Is 20 degrees way too cold to run? If not, what's the threshold?

I've run in -17F before when I lived in MN with no problem except I hated it because I'm from southern California! There's no scientific basis for hurting your lungs running in cold weather. I routinely ran in -0F temps, and never got sick. There was no treadmill available to me. You'll be fine. It just sux wearing so many layers. I'm a summer no-shirt kinda guy.

KillerD wrote:

I'm going to St. Louis for MLK weekend and it's supposed to be ~20 degrees F the whole time I'm there. My parents won't let me run outside because it's "too cold" and I'll get frostbite or pneumonia or some sh*t like that. I'm genuinely confused because they let me run in 30 degree weather last week and I was fine. Do you guys only run on the treadmill once the temperature reaches 20 degrees b/c of the risk of frostbite or pneumonia? If not, then at what temperature would you go inside?

Sincerely,

A very frustrated runner

Come on, I live in Northern Europe and this morning I did 1:45 hr 15 mile long run in minus 10 Celsius (~10 Fahrenheit). Never had any cold or anything due to minus temperature weather. However I wore 2 pairs of gloves, 2 hats and 3 layers of shirts but only one layer for legs. Felt quite comfortable all the way.

I hate running on treadmill and I have run long runs even in -15 C (~5 F) and easy runs up to -20 C (-5 F).

One thing for sure, you must get used to running in cold weather gradually. If you go from 60 F to 10 F next day, expect some problems with lungs

Saying you did a single run or skied in low temps is not a big deal but long term repeated exposure really does scar the lungs.

Tissue biopsies show this.

But it's not base type work that will do this. You need to be racing or doing hard reps to have this happen.

I ran with my six year old in a stroller at 5f yesterday, no problem. I’ve run at -25f this year and that was also fine......actually better than 35 and raining.

A few tips:

-Buy Gorilla Tape and put it on inside your pants over your penis area, on the mesh over your toes if your are wearing a normal running shoe and on a balaclava over the ear area, or where a hat on top so ears are double covered.

-Wear a traction aid or get small screws with hex heads and put them into your shoe so the head sticks out the sole and bites.

-Try to run wind sheltered routes or always begin into the wind and finish with a tain wind, or change directions frequently so you don’t get warm enough to sweat much.

Read Bill Rodgers 1975 log, and get out and run.

KillerD wrote:

I'm going to St. Louis for MLK weekend and it's supposed to be ~20 degrees F the whole time I'm there. My parents won't let me run outside because it's "too cold" and I'll get frostbite or pneumonia or some sh*t like that. I'm genuinely confused because they let me run in 30 degree weather last week and I was fine. Do you guys only run on the treadmill once the temperature reaches 20 degrees b/c of the risk of frostbite or pneumonia? If not, then at what temperature would you go inside?

Sincerely,

A very frustrated runner

Stop being a wimp and run in it. Americans are coddled babies.

I ran in New England over the break in temps from 20s down to below zero. Prior to the sun coming up it was cold when it was windy. I went up to 2 hrs plus each day and couldn't run fast because my calf started to get tight on day one.

I had at first a thin running hat, short sleeve and long sleeve shirts, a medium light running jacket, very thin running pants, and no gloves.

When it was below zero or around zero, plus windy and prior to sunup, I was very cold even with a thicker hat and medium thick sweat pants, and instead of just closing my sleeves around my hands, wore thick winter socks on my hands as mittens as well. For socks, I just had normal socks, one or two pair. When I added a scarf, it wasn't bad, but without the scarf it was bad on my face and maybe had minor frostbite, but with a few miles left on the return, I would actually be a bit too warm and sometimes took off my hat at that point.

Modern running gear has killed the ability for people to train in cold. Too busy looking pretty.

Completely cover up and don't be so scared to overheat despite the cold.

http://www.racingpast.ca/uploads/htrain2.jpeg

Ok guys I did a 90 minute long run at 6:30 pace earlier today. It was 20-25 degrees and snowed the entire time. Tbh it wasn't bad at all even though I didn't have the best gear (I'm poor). I wore three shirts, sweatpants, beanie, some of my sister's gloves, sunglasses, two layers of socks, SHOES, and something over my face (idk what it's called). And I'm from somewhere in the "Deep South".

