Concerned With My Running

cdonley1370
cdonley1370 Posts: 2
edited January 28 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everybody,

Over the course of this past winter, I was able to improve my running speeds and distances from a ten minute-mile for 2.5 miles, to an 8.5 minute-mile for 4 miles. I accomplished this by running only two days per week on average in sub-30 degree weather. I was able to continue at this pace and distance throughout the spring, increasing my running days to 4 per week. However, during a week of bad weather, I did not run at all. After starting up again after that week, I found I was no longer able to run at that pace, but I was struggling to complete the 2.5mi at 10 minutes per mile.

My question is this: Why was I able to run at such great distances during the cold of the winter and through the warm of the spring, but now I can barely do what I was able to do when I began? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much.

-cdonley1370, Age 15, 30lbs lost

Replies

  • sammyneb
    sammyneb Posts: 257
    Running in the cold is actually easier for your body. As the tempature outside rises more energy goes into keeping your body cool. You should expect to slow down with warmer tempatures. It is just fine. Just keep at it, you body will acclimate to the heat you will be able to get some of your speed back.
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    Because heat has a huge effect on how fast you can run. I can definitely run faster and longer distances in the winter than I can in the Summer. There are all sorts of different articles and research out there on this that a few google searches will pull up for you. But in general, the warmer it is, the slower a runner will go.

    There are actually calculations out there for how much slower per mile per every X amount of degrees as well. They're all estimates of course, and every person is different. But, like I said, it's a general rule.

    I did find, after training for my second half marathon in the Summer when my first had been during the winter, that I never matched my paces from my winter training during my summer training. And I also shifted from never walking during my long runs in the winter to having to take the occasional walk break during the summer long runs (normally in shady areas to try to cool down).

    But my actual race was at a cooler temp than I'd trained in all summer, and while it was still 10 degrees hotter than the temp was during my first half marathon, I actually matched my pace/time almost to the second. So all that hard work in the heat did pay off, it just didn't feel like it did at the time.
  • cdonley1370
    cdonley1370 Posts: 2
    Thank you all!
  • MaureenH39
    MaureenH39 Posts: 315 Member
    Good info. I am doing C25K on week 4 and I am already worried about how I will run in the winter? The cold was one issue...which seems to not be so much. The other issue I will have is ice and snow :( I think I prefer running outside but might have to resort to the treadmill...would have to get one first! ;)
  • LearnFromTheRed
    LearnFromTheRed Posts: 294 Member
    I've just done this (what an increase from last week!?):

    Ran for seven minutes with the sun out: felt like I was going to die. Sore throat, couldn't breathe properly, horrendous.
    Waited 20 minutes
    Ran for seven minutes without the sun out: far easier.

    I can't believe the effect heat has on me. It's almost embarrassing.
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