Tuesday, January 3, 2012

10 Reasons to Embrace Cold Weather Running

1. More fun running gear. Wind pants anyone?

2. Nearly frozen GU is a delicacy. 

3. Who cares about a Klout score? Your badass quotient will soar.

4. You'll want to pick up the pace before your water, and everything else, freezes solid.


5. Because the wildlife will be entertained when you slip and fall on your ass
 and mutter some choice words.

6. Black ice = balance training.

7. Because frost-encrusted eyelashes are all the rage.

8. Wind = resistance training.

9. Who doesn't love an electrolyte Slurpee?

10. Because when you toe the starting line on race day, you'll think back to the conditions you overcame in training and you'll know you're more than ready to tackle whatever the day brings.

How cold is too cold for running outside?
I draw a line in the ice at zero.

58 comments:

  1. 15 is the coldest for me so far. 0 sounds like a good place to draw the line.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmm that depends on if there is wind or not! I think the coldest I have run in is 18 degrees.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I struggle more with the wind. It was 25 degrees on Sunday but the wind was blowing at a constant 35 mph and gusting to 50. WTF? No way was I going to be tossed into a tree or creek by a gust of wind! Unfortunately where I live, 15 mph winds, all day and all night, are the norm and a calm day is nothing short of amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh MY GOSH! Check out your eyelashes!! It hasn't got that cold here just yet thank goodness. Yesterday it finally got into the teens. It's funny because in the summer I always wish for my water to be able to stay frozen on my runs. It normally is room temp by one mile in.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wind makes a huge difference - but without it, zero sounds like a good temp to run indoors on the tm.

    ReplyDelete
  6. If the majority of the ground is icy or snowy, I won't go out, mostly because I'm a giant klutz and will slip and die.

    It's always entertaining to come home and see that your hat is completely frozen to your head.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My coldest run ever was -35*F (with wind chill)last year. Crazy but I loved it but, I broke some eyelashes. Took forever for them to grow out again. Kinda funny.

    ReplyDelete
  8. So far the coldest was about 12 degrees, I could probably do 0 but if it is really icy I won't do it. I don't want to break anything!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Our group has a rule of cancelling a run if it is below -35F ..which in celcius if F-ing cold. Tonight's run is going to be -22F..bring on the many layers!

    ReplyDelete
  10. tooo funny...
    love the Klout comment!
    and OMG to eyelashes
    I used to run in cold in PA and don't know how I did it, it's 53 & windy here in S. FL and I wimped out...didnt run this morning, will do bike inside later! lol

    ReplyDelete
  11. To me snow is more of a deterrent than cold - enough layers and anything is possible!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I haven't found a "too cold" temperature. I have shortened runs for it though. My coldest ever run was -49F. But I never went any colder just because it (thankfully!) didn't get any colder. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, you are hardcore! It doesn't get below the high 20's here and early morning running is super cold for me! I'm a gold weather sissy! I am very impressed!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm not sure what the coldest temp. is that I have run in... but when I use to live in NY, the snow was the biggest problem. Oh, and the plows. I almost got taken out by a plow before. Not fun.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I get wimpy if it is black-icy or below 10. (I have a dreadmill in the basement as a pretty solid option for those days!)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I ran last year in 7 degree weather. It was FREEZING. But I felt kinda badass so it didn't matter. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I didn't record the temps last year, but I know it got pretty cold! My goal is to record temps this year to see how cold is too cold for me. I do know I got in the negatives. Brrr. But that's what I get for living in Maine. I know only one day I used the treadmill because of the windchill. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. All I can say is I thank God he invented a treadmill!

    ReplyDelete
  19. ha ha love it!! Anything under 10 degrees I hate but I have ran races with negative temps. Not a fan but hey it always makes for a great story. :)

    I must admit that I will take the cold anyday over the extreme heat.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like to stay cooler when I run. I don't drip (as many) buckets of sweat when its cold out. And there is less people to weave around. It is peaceful.

    ReplyDelete
  21. i can NOT believe the photo with the eyelashes, it freaks me out, that is too cold.......i can't run due to foot right now, but in past, i probably have not been out in lower than 20degrees

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have ran in the negatives. Just layered a lot. and two pairs of socks. So far this year I've ran in 10 degrees with a little wind chill factor . I can run in the cold, but dont like to run with ice or a lot of snow. It makes for a hellish workout, tring to stay off the ground.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ugh. Cold is one thing, the snow and Ice are another. Unsure footing is what makes me nervous.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love to run in the snow...it hurts so much less when I inevitably fall, it's so pretty, and it's just fun. Ice scares me. I won't run on ice. I think the coldest I ran last year was single digits.

