• Ice master
      • Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 10:33AM
      • Ice master
      • Live in northeast

        That time of year

        Looking for ideas to defeat the winter ice cold snow and wind...running only.

        How do you do it?

        How do you make it work for you?

        Tips for cold weather running?

        Ty
    • ooper
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 10:50AM - in reply to Ice master
      • ooper
      • Survived many mitten winters. Ice is your primary enemy. If it's icy and you live urban, you are stuck with a tm.

        All else is ok and even a little fun. Running above 20 is straightforward and only gets iffy if the wind is up (a good windproof jacket is a must, then layer as required). Below 20, you'll be limited by your gloves etc., but runs up to 90mins are doable right down to zero. Below that, it can be tough to get and keep your fingers/toes warm.
    • itdepends
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 10:54AM - in reply to ooper
      • itdepends
      • Everything ooper says.

        I actually like winter running. Get enough varieties of layers and learn how to use them and you find it's actually quite easy to stay comfortable in almost all winter conditions.

        Be flexible with your training. No matter the weather you can usually get easy miles in. So move workouts around as needed. I also like to do more hills, fartlek, longer tempos that aren't as fast (around MP or so). I find that all works better in the winter than really fast stuff or workouts where I need to hit a certain pace.

        I'll also throw out a plug for yaktrax. They clip on over your shoes and work remarkably well in mixed snow/ice conditions.
    • Embrace the winter
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 10:55AM - in reply to Ice master
      • Embrace the winter
      • 1. Get the right clothes. SmartWool socks, light insulating layer, windbreaking layer, gloves/mittens (depending on temp), light wool hat that covers your entire ears. Neck gaiter for those sub-zero days.
        2. Run during the warmest part of the day when you can.
        3. Don't run into the wind for long stretches. Plan your routes to change direction often.
        4. Don't overdress. Dress in layers you can take on and off.
        5. Put screws in your shoes for traction. So much better than other traction methods. (Google it.)
        6. Take longer to warm up.
        7. Embrace the cold. It's not your enemy.

        I'll take a sunny 10F day over a sunny 80F day anytime. Love winter running. (Northern MN native.)
    • necessary evil
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 11:00AM - in reply to Ice master
      • necessary evil
      • Ice master wrote:

        Live in northeast

        That time of year

        Looking for ideas to defeat the winter ice cold snow and wind...running only.

        How do you do it?

        How do you make it work for you?

        Tips for cold weather running?

        Ty

        Hats and gloves are a must, duh. Keep an under shirt tucked in, pair of long johns are amazing too for keeping body warmth. Getting out the door is the hardest part. Take that first mile or 2 easy, let your body warm up, by 5k-4 miles in, the temps are irrelevant. If the conditions are too tough, aka very windy on top of the cold, don't force any intervals or tempos, just get the time on feet, live to see another day. Tis the season!
    • satan 2
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 11:22AM - in reply to ooper
      • satan 2
      • If it's icey and you don't live urban, what do you do?

        Do you go out into a farm field where there's snow with some snowshoes and stomp down a track?
    • Embrace the winter
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 11:25AM - in reply to satan 2
      • Embrace the winter
      • satan 2 wrote:

        If it's icey and you don't live urban, what do you do?

        Do you go out into a farm field where there's snow with some snowshoes and stomp down a track?

        Or you could just get some running snowshoes. Hell of a workout. There's a national championship 10K for snowshoe running, which I'm sure most LRers would dominate. ;)
    • dingle
      registered
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 11:28AM - in reply to Embrace the winter
      • dingle
        registered
      • Embrace the winter wrote:

        1. Get the right clothes. SmartWool socks, light insulating layer, windbreaking layer, gloves/mittens (depending on temp), light wool hat that covers your entire ears. Neck gaiter for those sub-zero days.
        2. Run during the warmest part of the day when you can.
        3. Don't run into the wind for long stretches. Plan your routes to change direction often.
        4. Don't overdress. Dress in layers you can take on and off.
        5. Put screws in your shoes for traction. So much better than other traction methods. (Google it.)
        6. Take longer to warm up.
        7. Embrace the cold. It's not your enemy.

        I'll take a sunny 10F day over a sunny 80F day anytime. Love winter running. (Northern MN native.)

        Mostly agree with this, but emphasize that a lot of this can be done on the cheap-- don't feel like you have to spend a ton of money on windbreaking layers-- cheap rain gear works really well, heavy wool socks are great mitten replacements. I've always been fine with no-name wool socks.
    • manualf150
      registered
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 11:32AM - in reply to Ice master
      • manualf150
        registered
      • I run 95% of the year outside. I'm way up and up in the New Yorkistan.

        My typical wintry day is 15F-30F. I wear a tshirt, longsleeve, with a very light running jacket, tights, running undies, mittens/gloves, and thermal socks.

        I got some nice warm thermal tights that are very thick for them below zero days.

        As for ice, I made my own studded shoes using 3/8" self tapping hex sheet metal screws. I do that same pattern you'd find on spikes, but also including the heel.
    • Ice master
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 11:38AM - in reply to manualf150
      • Ice master
      • Running with screws on soles of shoes

        What happens when you get on regular pavement with no snow or ice or go inside??

        Work?
        Wreck floors?
    • Motivator
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 11:44AM - in reply to Ice master
      • Motivator
      • From a motivational standpoint. On those days when the wind chill is below zero and I really want to stay inside, I tell myself "A lot of the people I'm going to be racing in the spring are taking today off. Today I get better and they don't"

        I started telling myself that a couple years ago and it's worked wonders, I look forward to crappy weather now.
    • Seb Coe
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 11:49AM - in reply to Motivator
      • Seb Coe
      • Motivator wrote:

        From a motivational standpoint. On those days when the wind chill is below zero and I really want to stay inside, I tell myself "A lot of the people I'm going to be racing in the spring are taking today off. Today I get better and they don't"

        I started telling myself that a couple years ago and it's worked wonders, I look forward to crappy weather now.

