Coldest race you have ever run in and time

2007 Spokane 10K -15 Degrees! Warm down was running to the waiting buses!

The Antarctica Half: -45F with lots of penguins on the course.

1991 or 1992...

5k at Lake St. Clair Metropark (formerly Metropolitan Beach) in Michigan. Race was on a paved route right near the beach, a little windy, and around 13°.

Low 17, if I recall correctly.

Ran a high 10 minute 2 mile in Omaha in 1980 or so where the temp was 4 degrees F, and a wind from the north that was, noticeable. Luckily the finish line was inside an auditorium. Unfortunately, we ran around the auditorium on the way back toward the finish line, and much of the field simply headed in the garage door before going around again. I think I went from second or third to 30th or so.

About 20 years ago I ran a small local 5K when it was 7 degrees and very windy. The wind chill was at least minus 30. I don't remember my time, it was about 6:30 pace. I was in my 40s at the time.

Before the race all the runners were huddled inside the registration building waiting for the race to start. A friend had the best line ever, "Let's go outside and warm up."

I did one of the New York Road Runners Club's Winter Series 6-milers, in Central Park, in 32:08. Air temperature at race time that day was 9 degrees F. (That's air temperature, NOT the wind chill or "Feels Like" temperature).

This was in the days before "technical fabrics" were widespread, and I wore nought but a woolen cap, a long-sleeved cotton thermal t-shirt, cotton gardener's gloves, shorts, and Nike waffle racers with no socks.

Other than my left eye freezing shut from perspiration running down my forehead I felt fine once the racing started. After the finish I continued through the chute, grabbed my sweats, and then without slowing down much continued running to the church a few blocks way where the post-race reception was held.

National Div 3 champs in 1989 Rockford Ill, 3 days before race it was -12 degrees but warmed up to 23 on race day! 8k 24:48

22 degrees, moderate snowfall. 3200m : 9:01

Not a race, but I ran a 1:26 on a local half-marathon course to see how tough it would be.

-46°C (not including wind chill, -58°C with), never again.

Turkey trot that was around freezing but with 25 mile an hour winds. I was probably in 17:30 shape but I ran an 18:15

10k in Canada, -13F with a 12mph wind for extra discomfort. Snow-covered surface. I finished in 45-something.

8km race in Ontario, Canada. -22C (-7.6F) actual temp, windchill was an honest -30C (-22F). Ran a 28:46. I dressed appropriately, but the race leaders in the lead pack were in shorts. I thought that was ridiculous and unnecessary. However, they ran in the 25-low range, so who am I to criticize; they were obviously doing something right.

Ran a 1:22ish half marathon at the Skunk Cabbage Classic in Ithaca. I don't remember how cold it was that day (probably in the teens).

It wasn't just cold, it was also snowing heavily, so I decided to wear a windbreaker and not take it too seriously. I'm sure the road surface was covered in ice and snow, but that's not what I remember about it. The thing I'll never forget is looking to the side at one point, about 5 miles into the race, and noticing that the snow had somehow accumulated into a significant pile on my shoulders, despite the wind and my running motion and the warmth of my body. Only time that's ever happened to me on a run.

agadsfsadf wrote:

I'm sure the road surface was covered in ice and snow, but that's not what I remember about it.

You just reminded me about something I forgot to mention about the race I posted about above you - there was fresh cold powder snow that had fallen overnight, and the roads had not been salted yet, so the race was run on roads that were 100% hard-packed (from the cars) snow. I wore a set of YakTracks over my flats that I had received for Christmas a few weeks earlier. I had tried them a couple times for short periods, but nothing serious. Just jogging. I figured this would be as good of a time as any to try them out. And at 5:40-ish pace, they did not hold up. About 2 miles into the race, one of the springs on the bottom of one shoe snapped off. Luckily the broken YakTrack didn't affect my stride too much, and I was able to finish. Those things were useless, but this was 15-ish years ago when they were a new item. Perhaps they make them better now.

I ran a 15 mile road race, temp was around 10F and windy (that's ambient temp), and there was frozen snow on the roads (not really ice, but hard, frozen snow). It was my first race greater than 13.1 miles too. Ran 6:57 pace, forget the exact time just recall it was barely sub 7 (I guess just under 1:45?). I still consider it one of my best races due to time, conditions, and fact that I was really out of shape to begin with. Around 215 pounds.

First race as a 40-something masters runner after a 25-year break from running and around ~6 months of getting back in shape. Temperature of -10 F with high winds and wind chill in the -40s. It was a 5K/10K, but the 10K was canceled for the safety of the race volunteers. The race started into the wind, and I promptly set an adult mile PR, at least 30-45 seconds faster than I should have taken the first mile. The next 15 minutes were incredibly painful. I did not know that you can overheat at the same time you're getting frostbite.

I remember it is cold, and I'm not talking snowy mountain Wyoming cold. It was colder then that. Yakutia would be an exotic place in summer, but go in winter and you need to rap up properly. A race singlet is crazy. Well we all make mistakes. I done a local mary there. I didn't win but I was the first person with out snow shoes. I complaint to organisers that I want the first place for non snow shoe category. What I wanted most was a blanket. You would be amazed at what some one that cold would do for a blanket.

5°F Dublin, Ohio marathon 3:14 Goal was 3:00 but it was so cold, I changed it to 3:15 and stayed right on that pace for the race. Got lapped a few times by Scott Fry on the one mile loop course. Signed up for a marathon in Florida two weeks later and ran it on the stress fracture I got from the cold marathon.

Not really cold but I was running a bunch of races throughout the winter in Ohio waiting for a trip to Texas to watch the NBA all-star game and run a "warmer" race. As I got to Arkansas, the snow started and it ended up snowing 12.5 inches in Dallas the day before a 5k.

bubbagumpprawns wrote:

-17 F Newport News 5.3 miler 27:01 1998??

It has not ever been nearly that cold in NN.

All-time record is-1Fand that is the only subzero low on the books.