I don't care what next week looks like. I've been there done that. If you are going to look up stats, look them up historically.
http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/coldest.php
Interesting that Gunnison has been the coldest place in the country that many times since 2005, yet isn't on the top list for most days under freezing.
Anyways, depending on which state you think favors your opinion, it better be on one of these graphs.
I spent the coldest winter in Alamosa almost 30 years ago and I am from the midwest. What was different about Alamosa is that the temps can really vary from morning to afternoon. It seemed like every afternoon was bright and sunny and it wasn't that bad if you ran then. It didn't snow much either so the footing was pretty good. I would run in shorts down to about 35°. Even 10° or 15° didn't feel that bad.
stat*
Alaska Fairbanks, if they have one.
Don't be fooled by extreme numbers. I'll take -5 and sunny and windless over upper-30's and wind-driven rain any day. Which opens up the clammy, wet and windy winters in the NW for discussion.
The Dakota's are the coldest. Ran in -25 last week.
I hardly recall any wind in the northwest. Any season. A couple wind storms a year, but that was in the sticks for a couple hours at most.
Tempe in 60s to 70s all winter long. That's pretty extreme if you ask me.
Definitely Montana or North Dakota. On warm days (mid teens) they get sustained winds around 20. Calm days, temps hardly pop into the positives. And snow is always on the ground making each stride that much harder and change your form that much more.
As far as lake effect conditions, Northwestern (as someone stated) is not that bad. South Bend, buffalo or Syracuse receive much more lake effect.
Right now it's 40/rain and 17 mph w/gusts to 30
lady vengeance wrote:
I hardly recall any wind in the northwest. Any season. A couple wind storms a year, but that was in the sticks for a couple hours at most.
Runners who brave these artic conditions do it to toughen themselves up for harsh xc racing!
Builds the real athletes and makes champions of the few that continue and survive!
If you can mentally cope with the pain you can deal with anything.
Its character building and sorts the men out from the boys-bring it on!
Ever tried to run in Plattsburgh, NY in the winter?
ITS UP THERE. Trust me.
University of Buffalo fricken miserable right on the lake
wyoming
Having attended college in Ann Arbor, spent the last 10 years in Minneapolis, and relocated to Colorado, I would say that hands down MN is the worst. A unique combo of high humidity, high winds, and bitter cold combine with constantly poor footing to make high level training nearly impossible on a lot of days. You have ice on the ground from November through April.
Colorado (even Gunnison and Alamosa) has dry cold which isn't even in the same ballpark. The thermostat may say 10 degrees but the solar radiation makes it feel much warmer. Plus everything melts off the roads very quickly.
I would also have to give a nod to ND and SD. Truly miserable there.
Saturday Morning Drunk wrote:
Definitely Montana or North Dakota. On warm days (mid teens) they get sustained winds around 20. Calm days, temps hardly pop into the positives. And snow is always on the ground making each stride that much harder and change your form that much more.
As far as lake effect conditions, Northwestern (as someone stated) is not that bad. South Bend, buffalo or Syracuse receive much more lake effect.
Interesting that you say that. Winter weather patterns tend to flow in a southeasterly direction (maybe not New England) but most of the country. which is why western Michigan gets more snow than Chicago or Milwaukee.
I think you have to be innovative running in cold weather climes...like running at lunchtime.
edinboro, pa
Stanford has it pretty bad.
university of minnesota-duluth
/thread
BS. Everyone wants to believe that running in the cold makes you tough, running in -30 degree weather might make you a little tough, but overall it makes you f***** slow. Ever tried running indoors nationals after running in the -30's for a couple of weeks?