Ranking of worst conditions for running

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

Basically what I am reading is that any run that is not done when it is from 51 to 55 degrees outside, less than 30% humidity, little to no wind, mostly cloudy, and off pavement is the worst conditions for running.

Damn, you're a downer. It's just not the *best* outside of that. You've taken the list on less preferable (ranked) and come out with ideal conditions. Are you mad that people have ideal conditions?

You Know What I'm Sayin' wrote:

SprintTriathlon wrote:

Any wind at 100 feet, on pavement that is not freshly paved and someone trying to draft off you.

Given your screenname, I fixed your post for you.

Good one.

Actually I have never done a triathlon, (screenname about what I wish to do, but I just hate biking, so not much progress), and I am norwegian, so I have had my turns of week-and monthlong lonely mountainadventures, but never close to a volcano though!

+

Also I have been a shepherd in the mountains for three seasons, a lot of sleet and wind!

Air pollution is bad. Heavy smog or smoke is the worst.

Humidity is no big deal. It gets a lot of play on LRC, but I enjoy running in humid conditions.

85 degrees and dry is NOT what I would consider hot. Temps over 100 are hot. Try running in Phoenix in the summer when it gets to 115 degrees.

I'd change the order a bit...

1. Air pollution

2. High humidity

3. Strong wind

4. High temperature

5. Snow/ice

6. Rain

7. Low temperature

The wildfires can send thick smoke for 100s of miles around and it can be miserable. I remember one in northern California when I was in high school that was so bad you really couldn't run outside.

That was by far the worst and any normal air pollution I've experienced would fall in a completely different category.

The next worst to me is the cold cold rain and wind in the mid 30s. Would much rather run in sub freezing weather than cold windy rain. Ice would be the worst but I don't even consider that runable.

Freezing rain atop 6 or so inch snowfall, prior to road clearing.

You can't run on the roads or you'll die. You can't run on sidewalks, because you'll die. You can't run off road, because with every step you'll crash through ice and six inches of snow, destroying your knees and ankles, and also begin bleeding.

Then there's winds of 70 mph, lightning, and hail.

I've lived in Florida, and the summers DO suck. But all year sucks in the Midwest. The 8 or so Chamber of Commerce days you get don't make up for the 357 sheeeiiit days you also have.

Come & try to run in Malta around July/August.. you'll die either roasted or else dehydrated..

40 degrees celcius with 95% humidity rate.

Lots of days in the Midwest wrote:

Freezing rain atop 6 or so inch snowfall, prior to road clearing.

You can't run on the roads or you'll die. You can't run on sidewalks, because you'll die. You can't run off road, because with every step you'll crash through ice and six inches of snow, destroying your knees and ankles, and also begin bleeding.

Then there's winds of 70 mph, lightning, and hail.

I've lived in Florida, and the summers DO suck. But all year sucks in the Midwest. The 8 or so Chamber of Commerce days you get don't make up for the 357 sheeeiiit days you also have.

Then please tell me how so many schools in the Midwest are able to produce so many great runners. The Midwest still has many runnable days.

RunrCA56 wrote:

Top of the list would probably be freezing temperatures followed very closely by pouring rain. Doing a run soaking wet is the worst.

The impact of rain varies so much depending on temperature and wind. I think everyone agrees that 35, rain, and wind is the worst or close to it. But some of my favorite runs have been calm winds, anywhere from 55-75 degrees, and steady rain. Get out on a nice trail, no one around, and just enjoy the refreshing feeling.

reer wrote:

RunrCA56 wrote:

Top of the list would probably be freezing temperatures followed very closely by pouring rain. Doing a run soaking wet is the worst.

The impact of rain varies so much depending on temperature and wind. I think everyone agrees that 35, rain, and wind is the worst or close to it. But some of my favorite runs have been calm winds, anywhere from 55-75 degrees, and steady rain. Get out on a nice trail, no one around, and just enjoy the refreshing feeling.

Yeah, have to third that heavy rain in the 30s is the worst condition to run in.

High winds are just annoying. High humidity to me is also just annoying, but you can deal with it by slowing down. I have yet to figure out how to conquer being out in 35, heavy rain, and wind.

It is actually very easy to run in air pollution... Anyone who complains otherwise is either asthmatic or suffering severely from placebo...

1. Air pollution

2. High temperatures

3. Humidity

4. Hail

5. Heavy cold rain with wind

1. Air pollution - I've run in forest fire smoke because I was dumb. Don't do it.

2. Hard rain in the 30's

3. Soft rain int he 30's

3. High humidity heat

4. Combination of Ice and Dark

5. Super low sub-freezing temps (wind chill at least below 0 F)

6. High dry heat (high 80's or greater F)

Warmer rain is pleasant to run in (honestly, one of the best running conditions), snow is fun to run in (if it's not a workout), wind is pleasant to run in if it's not also really cold, mild dry heat (75-85F) is pleasant to run in if there are places to get drinks on the route, high humidity in the 70's (temp, not dew point) is also fine.

Other than air pollution, cold rain and high humidity heat are easily the worst. I'll take -15 F with proper attire any day over either of those.

Worst conditions I ever ran in was along the Texas coast in June and there were forest fires in Mexico that were blowing smoke up the coast that made the particulate levels just plain miserable. Heat, humidity and smoke all in one. Have also run in -29 degree cold. Definitely preferred the cold. Fresh deep snow can also be a real challenge. Less likely to fall and hurt yourself than ice, but a heck of a workout.

Tough Running wrote:

reer wrote:

Move high wind way up to #4, ahead of snow. Would you rather run in 60 degrees, dry, and 40 mph winds, or 30 degrees, sunny, and calm? Or even 30, calm, and light snow?

Also air pollution has never been an issue that's even occurred to me. Where are you running, Beijing?

Ever experienced wildfires in the West? You're probably from some sort of Eastern state where people have good land management skills.

They probably rake their forests and stuff.

RAT FARTS!

Coyote Montane wrote:

Try -40 and get back to us. Lived in Alaska for more than decade and we'd get -40s and -50s every year. Forest fires and very bad air quality were part of summer. We'd get it so bad you couldn't see across the street and PM in the 200s.

Just saying it's all amount of degree and depends, so ranking is nearly impossible. Doing a workout in midst of a hurricane or tornado would not be pleasant, would it?

WARNING: There are conditions where/when you absolutely should not run!!!

I've ran for almost 50 years now. I've never ran in a Tornado, or Hurricane. We do not have those often in our

state thankfully.

I know that you can buy spikes for shoes to run on ice. But if you don't have that, do not try to run on ice!

When you are young you think you can eat lightning and poop thunder. However it can also get you killed,

paralyzed or get you injured so bad you never run again. Always check conditions before you run.

If you have ice and it snows over it, you may not be able to run for weeks. Accept it.

Beware the parking lot.

Running in traffic is also a BAD idea! Dying is not good for your health.

air pollution and really bad ice are probably the only 2 things that would stop me from running. Also, because most of my runs outdoors are on trails, ice on trails is usually post holed like crazy and can be nearly impossible to actually run on. When a run no longer is running, that is one of the worst conditions for running as far as I am concerned. Humidity/high heat is bothersome and will require you to slow down and sure you could get heat stroke but it is easier to manage IMO than ice that can kill you.