How cold is to cold to run outside?

Don't know the physiological answer to this, but I know that for some reason I always found it hard to justify going outdoors to run (versus to the treadmill) when it got down into the very low single digits or down below zero. I've tried running a few times when temps were that low, and it just was a for shit workout.

Have no idea what's safe or not, but I would say less than 10 degrees, think about indoor alternatives.

Hoovis

Thanks...I am cheap and really don't want to have to pay to join a gym to just run on the treadmill....

Thanks for the reply

you guys need to sack up. -40 degrees is too cold. -30 is too cold. anything warmer than that and you just have to tuck your sack in and deal with it.

Not afraid of the cold at all..hell i live in MN.

But wondering if there is any health risks running in cold weather and what those risks are and what temperature is unsafe to run in.

I've run several times in temps well below zero (-10 to -20 without windchill... colder temps with windchill) with no health problems. Just make sure you dress properly. The cold air won't burn your lungs, but it could frostbite your skin. Also, watch your pecker. Seriously. I also feel like long runs in the extreme cold tire me out more and burn more energy. Good luck.

Without wind and being out 1 hr. or so less, you should have no problems with 0 degrees if you dress decently. Windy and single digits sucks, but you can still do it w/ out any harm. Anything over 10 and there are no excuses, get outside and run.

There are studies that show people(and dogs) which exercise strenuously in freezing weather actually do show some evidence of lung scarring but I'd be very surprised if racing and training in a dry indoor environment don't do the same thing. I can't tell the difference between speedwork at 20 below and indoor intervals or racing. They both sting my lungs. Generally you aren't doing hard reps in freezing weather anyway. If you just don't want to run at all when it is cold then maybe you do need to grow a pair.

I'm from WI and it gets COLD up here (with the exception of this year--so far). I've run a 10-miler when it was about

-10 degrees. Not exactly my favorite weather, but it can be done. Extremely cold is okay to run in as long as you're dressed properly though--layers upon layers, something for the face, and I also wear handwarmers and footwarmers when it's really cold.

I used to run 10 miles +/- in 0 degrees back in Kansas in my college days...of course, i wore a full face ski mask and layered sweats. It was ok..the worst part was turning to go back into the wind.

It is easy to run when it is a few degrees below zero. In college sometimes I ran at 2 am in the middle of the winter. Ice would sometimes form on my sideburns and eyebrows. Once that wind starts going it is tough. I once ran 4 miles when it was 0 degrees but negative 21 with windchill. It was supposed to be an 8 miler. I don't know about lung damage. I have heard a lot of people mention or be scared of lung damage and frozen lungs but never anyone who has experienced it because of cold weather. hypthermia is a more common cold weather problem.

I still have my log book from senior year of high school back in 1979 in southern Minnesota. Average temperature for the 199 miles that I ran in January was 3.8 F. Warmest was 22 F. The coldest pure temperature that I ever ran in was -16 F.

One of the above posters was correct when he mentioned to protect the dick. I wasn't on the run, but the story I heard was another guy finished a very cold run, took off his shorts and exclaimed 'It's orange.' Maybe Squid can verify that story.

Always, Always, ALWAYS remember this...

If its hot, run WITH the wind first

If its cold, run AGAINST the wind first.

If you can control that, DO SO.

Ran 3 miles one night in Chicago in the early 80's when the chill chill hit -81. Bundled up, face covered, oven mitts on my hands. Lungs felt fine, but it was probably a stupid thing to do in retrospect.

YES! When the temperature got down to 67 last week I worried that it might be getting too cold to run. Some guys were here from the mainland running with their shirts off so I was inspired to bundle up and get out there.

When I used to live in Spokane it got down to -35 one winter and stayed that cold for weeks! I ran through it but had to cover everything to keep from freezing. I wore a towel around my face and as I ran my breath exhaled onto the towel. When I got home I dropped the towel and it shattered into a million pieces! Frozen solid!

Move down here. Then you won't have to worry about the cold.

I have run with the air temp at -31, once did an 8 day stretch (138 miles) with the high temp being 4 above, most of the runs were between -5 and -14.

They make this stuff called clothing, it works wonders when you put it on your body. You can even buy peices of it that are made to cover your face if you feel the need. There is this other stuff, kind of gooey, called vaseline. You can put that around your mouth and nose on extremely cold days and it helps insulate that area. And yes, I agree, keep your penis covered.

In all honesty the worst i have ever suffered from a run in the elements, was a 12 miler in pooring rain and 33 degrees, occasional wet snow mixed in. Now that cut right to the bone and the private parts, spent over 45 minutes in the shower after practically in tears.

Try some of that clothing stuff and go out and live a little, very satisfying to run outside when everyone else wimps out. Heck, these days they have all this Hi-tech clothing anyways.

Have someone drive you out a few miles and run back with

the wind, works for me all the time.

While in the USAF, I was stationed for a year in northern Greenland. I ran outside all winter long with temperatures regularly down to -70 degrees F. Wear the proper layers, including covering your face, and it's not a problem.

I've raced the Birkie when the temps at the start were below zero, and not the EU version of zero, without any issues. You just need to be very cautious about how you dress.