        It was a harsh winter (harsh enough to bring down a government) but I ran 12 miles on Christmas morning. It was a hard session and I got home, showered and felt pretty happy with what I had done.

        Later that afternoon, sitting back after Christmas lunch, I began to feel uneasy but was not quite sure why. Suddenly it dawned on me. I thought: "I bet [Steve] Ovett's out there doing his second training session of the day." I put the kit back on, faced the snow and ice and did a second training session. I ran several miles, including some hill work.

        Not long ago, over supper in Melbourne, I told him the story. He laughed. 'Did you only go out twice that day?' he asked.
    • manualf150
      registered
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 11:51AM - in reply to Ice master
      • manualf150
        registered
      • Ice master wrote:

        Running with screws on soles of shoes

        What happens when you get on regular pavement with no snow or ice or go inside??

        Work?
        Wreck floors?

        I only wear these modified shoes when conditions permit, and of course not inside a building (unless I wanted to be a complete prick to the owner).

        Does less damage than spikes, but does do lots of damage to hardwood.

        Although, a while back when I was doing this one construction job, I got 1/4" spikes and drilled holes in my work boots then got rubber cement and cemented spikes into my boots. Works VERY well!

        Yes, it does wreck floors and I MEAN wrecks them.

        I walked across a gym floor that was freshly refinished and man, did they do a job to it. Even tile gets scratches and chunks taken out with spikes.
    • hank jr
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 12:29PM - in reply to dingle
      • hank jr
      • Embrace the winter wrote:

        1. Get the right clothes. SmartWool socks, light insulating layer, windbreaking layer, gloves/mittens (depending on temp), light wool hat that covers your entire ears. Neck gaiter for those sub-zero days.
        2. Run during the warmest part of the day when you can.
        3. Don't run into the wind for long stretches. Plan your routes to change direction often.
        4. Don't overdress. Dress in layers you can take on and off.
        5. Put screws in your shoes for traction. So much better than other traction methods. (Google it.)
        6. Take longer to warm up.
        7. Embrace the cold. It's not your enemy.

        I'll take a sunny 10F day over a sunny 80F day anytime. Love winter running. (Northern MN native.)

        Great tips, I would add

        8. don't be discouraged by slower timers, it is what it is, effort is what matters
        9. assuming it stays cold, trails are actually great a day or two after a snowstorm. where I live, people pack them down with skis and snowshoes, leaving a decent surface to run on. Its pretty nice to run through a pine forest right after it snows, its eerily quiet.
    • thought you could figure this out, but
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 12:39PM - in reply to Ice master
      • thought you could figure this out, but
      • Ice master wrote:

        Running with screws on soles of shoes

        What happens when you get on regular pavement with no snow or ice or go inside??

        Work?
        Wreck floors?

        You don't wear them inside the house or at work. You only wear them running.
    • Shots of whiskey, and rye
    • Embrace the winter
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 1:16PM - in reply to Seb Coe
      • Embrace the winter
      • Seb Coe wrote:

        Motivator wrote:

        From a motivational standpoint. On those days when the wind chill is below zero and I really want to stay inside, I tell myself "A lot of the people I'm going to be racing in the spring are taking today off. Today I get better and they don't"

        I started telling myself that a couple years ago and it's worked wonders, I look forward to crappy weather now.

        It was a harsh winter (harsh enough to bring down a government) but I ran 12 miles on Christmas morning. It was a hard session and I got home, showered and felt pretty happy with what I had done.

        Later that afternoon, sitting back after Christmas lunch, I began to feel uneasy but was not quite sure why. Suddenly it dawned on me. I thought: "I bet [Steve] Ovett's out there doing his second training session of the day." I put the kit back on, faced the snow and ice and did a second training session. I ran several miles, including some hill work.

        Not long ago, over supper in Melbourne, I told him the story. He laughed. 'Did you only go out twice that day?' he asked.

        I was having breakfast with my wife at a small cafe up in Duluth, MN. The temp outside was -10F and the wind was blowing. Brrrr. I was complaining - whining, really - about getting in a long run in the cold. Right then two ladies in their 60s came jogging past the cafe window, chatting away like it was just another day. My wife gave me a look that just screamed "You're such a wuss". Ugh. I had no choice but to get my fat butt out there. Living this far south in Wisconsin makes a man soft, you know.
    • DGL54
      registered
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 1:43PM - in reply to Ice master
      • DGL54
        registered
      • Canadian runner here. You will need to layer - base, mid and outer that consists of a shell jacket. No cotton.
        I wear smart wool above ankle socks and regular running shoes.
        Wear a warm running hat and mitts - gloves in very cold weather won't work well. On the coldest of days, wear a warm polertec inner mitt and a shell mitt on the outside. Also, on the cold days, wear a balaclava.
        Make sure your running pants are warm and wear insulated running underwear to protect your family jewels. The pain of frostbite on those is indescribable.
    • Ice master
      • RE: Cold wintery running: how to make it bareable survivable? 11/16/2018 3:12PM - in reply to DGL54
      • Ice master
      • FYI got dehydrated one time running at 5:00 am in Vermont

        Forgot to drink water that morning after waking up

        Like 10 below or something ridiculous

        My hat came off one ear

        Got so swollen after running just that ear

        Nurse told me blood doesn’t circulate well without fluids