 mins, had been aiming for 55 so am feeling a bit deflated. Any tips for how to manage in the wind? ( it was wild!)

valentine

CarsonRuns

Find large people and run behind them.

valentine4

lol I tried! I found the biggest santa out there and tucked myself behind him but it was still too windy. The wind was blowing the sand across the beach into our faces, it was some craic.

amandamurdaugh

Ha ha ha! I love the advice Carson.

Cheval13

While Carson's advice may sound funny, I hope you realize it's the best you're gonna get!
Called drafting, running behind another person does make running easier. Did it all the time in cross country where I ran with a team and part of the team strategy on rough courses was alternating drafting so that both runners had an equal amount of energy by the end.
Another good thing to do is take it easy... that is, rather than trying to maintain the same pace, slow down a bit and focus on leaning a bit into the wind and maintaining form (keep those shoulders relaxed).
Finally, make sure you drink a lot of water. It can be a cool and humid day, but that wind will dehydrate you, which has negative effects on your running.

SonicDeathMonkey80

Drafting is legit, and crucial in the cycling world. I'll gladly draft a cute girl rather than a large person though. But not for too long because that would be creepy.

julie_emma1

I'll gladly draft a cute girl rather than a large person though. But not for too long because that would be creepy.

ha ha ha ha

ATT949

Hi all,

just wondering if anyone has any tips yesterday for running into a strong wind.

I did a 10k yesterday and was completely floored by the wind! it was on a loop on a beach, the first couple of km was great I was flying along with the wind at my back but when we turned to head back up the beach the wind literally took my breath away. By the second loop I really really struggled I was completely puffed finished.

I was round in 60 mins, had been aiming for 55 so am feeling a bit deflated. Any tips for how to manage in the wind? ( it was wild!)

valentine

Drafting is of value when your wind speed (running speed plus "relative wind") hits the 10 MPH mark — up to that point, it's of minimal value. I can't cite it of the top of my head but I think that from "The Lore of Running" by Noakes or, perhaps, and this is a stretch, in "What comes first - cardio or weights" . I can't be sure because it's faster than I will ever run a race so I didn't try to remember the source.

Noakes does have a value for the speed loss due to non-aerodynamic laces, BTW. It's not much.

When running into the wind, like tackling any other impediment, optimal overall speed is maintained by keeping a constant level of effort. Slow down running into a significant breeze and then enjoy the slight lift that you get when running downwind.

[time passes]

Checked Noakes. It's on page 59 of The Lore and the phrase that pays is from a study done in 1980 which leads Noakes to write "The practical relevance is that on, on a calm day, anyone running slower that 18 km per hours (about a 2:21 maraton pace) will not benefit by drafting in the wake of other runners."

If you're running at 6 MPH into a 5 MPH headwind, it pays to draft. The issue is how to optimize yourself in the pack and I read earlier this year that the runner should position themself about a meter behind the person they're drafting. Running Times could have been the source.

And, those shoelaces? Shoes with exposed laces cost you 0.5% in aerodynamic drag and long hair will set you back 6.3%. Damn, there goes my excuse… ;-)

And, please, just drink to thirst. Yes, there's some rite of passage to sucking down lotsa water here on MFP but, for most people, it doesn't do the body any good to drink more than your body tells you it wants and time in a porta potty isn't quality time in my book. Then there's that dying thing from drinking too much water that can really ruin your day.

valentine4

thanks all for the advice, sods law the following day was lovely and calm.

With regards to the shoe laces, they may have not helped but the enormous suit I had flapping about me definitely didn't ! they only had mens suits left so lesson learned I will be organised next yr and have a more suitable santa outfit.

rduhlir

Anyone else see the title to this and then start singing "Against the Wind" in there heads?

Cheval13

And, please, just drink to thirst. Yes, there's some rite of passage to sucking down lotsa water here on MFP but, for most people, it doesn't do the body any good to drink more than your body tells you it wants and time in a porta potty isn't quality time in my book. Then there's that dying thing from drinking too much water that can really ruin your day.

Just to add, my advice was def. not to overdo it on the water, just don't be surprised if you do need more water than on another kind of run.