What bugs you about cold weather running?

"Cold" is different to all of us.  Mark ran in 20 degree weather this morning and Jerry is lazily threatening to not run Dallas on Sunday because it's too cold.

So that gave me the idea for this thread (insulin spike caused it).

What is the most difficult part of your body to keep warm during a run?
What don't you like about running in the cold OR what do you like about running in the cold?
What is your most needed cold weather gear?

Let's discuss.

Ugh it's below zero windchill here now and it just seems hard overall to relax and enjoy running when it is so cold. My least fav. part is probably breathing because I have cold/exercise induced asthma. I have a face thing now that covers my mouth but I just don't enjoy below zero. The wind can get very fierce, too. But if my husband can bike to work in it I should be able to run in it.

Don't oversell my 20 degrees, Ounce. It gets a LOT colder in other parts of the country, especially when you throw in wind chill.

The trickiest part for me is figuring out how many layers to wear. If you overdress, you get sweaty, which then sucks the heat out of you. Unfun. But you generally need extra insulation and - very important - something that stops the wind. I generally hate wearing stocking caps, but they do a good job of keeping the tips of your ears from freezing off, so I wear one when it gets far enough below freezing to matter.

To answer your questions, though:

What is the most difficult part of your body to keep warm during a run? The face. I'm glad I don't live someplace cold enough where that's a big problem, because most things that keep the face warm also interfere with breathing.

What do you like about running in the cold? When it's cold - subfreezing - it's dry. That's easier to handle and a lot more pleasant than the hypothermia-inducing situation that can develop when it's 38-40, windy and raining. 

What is your most needed cold weather gear? Layers, including something to block wind.

My hands and my head.  My hands are always cold and I have tried all sorts of gloves and even hand warmers.  My head is cold to start usually, but a winter hat generally gets me overheated fast and I get icicles on my hair from sweat.

6 AM

5^°
Partly Cloudy
FEELS LIKE: -8° HUMIDITY: 60% PRECIP: 0% WIND:N at 9
my forecast for tomorrow morning.

hands are hard for me and I struggle with dressing warmly enough without getting sweaty.

Today it was 18F, completely overcast, with a 14mph wind. I wore my compression socks, running pants (not tights), a long sleeve tech shirt, a light running jacket, a balaclava, sunglasses, and gloves. the hardest thing to keep warm is my nose! I forgot to bring vasoline to put in my locker at work. When it's this cold, I put a light layer of vasoline on exposed skin and it does wonders...

Running in the cold doesn't really bother me too much. I can always layer up... but when it's 102F in the summer, there's only so much I can take off...

I cannot get my hands warm and most of the time my fingers go numb no matter what I wear.  It becomes annoying when I'm going real long and want to take a S-Cap out of a baggie and can't even open the baggie without using my teeth.

In training, I do what I have to do. This is within the content that there are very limited cold days in Texas.

My fear of cold weather is most for race:

1. It's just not physically and mentally comfortable for me, maybe because I always live in the south and hot areas, in both China and America.

2. I will pee more.

3. Because of my background, I don't have race gears, like tights etc, for cold weather, and don't really know what to wear etc. 

I've decided to put the top priority on keeping my body warm on Sunday. So if it rains, I will wear my running rain jacket. This is the biggest mistake I made to myself two years ago.

But I am talking about upper 20. Many years ago, I did a 15k at 19 degree, and don't know if I can handle it.

What is the most difficult part of your body to keep warm during a run?
--I agree with Julie re the breathing thing. If it's colder than about 20 degrees, it really does a number on my lungs and makes it difficult for me to run and recover. Otherwise, the cold weather doesn't bother me much, as I can just layer up.

What don't you like about running in the cold OR what do you like about running in the cold?
--I'm ok with it except that cold + water = ice. I have real problems running on anything that interferes with my traction, especially given the hilly terrain in these parts. It's a real problem in the winter, as is the sand/salt that collects on the road and creates its own problem when the ice has gone away.

What is your most needed cold weather gear?
--I have some cold weather gear that is just perfect. Had it for a few years now, and I just about wear it out in the winter. Couldn't get by without it. It's black, but now is starting to look a little grey, it's so worn...

1. What is the most difficult part of your body to keep warm during a run?
I guess my feet are the most difficult to keep warm especially when its wet out.  I have friends that run without socks and they claim while running in cold and wet conditions on the trail that their feet stay warm while my feet freeze with socks. I think that while running in cold and wet conditions your choices are to keep your feet dry with a waterproof material or go sockless (i'm yet to try this).

I know many people struggle with keeping their hands warm in really cold conditions.  When it's really cold I simply wear a pair of medium weight winter gloves.  It works like a charm and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

My goto outfit is to wear a double layer of technical long sleeve shirts, gloves and a thin headband.  The double layer is pretty versatile since you can always take one off and tie it around your waist.  I'll vary the weight of the long sleeve shirts depending on just how cold it is.  I wear shorts if it's close to 30 or above and tights or track pants otherwise.    