This is main problem. I can run in cold but most runs being pretty pointless. I can't get warmed up enough to run proper pace.

Fjdhdhdhd wrote:

theJeff wrote:

Serious reply: -18 is the threshold where you can start to do damage to your lungs. Warmer than that, the main issue would be icy surfaces and appropriate clothing.

Damage lungs? I have ran in much collder than -18 and this is the first i'm hearing of this

I did 16 miles yesterday at that temperature. My lungs are fine.

Temp doesn't matter wrote:

KillerD wrote:

I'm going to St. Louis for MLK weekend and it's supposed to be ~20 degrees F the whole time I'm there. My parents won't let me run outside because it's "too cold" and I'll get frostbite or pneumonia or some sh*t like that. I'm genuinely confused because they let me run in 30 degree weather last week and I was fine. Do you guys only run on the treadmill once the temperature reaches 20 degrees b/c of the risk of frostbite or pneumonia? If not, then at what temperature would you go inside?

Sincerely,

A very frustrated runner

Stop being a wimp and run in it. Americans are coddled babies.

Why are ppl on letsrun assholes?

Moo Goo wrote:

This is main problem. I can run in cold but most runs being pretty pointless. I can't get warmed up enough to run proper pace.

Stay out longer and gradually increase your effort. You'll be fine.

20 degrees is fine as many have said. Word of warning though, be careful with wind chill. I live in Michigan which can get quite cold. It is really no big deal but if its windy make sure you have some sort of wind breaking pants or some warm underwear. I went out for a run in just some insulated running tights when it was windy and by mile 3 my man bits were so cold it started to hurt. Finished the run with my hand in my pants terrified I was going to get frost bite where you don't want frostbite.

Watchthemanbits wrote:

20 degrees is fine as many have said. Word of warning though, be careful with wind chill. I live in Michigan which can get quite cold. It is really no big deal but if its windy make sure you have some sort of wind breaking pants or some warm underwear. I went out for a run in just some insulated running tights when it was windy and by mile 3 my man bits were so cold it started to hurt. Finished the run with my hand in my pants terrified I was going to get frost bite where you don't want frostbite.

Ummm, do most wives know about, you know.... shrinkage?

I will say I hate running in any weather below 45 F, I'd rather run when it's 100 F then when it's 25 F (maybe that's why I'm not that good). Either way, running in cold temps will build mental toughness if you don't have it, but physically it doesn't do much for the body, as many muscles don't function at a high level below certain temperatures. Your body focuses on mantaining homeostasis rather than your workout.

I would say the rule of thumb is be sure you can feel comfortable with the temperature, I know I can wear 3-4 layers and 2 pairs of gloves and I'm still absolutely miserable when it's 15-20 F but some people run in shorts when it's nearly 0 and feel great. If you feel like you can't get anything out of running outside, such as in order to improve, then head inside.

Lots of places also have indoor tracks you can consider as well if the dreadmill is too awful for you

Exactly that and my hands and feet go numb from my reynauds. Unless I'm doing road races, I spend PA winters on the dreadmill

Runs like 29's at a crappy college wrote:

, but physically it doesn't do much for the body, as many muscles don't function at a high level below certain temperatures. Your body focuses on mantaining homeostasis rather than your workout.

This would be why the training effect is enhanced then. If you are forcing your body to work it gets more out of it than it does by working with less effort.

I am always fitter after a winter of slogging than a summer of floating along.

KillerD wrote:

Ok guys I did a 90 minute long run at 6:30 pace earlier today. It was 20-25 degrees and snowed the entire time. Tbh it wasn't bad at all even though I didn't have the best gear (I'm poor). I wore three shirts, sweatpants, beanie, some of my sister's gloves, sunglasses, two layers of socks, SHOES, and something over my face (idk what it's called). And I'm from somewhere in the "Deep South".

Nice running man! You beat me by a few minutes as I only did 80 at around 7 minute pace.

Hope you had some fun and now know a bit more about what you're capable of.

As for gear, don't worry about it too much. I've got nicer stuff now, but I'm a working adult. In HS all I had were sweatpants and long sleeve shirts and hooded sweatshirts. Maybe not the best, but it totally got the job done. Dress in layers an you'll be good.