Runners: How cold is to cold?
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My rule of thumb is 0 or -10 windchill. The coldest I've gone out was 2 and windchill of -8. One thing I can say about running when it's that cold, I run much faster!0
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I don't really like to run in weather under 40 degrees, but I will tolerate and make myself run in the 30's. I will not run in anything under 30 degrees....that said, I have friends in the north east that are ROCKSTARS and running in 1 degree weather!!! Yay for them!
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0* is my cutoff temperature for outdoor runs.0
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Weli, Tuesday was -27°C (-36°C with the windchill) and I had a very enjoyable run despite the icicles hanging from my eyebrows.
It's all a matter of dressing appropriately. Merino wool base layer, extra warm merino wool socks, balaclava etc.
For me it's not so much an issue of temperature but running conditions. I won't run outside after freezing rain and anything that significantly impacts visibility (heavy snowfall / blizzard) will persuade me to either run on my dreadmill or re-arrange my schedule.0 -
For me it is more about the icy roads.
This... I'm not worried about the temp.. not much difference between 0 and -10 or whatnot.. I'll layer up like a normally do, but I don't want to slip on a hill or something and shatter a knee, foot, whatever. (I actually prefer it, no people, no dogwalkers, no baby strollers, etc taking up the entire sidewalk, I have the whole place to myself ) :bigsmile:0 -
I'm still building my running wardrobe, so below 20F is about it for me. I'd like to get some better pairs of running tights and something to cover my face, and then I'd probably be willing to do colder. My problem is that I do walk/run intervals, so once I get sweaty it gets COLD to drop down to a walk.0
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right now my issue is with how light it is outside. The temp doesn't get to me cause I warm up after a few minutess. Of course I live where people start to freak out about the cold once it hits 390
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There is no "too cold" -20F so far this year. Nothing's gonna keep me from getting outside. Life's too short for that.
Layer up & enjoy!
(oh, and on icy days...Stabilicers!)0 -
If I am in a situation where I have to train (marathon) I'll run down to single digits or 0F as long as the wind isnt too crazy.
If there's not real need to run, then I'll usually avoid running below 20F. Today though I plan to run and it will be low teens, but I'm also bordering on "having" to run. I'm in half training and can't be letting it slide much longer just because its a little chilly.0 -
Was -40 when I started my meager 5K run last night... At that temp its too cold to walk.
Like others have said before... its how you dress and layer your apparel that makes it possible.
Solid moisture wicking base layer
Insulating fleece middle layer
Heavy wind resistant outer layer.
Balaclava
Mitts
Hat over the balaclava
and duct tape over the shoes.
Piece of cake.
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I'm a sissy....lol...anything below 60 and I run indoors on the treadmill BUT I do run in up to 105 degree weather in the summer once the sun goes down or before it comes up. :-) :laugh:0
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The cold doesn't bother me too much. As others have said, it's about layering and minimizing exposed skin.
My only problem is that getting into and out of all of those layers can be a hassle during the work week when my mornings are already a pretty tight schedule. So, I'll do my weekday runs on the treadmill (as much as I hate that) and then layer up on the weekend and do my runs outside.0 -
its been minus 30 every day this week,
and i have gone out every day.
no matter what
even with heavy winds and snowsqualls.0 -
Former running addict here. I lived in Florida and ran there during the middle of the day in the summer. The heat was never an issue for me so long as I carried a ton of water. Moved to Toronto and ran up here in the middle of snowstorms. Running in the cold sucks at first, but once you get used to it I honestly have to say I prefer it. Probably the coldest I've ever ran was -40 or so. You have to be careful to cover any exposed skin ( sweet, sweet beard ), but otherwise it is surprising how quickly you heat up. I've generated just as much sweat running at -20 as I did running in Florida. As odd as it sounds, you just have to be careful not to overdress.0
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I am not yet hardcore and as soon as snow flies it too cold for me. I'm ok doing alternate indoor workouts till the thaw!0
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Was -40 when I started my meager 5K run last night... At that temp its too cold to walk.
Like others have said before... its how you dress and layer your apparel that makes it possible.
Solid moisture wicking base layer
Insulating fleece middle layer
Heavy wind resistant outer layer.
