How cold is too cold?

I've run in sub 0 and, yeah, it's cold. I think anything under 10 F is too cold. And lately I've been doing all my winter running on a treadmill.

Get some proper apparel and you will be fine

ihatecold wrote:

It's not supposed to get above 20 degrees for the next week and a half at least. Average low temps here are 20 degrees, so this is cold. And, I run in the morning at 7 am, so it's not even light out yet.

Tomorrow morning when I run, it's supposed to be 2 degrees, with a wind chill (~8 mph) of -8 degrees Fahrenheit. Is this too cold to run? Should I stick to the treadmill? I usually run for about an hour. I hate the treadmill, but I don't want to risk frostbite or anything else like that. How cold is too cold to go running outside?

-6 F and below. There is no other right answer.

If it is icy, use the treadmill. No reason to lose one year of your running career with a bad spill.

In terms of actual discomfort; get your tights and synthetic clothes and you will be fine. Just don't run in the middle of nowhere in case something happens.

-10F (sunny, windchill-adjusted temperature between -30F and -20F) is the coldest I've gone, and about the coldest I'm willing to go running outside. Darkness plus ice and uneven surfaces can convince me to go inside in "warmer" conditions to avoid injuries.

majored in rocks wrote:

-10F (sunny, windchill-adjusted temperature between -30F and -20F) is the coldest I've gone, and about the coldest I'm willing to go running outside. Darkness plus ice and uneven surfaces can convince me to go inside in "warmer" conditions to avoid injuries.

What do you wear in those temps?

I ran XC/Indoor & Outdoor Track in Minnesota. Generally, our coach had us run inside if it was below zero or very icy. The ice is the biggest danger, not the cold.

I only ran outside when it was below zero a couple times, although the wind chill was frequently below zero.

Generally, for colder runs, I would dress in layers. A pair of tights under a pair of pants, gloves, hat and 2-3 upper body layers, including a tech layer close to my skin and something to block the wind. A few guys also ran with balaclavas.

Our coach always checked the wind direction, you should always start going against the wind so you won't be sweaty and fighting the wind on the way back.

Honestly, it's not a big deal when it's above zero. You will be surprised at how quickly you warm up. The last time I ran when it was cold (three degrees) I overdressed and got so hot that I ran the last 2 miles without my gloves in an attempt to warm up.

It's incredibly peaceful knocking out miles while the rest of the world is huddled up in their warm houses. If you don't like it or don't feel safe, run on the treadmill or indoor track. Just do what you feel comfortable with. No one really cares either way.

There literally is no temperature that is too cold not to run if you dress properly. I've run several times in windchills below zero and my entire college team was outdoor once doing a road fartlek in windchill of -70.

The main obstacles are footing and ice. Right after an icestorm at 30 degrees is pretty much impossible to run.

If you invest and prepare you can buy cold weather running gear that works and you will stay comfortable after the first 15 minutes.

Ok maybe there is a limit but it probably is below any record low temperature ever recorded in the contintenal United States.

It was -46 today (actual temp) in Sweden. The coldest I ever ran in was -24 actual temp with no wind. I don't know what running in twice that cold would have been like.

The biggest problem with this weather is all the sick people at your office that come in to work and infect everyone. Tired of it.

2Fahrenheit should be ok with proper clothing.

ihatecold wrote:

majored in rocks wrote:

-10F (sunny, windchill-adjusted temperature between -30F and -20F) is the coldest I've gone, and about the coldest I'm willing to go running outside. Darkness plus ice and uneven surfaces can convince me to go inside in "warmer" conditions to avoid injuries.

What do you wear in those temps?

mid-weight gloves

knit wool cap

UnderArmor (or other brand equivalent) cold-weather top

lightweight long-sleeve running shirt

cocksock

compression shorts

mid-weight tights

wind-resistant pants and light jacket

Layers are key for proper temperature adjustment. If you feel warm enough for the first mile, the same gear will start to feel too warm soon. I usually aim to feel a bit cool for the first 10-12 minutes of the run. Often, the windbreaker is great with a headwind but becomes too warm with a tailwind. Also, it's nice to have at least one extra layer over my junk than I have on anywhere else. Otherwise peeing or showering afterward is like the evil stepmother of putting your cold, numb hands under hot water.

Slipping was always my biggest concern. And 10-20 degrees was never that big a deal to me as long as the wind wasn't too bad.

But eight (or less) seems was my limit. Kind of ridiculous at that temp.

I run at about -4 degrees F these days - not a big of a deal. However, if I had other option (I don't own a treadmill and gyms at my area opens at only at 6.30 a.m., which is too late for me) I would run inside when temperature falls under 5 degrees.

cold enough for ice to form on the roads so you can't drive and then not melt the next day is too cold

Personally, if wind chill charts indicate a significant risk of frostbite, I don't bother running outside because of the hassle of dressing for that on my run. That's about -20F, with windchill.

2 degrees, with a wind chill of -8 degrees Fahrenheit is fine.

Edward Teach wrote:

cold enough for ice to form on the roads so you can't drive

You must be from LA, Texas, Florida, or some other warm state. Ice really isn't that hard to drive on. (Source: I lived in MN and MT for a few years where I drove and ran on plenty of ice.)

I hit the mill when temps get below 10 WITH wind. It's one thing to go out and slog through 8 miles in the cold with a bunch of layers on, I'll do it, but it's really really hard to get a workout in and I'd rather hit the treadmill for that. In temps below 10, I wear a specific wind blocking tight from PI, then a close fitting baselayer like Craft or UA, a loose layer, with a hooded outerlayer, heavy gloves and a heavy winter hat with a balaclava.

Today is too cold. Anything under 10 degrees F is too cold. Considering the average highs in DC this time of year are around 40, it is 14 with -2 windchill here now...this is cold for these parts...a little too cold/windy for running.

I ran outside a couple weeks ago in -7 w/ -31 wind chill. I mostly did it just to say I did. It might not have been the smartest idea, but I was actually quite warm on the run. I don't think I could put up with those temperatures if it were more than just for a day, though.

I wore the following:

- two stocking caps

- running gloves

- waterproof ski gloves

- ski mask

- Under Armor long sleeve

- moisture-wicking turtleneck

- hooded sweatshirt

- waterproof running jacket

- heavy compression half tights

- running shorts

- two pairs of running pants

- running socks

- wool socks

The only things exposed to the elements were my eyes. I maybe could've gone with ski goggles haha.

When it gets that cold, it's also hard on your lungs to breathe such cold air. Having the ski mask definitely helped with that.

There really is no 'too cold' to go out and run. I've run everyday this year, often twice, outside and I'm in Interior Alaska. I will say though that if you're doing a tempo or speed intervals then you should go inside. Surprisingly, we are having near-record 'heat' now with temperatures around freezing. But it was only a week and a half ago that I did a 15 miler in 30 below actual air temperature.

If you're wearing appropriate clothing, the cold really shouldn't be an issue. It may be harder to find in areas that don't typically get super-low temps, but I assure you that people are still out pounding the pavement here in Minnesota no matter how cold it gets.

Basically make sure you have a windproof outer layer (top and bottom), then pack on whatever you need underneath that to be comfortable after running a mile or two. If breathing cold air bothers you, a face mask or balaclava will help. Below -10F, I avoid having exposed skin and will break out the ski goggles to make sure I'm completely covered.

As others have mentioned, ice is really the bigger concern. If you have them, trails are usually better than pavement. Yak-Trax or other similar products can help add traction as well.