    The best thing about winter running? You can't stop long to walk because you'll freeze, so it puts a real crimp in my lazy/wimpy side. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. ugh - luckily we don't really get that cold of weather here. I've gone down into the 20's temp wise, but that's about it. icicles on your eyelashes - you are hard core!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'll run out there in the winter, but I don't think I will ever say I like it/embrace it! Around here it really doesn't ever go down to zero or below, so I shouldn't complain. And I will say that running makes winter tolerable for me. But still--give me summer any day! ; )

    ReplyDelete
  27. I try not to set a limit for the cold...but if the wind is up...fuhhhgetttabbboutit!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I LOVE that eyelash picture. I think that's going to be a winter goal of mine - get frosty eyelashes...

    ReplyDelete
  29. It was 12F on my run this morning with no wind and it was nice. With low wind, I plan to run down to 0F this year. With wind, it depends. 45F with 25 mph winds was fine Saturday, 30F with 30 mph winds and I cut it short.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I really don't have a lower limit, but my schedule is mostly flexible, so for the few times it makes it down to the upper teens, I run at the warmest part of the day, or sometimes the mill.

    the wind is a killer, for sure

    ReplyDelete
  31. Not an issue of the cold but the ice that will send me inside - I just cry like a baby when we start but feel like the terminator when we finish. Wore tights under running pants a few weeks ago. They started falling around mile 12 - had to hitch them up under my boobs every mile or so.
    Oh, frozen Shot Bloks - nom, nom, nom. Next time I'm keeping them in my bra.
    45 degree run yesterday - worse shorts and a tee and felt like I was in Cabo. Funny what we get used to!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. "Wore" thanks auto spell ...

    ReplyDelete
  33. hahaha. this is awesome. back before Christmas...Rachelle and I ran together and literally had frost in our hair. it was awesome. love your pic! i would agree with 0. maybe single digits. if the sun is out...i dont so much mind cold weather running :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Fact: I walked outside today and thought, "Man, good thing I don't have to run this morning. Brrr..."

    It was 48*, and sunny.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Bad ass quotient is really what gets me out the door!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Lucky for me it doesn't usually get as cold as that in the South of England! We're all about grey skies, drizzle and blustery winds...

    ReplyDelete
  37. I had a Nuun slurpee a few weeks ago on my 20 mile run. Oh my, it wasn't as good as I had hoped. I wore a face mask, ninja style on my run this morning and the feels like 10 degrees didn't feel so bad. Oh winter running, how I hate thee. I seriously don't get why the Boston Marathon has to be so early in the spring.

    ReplyDelete
  38. #7 is kinda creepy looking ... yet really cool and bad a$$! Props to you if you can make the best of winter running. Boo winter.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Great great post!!! Love all of it, especially #10 of course! 0 is probably my limit too - just depends on the windchill. Those winds are a killer!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I adore cold weather- probably because the heat pisses me off. I'll run in whatever. My cold record is -18F. You just have to make sure to hit a hot bath afterward.

    Frost eyelashes are the rage? All this time I thought it was the frozen mustache. I fail at fashion again.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I am not a fan of running below 35 degrees but I really loved this post - so funny and the pics were great.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Agh! It lost my comment. Anyway, you are braver than I (shocker, huh?) Cold + Sara = Inside. I shall try to embrace some of your hardcoreness this winter.

    ReplyDelete
  43. So true. I HATE cold weather running, but I do feel all your points in a sarcastic kind of way.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I ran last year when it was in the negative temps - but I was completely covered, including ski goggles.

    I kind of like the frozen GU. Frozen shot bloks are impossible to eat though!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I run below zero. I don't draw the line at cold but I do at lightning.

    Never thought of the goggles mentioned above. I have a face mask that works rather well.

    ReplyDelete
  46. hmmmm I dont know...cold does not exist here
    coldest we had was 30
    I like that more than 90

    ReplyDelete
  47. I'll run anytime, anywhere! Bad ass? Heck no! I just love to run!

    ReplyDelete
  48. It was 25*F today, but the real feel was fifteen! Wonder Warmers are my new running partners!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Ha ha..loved this! That picture of your frozen eyelashes is awesome! I am a cold wuss, so usually, I won't run outside if it's colder than 30. BUT, one year I did a 5k race and it was only 10degrees outside and snowing! It was freezing!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. I usually tend to hit the treadmill at single digits, assuming the footing is clear up until then. But regardless of the temperature, I am a total pansy when it comes to snow and ice. I just won't risk it.

    ReplyDelete
  51. This is awesome! I ran in the cold this morning...it was really only about 25, but with wind chills around 5....but I made it!

    ReplyDelete
  52. You crack me up!! The frozen eyelashes look like they're out of The Hunger Games fashion guidebook. But I've been there too.

    How cold is too cold.....depends on whether my tights are clean or not! And what race I'm training for.....

    ReplyDelete
  53. I think those ice-encrusted eyelashes are amazing.They could become quite the rage.

    ReplyDelete
  54. oh wow, i can't believe the frost on your lashes...wild!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Anything under 50 and I usually go on the treadmill. I hate cold, period. Might give winter running a go this year though for the gear man.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Oh, love the frosty eyes!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Too funny! Way to find the silver lining...

    ReplyDelete
  58. Love the frozen lashes!!! Great post!! I agree with all of it!!!

    ReplyDelete