Wearing Shorts in Cold..Does it Risk Injury?

Skin cap wrote:

Some people are blessed with a complete unit with a built in hat.

That's a turtleneck, not a hat.

I absolutely think there's an injury risk. Even if your core temperature is fine, if you're running in cold weather, you're going to have a temperature differential between your deep tissue and your shallow tissue. Patellar tendons, for example are right below the surface of your skin. You might be perfectly comfortable, but if that tissue is too cold, it can get irritated and inflamed.

I don't really understand why so many runners insist on underdressing in the winter, as though there's nothing worse than having a drop of sweat gather on your brow. Being cold sucks. If you don't sweat at all on a run, chances are you're never really getting warmed up.

Also, I know it's popular on these boards to say "Kenyans don't worry about X or Y" as evidence that we shouldn't worry about it either. Well Kenyans wear tights, even in fairly warm weather.

cold-bare-legs-make-you-dumb-not-tough!!!!!

I never understand why runners are so opposed to having warm legs.

Every pro cyclist dresses warmer than would be comforrtable to keep the legs warm. It adds additional (non-beneficial) stress on the legs to be cold and work hard.

Get a pair of tights, wind proof pants when you and it's colder than 40f. You'll recover better.

See podcast below where they interview pro cyclists about warm legs:

cold-bare-legs-make-you-dumb-not-tough

http://www.velonews.com/2016/12/training-center/fast-talk-podcast-ep-7-cold-bare-legs-make-you-dumb-not-tough_425620

weartights wrote:

If you are a woman, I am sorry. You don't need to wear tights if you don't want too. I would recommend it, though.

Agreed. I'm a woman, and happy that I don't have to worry about anything besides cold legs when running in shorts in cold weather. For me the cutoff is around freezing. Anything colder than that and my legs just get too darn cold. I hate the feel of tights, so in sub-freezing weather I wear "looses" (very lightweight pants that are not skin-tight but not floppy). This works great down to about 20 degrees, which is as cold as it ever gets where I live (I say, smugly).

I lived for 12 years in Rochester, NY, running in 100 inches of snow per year and sub-freezing temps for months. I've done my time and I'm glad I no longer have to.

800 dude wrote:

I absolutely think there's an injury risk. Even if your core temperature is fine, if you're running in cold weather, you're going to have a temperature differential between your deep tissue and your shallow tissue. Patellar tendons, for example are right below the surface of your skin. You might be perfectly comfortable, but if that tissue is too cold, it can get irritated and inflamed.

Again, this injury risk is not caused by presence of shorts. It is caused by lack of pants/tights. If wearing shorts caused injury risk, then a runner who wore shorts under their running pants would be more likely to become injured than a runner who wore running pants without shorts underneath.

The answer to the OP's question is no, wearing shorts in the cold does not cause injury risk. Not wearing pants/tights in the cold certainly does cause injury risk, though.

We made up a saying on a transcon bike trip: "Warm knees are happy knees, and happy knees are working knees."

Wear whatever keeps you running comfortably. Personally, the tights come on below 25F, but I've run in shorts in much colder weather. I'd rather be too warm (and sweat a little) than too cold. A lot of it depends on wind too. Running in shorts on a calm, sunny 10F day is actually pretty comfortable. There's no way I could have worn just shorts for last night's run at 12F with 15mph 'breeze'.

This morning it was 20 degrees and I wore a couple pair of compression boxers, one being almost knee length, running shorts and knee high compression socks. The only exposed skin was pretty much my knees and I felt fine. I may need to look into some tights eventually (I am just broke w Xmas and crap coming up)

I usually wear shorts if it's above about 32F, sweat pants if it's below 32. If your legs are cold, wear more than just shorts. If they're not cold, then why would you worry about injuring them?

Mo farah, as well as a lot of east africans, wear compression shorts and tights when they train! And they wear them in 80 degree weather!..Every time I see Mo train he is wearing compression shorts, and he wears them when he competes in cross country races.

I don't understand the problem here. Elite runners seem to be more sensible and less reserved than other runners. ...Or should I say Americans seem to worry and concern themselves with silly customs when it comes to running.

ColdFrontBlowinIn wrote:

I do not even own a pair of tights/pants. It was 28 here this morning and it will be 16 in the morning and then down to 12 on Friday. Do I risk any sort of injury on my morning runs in shorts or is just a comfort thing? Its just 8-10 base miles a morning no speed work

I run in shorts all the time too, only wear tights if it's freezing strongly.

It's not about being tough (though I do feel people who wear pants/tights when it's not nearly freezing are pussies), I just don't like pants/tights and my legs don't feel cold, so shorts it is.

Strange thing is that people run around in short sleeved shirts when I am wearing long sleeves or a jacket, so to each his own I guess.

I ran on a cold night in tights with my achilles exposed about a week and a half ago and re-aggravated an Achilles injury from a few years back. Had to take a week off where I just swam a couple day. Ill only be running in tights and high socks to cover my achilles and keep it warm for the rest of winter out of caution

No but you are risking bladder chills/infections. So get some cold weather gear.

- 13°F this morning in Steamboat Springs just before noon today, Shakey. You're welcome to thaw your frostbitten ass by our fireplace if you'd like to come try that theory of yours.

I just wear shorts and slap on an ankle sock round the boys

Are you an actual athlete training for something? If yes then you won't be in shorts below 40. If no then do whatever makes you feel tough.

xcskier66 wrote:

cold-bare-legs-make-you-dumb-not-tough!!!!!

I never understand why runners are so opposed to having warm legs.

Every pro cyclist dresses warmer than would be comforrtable to keep the legs warm. It adds additional (non-beneficial) stress on the legs to be cold and work hard.

Get a pair of tights, wind proof pants when you and it's colder than 40f. You'll recover better.

See podcast below where they interview pro cyclists about warm legs:

cold-bare-legs-make-you-dumb-not-tough

http://www.velonews.com/2016/12/training-center/fast-talk-podcast-ep-7-cold-bare-legs-make-you-dumb-not-tough_425620

I agree. I'm in tights once the temp hits mid-40s.

Dezcoolnutz wrote:

I just wear shorts and slap on an ankle sock round the boys

Yeah, yeah. Sure.

Dezcoolnutz wrote:

I just wear shorts and slap on an ankle sock round the boys

That is a brilliant idea.

I think it just depends on how the cold affects you. Think about NCAA XC; it's usually pretty cold and there are always those top 10 worthy studs who totally bomb and place like 100th. Some people just don't perform as well as others in the cold. But personally I'd wear tights in the cold under like 35 degrees (knee length at first, but full length if it's really cold) just cause I've had hamstring problems for years and that's a big muscle to keep exposed. Or even tight sweat pants with with shorts or half tights underneath work well for me.