This sucks.. wrote:
Which university has to deal with the hardest winter training conditions? I would have to think some of the Big Ten Universities such as Minnesota and Wisconsion would have to be up there, along with some smaller universities like Alaska, Adams, and Western State.
Adams State - very tolerable during the days in the winter. It's typically sunny and calm in the winter in Alamosa. The actual temperatures can be very cold but the humidity and wind are almost zero (the wind stirs up in a serious way in the spring, however). As a previous poster said, it can be well below freezing in Alamosa in the winter and still feel fine to run in your shorts and a t-shirt. The sun--as long as it's out--really does keep you reasonably warm.
Western State - quite a bit harsher than Alamosa, actually. Gunnison has a lot more winter cloud cover than Alamosa and a lot more snow than Alamosa. It's also windier in the winter months than Alamosa. Both are high elevation and post some really cold temps, but I'd take Alamosa over Gunnison in the winter in a heartbeat.
Wyoming - Laramie is just plain nasty in the winter. Wind, snow, cold, you name it. Possibly harsher than Gunnison, more wind, not as much snow.
Frankly, though, I think I'd take any of the above over places like Minot, ND.