Cold Weather Running

badgeratheart
badgeratheart Posts: 91 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello fellow runners! I'm curious. At what temperatue do you decide it's too cold for you to run outside? Last winter, I once ran outside when it was 9 degrees. I decided that was too cold, but I'm not sure where I should settle as a cut off. Maybe 20 degrees farenheit? Of course it depends on the wind as well, but as Old Man Winter makes himself comfortable here in Chicago, I'm trying to decide.
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Replies

  • LearnFromTheRed
    LearnFromTheRed Posts: 294 Member
    I managed about 4C before decided I'd had enough!
  • delicious_cocktail
    delicious_cocktail Posts: 5,797 Member
    I've found that as long as I have a scarf or balaclava around my face to retain the warmth and moisture of my breath, I'm good to below 0 F.
  • rassha01
    rassha01 Posts: 534 Member
    -10 F Temp or wind chill....
  • kaybeau
    kaybeau Posts: 198 Member
    In the ice snow wind and rain just be careful not to fall! loved my frosty ones not keen on the windy ones and hated the rainy ones but when you gotta run...
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Not a runner, but a cross country cyclist...I will ride regardless unless it's just too windy or lots of precipitation. Cold doesn't bother me, wind sucks though.
  • niricava
    niricava Posts: 89 Member
    I went running today. It's 36 but feels like 29 with the wind. I have to say I'm not sure I can run in colder weather than this... I decided I need warmer leggings and gloves...maybe that will help me handle colder, I'm just not sure. :sad: :noway: :grumble:
  • linzchapates
    linzchapates Posts: 135
    well... that depends I think -15C is my cut off.
  • mreeves261
    mreeves261 Posts: 728 Member
    For me it is 32F. I moved to the Detroit area about 13 years ago from the south and have still not adjusted to the cold weather. I would much rather run when it is 95F outside!
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I ran today at a temperature around 0F. (-18C)


    I'll run a bit colder than that, but I don't really enjoy it.
  • Im_NotPerfect
    Im_NotPerfect Posts: 2,181 Member
    My lungs don't like me running in anything under about 15 degrees. But if there's wind, it's got to be at least 25! I'm in NE Wisconsin, so I've already broken out all of my cold weather running gear!
  • LaraeTX
    LaraeTX Posts: 674 Member
    I also prefer the heat of Texas than the winter. I don't really go off of a certain temperature, for me it just depends on how windy it is.
  • PaulHalicki
    PaulHalicki Posts: 576 Member
    It depends. Early in the season, it's easier to decide 40*F is too cold because you haven't gotten used to it yet. Later in the year, 20*F will feel downright balmy.
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    I venture out down to about -5 deg C, after that I find it difficult to regulate my temperature. My outer bits freeze and my core cooks.
  • tibby531
    tibby531 Posts: 717 Member
    if I run in below-45-degrees, my ex smoker's cough comes out. :\

    I'm stuck playing inside for a few months or so, now. :(
  • HornedFrogPride
    HornedFrogPride Posts: 283 Member
    20 degrees is my cutoff. Below 20, I'm on the treadmill unless there's absolutely no wind or I'm not going very far (or running a crazy Turkey Trot race in 10 degree weather like last year). My lungs don't handle the cold air too well with asthma. Over 20 I'm fine. Windchill can adjust the # a bit.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    I don't know what the cutoff is, but I just signed up for my first 5K on Thanksgiving day. Should be around 25 degrees. Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it.
  • josavage
    josavage Posts: 472 Member
    I'm in the Chicago area as well. I ran yesterday and the cold didn't bother me at all. I'm more concerned about ice than I am the cold. I fell on the ice many years ago and broke my ankle. I don't need to do it again so I head to the gym when it's icy outside. I haven't gone out when it's been below zero either. So I guess that is my temperature limit.
  • hannamarie88
    hannamarie88 Posts: 231 Member
    I think because of my asthma anything below 30 is just too cold. It hurts my lungs and after my runs I have coughing spasms for hours. So, I trudge myself to the gym and the treadmill :( Is it spring yet?
  • GiGiBeans
    GiGiBeans Posts: 1,062 Member
    It doesn't get very cold in NYC (20s to 30s) so it all depends on the wind. I ran last year with a ski gator on my face but it was gross by the end of my run - which reminds me I need a windburn solution for this time around!
  • itsmeltc
    itsmeltc Posts: 7 Member
    It's just about reaching 30 F / -1 C here in Stockholm now and I can only go out as long as there is no headwind. Not looking forward to winter!
  • Axe34
    Axe34 Posts: 37 Member
    I just did 21.1K in -2C (-10C with the windchill).

    I wear La Sportiva Wildcat GTXs which are Goretex lined and have lugs on the bottom. They keep my feet toasty.

    The rest of the outfit includes fleece lined tights, two long-sleeved tech shirts and a windproof running jacket. Nike running gloves under a good set of winter gloves, a balavclava, running toque and Oakleys completes the kit. Hardly any skin exposed.

    I'm sure I'll be good in anything up to -30C.
  • DeputySox
    DeputySox Posts: 78
    My cutoff is under 10* and/or ice.
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    I live in California, in the Central Valley, so there is no too cold.
    But, I have lived in Minnesota, Chicago, and Rochester, NY. I don't remember it ever being too cold to run; but I would guess I never went out when it was below 0 degrees F. Yes, the physical exertion keeps your limbs and trunk warm. But I think your ears and nose would get too froze.
  • Nikachelle
    Nikachelle Posts: 66 Member
    -20 C (~ -5F) is about when I'll stop. Generally because if it gets that cold, the wind is pretty bad here in Toronto.
  • soehlerking
    soehlerking Posts: 589 Member
    Call me weak, but I stopped at 30 degrees. I generally have a rule that if I'm honestly not enjoying an activity (not just being challenged, but truly not enjoying it), then I don't have to do it. Also I find it easier to motivate myself to get to the gym than it is to get outdoors when I can barely breathe due to the cold air. I'm using this time to work on strength training, swimming, and general cross-training. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I just didn't give my lungs long enough to adjust. Maybe running in the dark isn't as creepy as I'm making it. But don't feel like you MUST keep running outdoors if you don't want to; if you have another option that you enjoy, maybe switch it up a bit.
  • mjpTennis
    mjpTennis Posts: 6,165 Member
    I really don't have a stop temperature although I hate the wind and its wind chill changes. I was out today at 9 deg F.

    Any colder and I will need to wear something more than shorts to cover my legs.
  • PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot
    PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot Posts: 596 Member
    With the right layers, I can go out as low as ~5F if there's very little wind. Started one today at 19F but pretty solid 30-35mph winds made it feel much more like 1F. Layers help.
  • jeepyj93
    jeepyj93 Posts: 392 Member
    I ran everyday last winter the coldest was -30C I have no idea what that is in F but it is cold. I layer up and put Hot Paws in my mitts and a neck sleeve to pull up on my face and go. I love winter running, use Ice a Grippers for slippery roads and go out.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    20 Fahrenheit. I prefer 30's but down to 20 is ok as long as the wind isn't too bad.
  • hels4397
    hels4397 Posts: 100 Member
    Right now in CT, I won't go any colder than like 30F. As the season goes on, I'll go outside in layers in the teens and 20's as long as there is no wind. I can't do wind when I run during the cold winter.

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