2. What don't you like about running in the cold OR what do you like about running in the cold?
I think the slick and icy conditions are the most difficult winter problem.  The second most problematic weather is when it's just above freezing and raining.  That's the only time I'll wear a waterproof jacket.

3. What is your most needed cold weather gear?
Headgear, gloves and wool socks.

Then there's this: Frozen Boogers

I have always been generally fine with running in cold weather. I don't get any of the breathing issues that a lot of other people experience.  My biggest complaint is getting cold enough or wind chapped enough that the skin turns red when it warms up afterward, which is uncomfortable in the shower. I also find that my feet are the hardest to keep warm for the first few miles. For the rest of me, I usually wear layers and just take stuff off as needed. For my hands I have Brooks mittens that flip open at the top. They are very warm for the first few miles, then when they get too warm, I flip the top back and that cools things off. I often run most of my run with the top flipped back. It seems to keep things at just the right temperature. 


What I don't like is running in snow, ice, or cold rain. I have Gortex for that stuff, but I usually just go run indoors when it is wet out.

The hardest part of my body to keep warm is definitely my hands.  I've solved most of the issues by double gloving and that really seems to work pretty well when it does get pretty cold, which isn't all that often around here.

One of the worst runs in the cold that I've had wasn't even really that cold, but it started snowing heavily about halfway through a 10 miler and I ended up soaked from sweat on the inside and snow on the outside.  I was pretty miserable by the end.  It was much worse than the coldest run I've ever done where it was 8 degrees when I started a 13 miler along the path by the Rock River in Rockford.  

The worst part of cold weather for me isn't even the cold, it's the fact that it's dark all the damn time.  I hate not being able to run outside other than on the weekends.

What is the most difficult part of your body to keep warm during a run?
- I would have to say my nose and cheeks.  They are normally the only areas that I can't cover.

What don't you like about running in the cold OR what do you like about running in the cold?
- I don't like that I have to put a ton of clothes on. It takes extra time to get ready.  Also, with the cold comes snow and that can prohibit me from running at all.
- I like the fact that I don't sweat as much.  Which means that I don't dehydrate as fast.

What is your most needed cold weather gear?
- Running tights

mul21 wrote:  

The worst part of cold weather for me isn't even the cold, it's the fact that it's dark all the damn time.  I hate not being able to run outside other than on the weekends.

Same here. I run inside a lot in winter, not because of cold but because of lack of light. I have particular difficulty seeing in poor light and using a headlamp doesn't cut it for me.

I don't mind the cold or the dark. Its ice which can be lethal as there are spots that you can't see even with a headlamp. I find running in the winter a challenge and love the challenge of getting up at 5am  admittedly most of me workouts are inside in winter unless it's not too bad  out ie icy or misty,foggy. I find that doing cardio and flexibility exercises help and when the spring arrives I'll be able to go for longer runs and enjoy them. It's mind over matter with most of  running when you do a marathon its pretty much 40/60 mind plays tricks

I've run in below-freezing (~25-30F) in shorts, a t-shirt, arm warmers, and gloves.  That seems to be good enough for those temps for me.  

Cycling is another story.  My hands freeze first, then after about 30min it's my feet.  They never warm up, despite having shoe covers and SmartWool socks.

For me, it's my hands.  A real toss up between too hot and too cold. I've found some wind mittens that are light and surprisingly just perfect for about 16 degrees and above.  The other hard thing for me is that my eyes start to water when there is a wind chill and this likes to freeze up too.

The best part of running in the cold is that if I'm dressed correctly, there is a good chance for a PR.  I'm definitely a cold weather runner.

Snotsicles rule the day on a windy below freezing day.

I have a half marathon next Sunday here in Indy, so we'll see how it all works out.

carleenp wrote: For my hands I have Brooks mittens that flip open at the top. They are very warm for the first few miles, then when they get too warm, I flip the top back and that cools things off. I often run most of my run with the top flipped back. It seems to keep things at just the right temperature. 

That reminded me of a pair of flip top wool gloves I had used on a hike in Yosemite.  I wore them today in our 36 degree weather with wind and they worked great.  Thanks for the reminder.

Mr. happy. Now I have some little wind breaker unies to help.

Mike MacLellan wrote:I've run in below-freezing (~25-30F) in shorts, a t-shirt, arm warmers, and gloves.  That seems to be good enough for those temps for me.  

Cycling is another story.  My hands freeze first, then after about 30min it's my feet.  They never warm up, despite having shoe covers and SmartWool socks.

When it's that cold I usually stick to the mountain bike and wear winter boots and goretex mittens.

layers - if I get it right I love running in the cold
wind - ugh - makes layering harder
ice/snow on the ground - don't mind running in the snow, just not on it.  Too many slips and falls.  Hate it if my feet get wet and then cold.
dark - prefer the daylight

Generally speaking I like running in the cold.  beats 90 degree plus anyday.