Balaclava
Mitts
Hat over the balaclava
and duct tape over the shoes.
Piece of cake.
Thanks for the suggestion, I live in GA and don't really have cold weather gear but I might need to go buy some of this stuff to keep running in unusually cold winter.0 -
I'm more concerned about slippery roads. I didn't run the last two days because I was slipping on my way into the office. Got out there this morning and it was about 7 degrees. The coldest I've run in was about 6 degrees with a winchill of -2. I refuse to get on a treadmill.0
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Coldest I've ever run was -30° ish C. It was very cold winter. This winter is rather warm, for more than half winter this year it was +10° to 0°. Now last week or so it dropped down to -15° suddenly from nowhere. It's still not cold in my opinion. I definitely like it better than summers when here it is up to +30°. Too cold for me would prolly be around -40°, hard to tell since it never was so cold here so I might still run, would just need to dress warmer. I think that weather is just excuse. It won't kill you or harm you if you dress right.0
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I prefer to run outside, but when I'm home I am selective (aka a wimp), with a range of about 40-75F since I have a treadmill. When I travel and don't have access to a treadmill I will run no matter the temperature, so 15-90F. In the cold, it's more about the condition of the roads and the wind than the temperature. Also, I don't have a history of chest colds, pneumonia, breathing issues or the like. In my opinion, heat is much worse than cold. I can add more layers to warm up, but can't wear much less than a sports bra and shorts to stay cool.0
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I'm going to try to run today. Apparently it'll be around 15 degrees. I get really hot when I run, anyway, so it will probably cancel out! I'll be taking my dog with me, but she'll be bundled too. She hasn't gotten any exercise in the past week or so and I feel bad.0
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Listen to your body...0
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Wind chill is around -15 today where I live (Michigan) and not everyone shovels their sidewalks. No thanks. I work out inside pretty much all winter and don't normally run until it's over 40.0
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I'm a wimp and I live in North Carolina. If it's below 45, I go to the gym and run on the treadmill. On the flip side, if it's over 75 and humid, I go to the gym and run on the treadmill.0
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For me it is more about the icy roads. I will run down to about 0 f without wind as long as the roads are not slick.
^^^ this - i'd rather not run in 0 degrees F but i will except if it's icy then treadmill it is.0 -
I think there was just an article about this due to the Polar Vortex (haha). The only thing to worry about is frostbite. So, as long as you are dressed properly to protect your body from that, then it's just personal preference. It won't hurt your muscles or lungs, apparently.
I personally don't run when it's very cold at all (I mean like....I won't run outside if it's below 50 degrees probably......~ish). That's because for some reason, my jaw joint hurts really bad when my body is hot and the outside air is cold and I'm slack-jawed while running. It will hurt for like 40 minutes even after I'm done, so I just don't put myself through that. Luckily enough I'm in grad school right now so there's a great state of the art gym for me to use when it's freezing outside. =D0 -
I ran yesterday it was 12 out and -3 wind chill. I actually overdressed. I was too warm. I have trail shoes that I wear through the snow and yaktrax for ice.
I only time I get cold is when I stop. Just got to keep moving.0 -
Anything below 0 is just miserable, for me.0
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I ran on Monday at lunch it was -35C with the wind chill. It was fine when you are running but in the city you get stopped by the traffic lights and you get cold quick. The hardest thing about running in the cold I find is my glasses fog if I wear a face mask. Not sure what the solution is - I can't see without my glasses.0
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I'm Canadian and will run in weather as cold as -22F, I've snowshoe'd in close to -40. All you have to do is dress for the weather and enjoy!0
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Hey cold weather runners who listen to music, does your ipod lose battery power like crazy under 10degrees?
OP, I am in Pa too, training for May 4th Marathon in Pittsburgh. I have been able to run outside, once I get going I am fine.
Top
1) Coldgear t neck
2) all season jacket with a built in tight hood
3) light weight wind breaking running jacket
4) hat
Bottoms
1) Coldgear evo leggings if under 20deg,
2) shorts
Gloves, i have my hands cupped, not in the fingers and I have the all weather jacket sleeves pulled over my hands.0
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