What sub zero temperature do you stop going out for you run

docLorna wrote:

It is -16(feels like -25)Celsius today, I still run. It’s not super comfortable but I don’t feel it is dangerous for my health. What about you guys?

For my USA friends, -16c = 3.2f. And with the wind -25c = -13f

I've never found a temperature so low that I didn't run in it. But I've never lived anywhere that -0 F was common. I think -7 F is my personal record.

America's fury wrote:

I've done -20 something with wind chill in the -50s (F) here in Chicago. As long as you're dressed properly (with a mask) there's no reason not to log a few miles. Unless it's icy as others have said.

You mention a mask, is it a particular mask? I’m asking because the cold on my body is fine, it’s breathing the cold air that makes it difficult for me. I cover my mouth but it always feels like my breath is short and my heart rate goes up.

I was in Jackson, Wy for a couple weeks earlier this winter and there was a stretch of maybe 5 days where it got down to around -10/-15 F. I think the coldest temp I actually ran in was -8 F. It wasn't that bad, but bear in mind that Jackson, especially on really cold mornings, tends to be virtually windless. If there had been even a 10 mph breeze I definitely wouldn't have run.

It depends on the environment I live in. If I lived where it routinely got below zero, maybe negative 20. If I live where zero is super rare, maybe at zero I'd use a treadmill. Where I live now, the coldest I've seen is 38 at dawn, I'd probably run in that because I have clothes and experience for it but if there were like a freak 20 degree day, maybe I'd use the treadmill.

Almost every run outside mentally feels better than getting on the treadmill. I don't know how northerners stand long winters where the trails and bikepaths are cover in ice and snow.

docLorna wrote:

You mention a mask, is it a particular mask? I’m asking because the cold on my body is fine, it’s breathing the cold air that makes it difficult for me. I cover my mouth but it always feels like my breath is short and my heart rate goes up.

I'm sure you know this but you need to be careful with that.

Wind is a big factor for me. I live in Chicago and own a treadmill but prefer to run outside. -15F/-26C is doable provided the wind is say less than 10 mph. I've found that wearing a neck gaiter (Smartwool makes some great ones) buys me maybe 10 degrees of comfort. I also wear Craft Active Extreme boxer shorts with wind-bloc in the crotch area and if there is a lot of snow and ice on the roads I will wear Gore Tex trail shoes. I wear what are actually Castelli cycling gloves with Infinium fabric. They insulate like there is no tomorrow but if your hands are cold to begin with it takes longer for them to warm up. If you wear high quality long sleeve underwear on top, a vest of some kind and a jacket of some kind winter tights or at least ones with a little bit of insulation you should be good to go up to the point you feel the cold as almost a pain when you inhale. To quote someone smarter than me "there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes." Wind much above 10 mph though makes going outside below 0F not a good idea

I now live where the temperature rarely drops below freezing, but I did spend 12 years as a runner in cold and snowy upstate New York. I eventually settled on the guideline that miles run outdoors should not exceed positive degrees Fahrenheit. So below 10F I kept my runs fairly short, and below 0F I went to the indoor track or took the day off.

HRE wrote:

I've never found a temperature so low that I didn't run in it. But I've never lived anywhere that -0 F was common. I think -7 F is my personal record.

Same here. I'm from New England, can't remember many days below 0 F. Maybe 1 or 2 per year. I can tolerate that.

Now that I live in the Pacific Northwest every morning it is 35-45 degrees and I can still wear shorts, it's fantastic.

Minnesota Runner wrote:

Last week it was -22F and I still ran outside. Here in Minnesota, the rule is that as long as it is not slippery, you will likely be going outside.

Agreed. Another Minnesotan, here. It really comes down to footing. Sometimes it isn't that cold, but if the sidewalks are totally ice covered, it isn't really even possible to run. Getting to some crunchy snow trails can be a great alternative, but not always easy to get to.

Where I live is mild and wet and doesn't go far below zero, its been about -3 recently. The coldest we had up here I can remember was -11C and I ran that day just so I could say I did it, put two pairs of running tights on etc and I was fine. The coldest I ever experienced was -17C back in 81 but I don't think I ran that day or wanted to.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981%E2%80%9382_United_Kingdom_cold_wave

Went out at -29 C / -20 F w/ wind chill recently ... it wasn't that bad when I was running because I was moving and I dressed pretty well, but at the stop lights it was pretty uncomfortable.

Anything below 35F, approximately 2C does not work for me. My toes get cold and hurt.

Haven't found my limit yet this year, went out in 0F and was overheating with double tights and a jacket, think I can probably go to -10F and I would call it. Depends on sun and wind too.

bored as shiit wrote:

sub sub elite local hobby jogger wrote:

I think about -5F is my limit. I can get out there in the teens and single digits and tolerate it. You have to layer properly, windproof jacket, wear warm socks, maybe triple up on the crotch layers, two pairs of gloves/mittens, a face mask, windproof hat, thicker running pants, etc. Windproof stuff in general has been the key for me, as it takes much of the bite out of the wind and retains heat better.

There should just be a running suit that does all of this.

That probably would sell like hotcakes considering how much runners spend on gear and shoes. Just give me a whole cold weather running suit made out of GORE Windstopper.

docLorna wrote:

America's fury wrote:

I've done -20 something with wind chill in the -50s (F) here in Chicago. As long as you're dressed properly (with a mask) there's no reason not to log a few miles. Unless it's icy as others have said.

You mention a mask, is it a particular mask? I’m asking because the cold on my body is fine, it’s breathing the cold air that makes it difficult for me. I cover my mouth but it always feels like my breath is short and my heart rate goes up.

I have used Seirus masks with a shaped mouth area that keeps the mask away from your face and has holes to breathe through. Head over to the Seirus website and you can get a full on balaclava for your whole head or just a face mask. Having the mask away from your mouth the holes make a huge difference.

crm023 wrote:

I was in Jackson, Wy for a couple weeks earlier this winter and there was a stretch of maybe 5 days where it got down to around -10/-15 F. I think the coldest temp I actually ran in was -8 F. It wasn't that bad, but bear in mind that Jackson, especially on really cold mornings, tends to be virtually windless. If there had been even a 10 mph breeze I definitely wouldn't have run.

Welcome to Wyoming winter! I live south of Jackson, WY and I usually don't go outside unless it's 10 degrees or over. I only go out under 10 degrees if it's sunny and no wind. Typically it may be below 0 or single digits first thing in the morning but will warm up to double digits later, and if it's sunny then it's great running weather! As I've gotten older I just don't feel like running in super cold conditions, and I have a really nice treadmill, which helps.

sub sub elite local hobby jogger wrote:

docLorna wrote:

You mention a mask, is it a particular mask? I’m asking because the cold on my body is fine, it’s breathing the cold air that makes it difficult for me. I cover my mouth but it always feels like my breath is short and my heart rate goes up.

I have used Seirus masks with a shaped mouth area that keeps the mask away from your face and has holes to breathe through. Head over to the Seirus website and you can get a full on balaclava for your whole head or just a face mask. Having the mask away from your mouth the holes make a huge difference.

Yep, i also have a Seirus mask. I wear glasses as well, so i fit the mask pretty tight to prevent fogging (it wraps around your head and affixes with velcro). Makes it much less painful on your lungs. The glasses and/or sunglasses also help shield my eyes from wind, which can be pretty painful otherwise.

Coldest I've run in was 8 degrees. I live in Oregon btw. For me, I only go on the treadmill when its unsafe from ice on the roads.

-30 with windchill here in Winnipeg on my run today. I suppose I might not run if it was -45.