Running in extreme cold

K

Kraken

0
I live in a climate where the temps dip into the single digits often during the winter months.

I've read somewhere that your lungs have to work harder to draw oxygen from the colder air. Not sure if thats true or not. I have noticed it can be a bit more taxing on your system doing a cardio workout in the cold.

Any thoughts on running in the winter during extreme cold? Are the any precautions I need to take? etc.

I'm fairly new to running and I dont' want to let a little cold weather slow me down at this point.

Any tips are appreciated as well.

thanks
 
Kraken said:
I live in a climate where the temps dip into the single digits often during the winter months.

I've read somewhere that your lungs have to work harder to draw oxygen from the colder air. Not sure if thats true or not. I have noticed it can be a bit more taxing on your system doing a cardio workout in the cold.

Any thoughts on running in the winter during extreme cold? Are the any precautions I need to take? etc.

I'm fairly new to running and I dont' want to let a little cold weather slow me down at this point.

Any tips are appreciated as well.

thanks
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Well technically if the air is cooler the air is more dense and has more O2/breath. I think the problem comes in with your body having to warm up the air and the cold itself on your respiratory tract. It can be quite uncomfortable but as you run more in the cold air you should acclimate to it. In terms of running in the cold, just make sure you dress warmly enough. The key to staying warm is keeping your core warm. If your core is well insulated and toasty then you extremities will be less likely to deprived of blood flow and will feel warm as well.

wear tights or leggings, wear clothing that wicks away moisture so you don't get a chill, wear gloves, ect.
 
My cold and your cold are not even close but I do run in the winter. I may wear any or all of the following:

- compression gear such as nike or under armour as a base layer
- thin nike beanie that covers my ears
- various gloves
- arm warmers and leg warmers for running and cycling
- tights
- balaclava
 
Kraken, I see people here running when it's -30°C. That's cold.

There are masks that you can purchase that help warm the air up:

Here's the main website:
They even come in camouflage ... my personal favorite when you're out and about in the wilderness :D

This mask is also fantastic if you decide to make armed robbery a part of your training regimen.
 
I've heard the rule of thumb is to dress like it's 20 degrees warmer than it really is when running. I think that's fairly close althogh I try at all cost to wear shorts. I just try to keep my hands and head warm.

Wind is the big factor. I'll take 10 degrees and calm over 30 and windy
 
theGOOCH said:
I've heard the rule of thumb is to dress like it's 20 degrees warmer than it really is when running. I think that's fairly close althogh I try at all cost to wear shorts. I just try to keep my hands and head warm.

Wind is the big factor. I'll take 10 degrees and calm over 30 and windy
Click to expand...

just fyi

 
theGOOCH said:
I've heard the rule of thumb is to dress like it's 20 degrees warmer than it really is when running. I think that's fairly close althogh I try at all cost to wear shorts. I just try to keep my hands and head warm.

Wind is the big factor. I'll take 10 degrees and calm over 30 and windy
Click to expand...


I know exactly what you're saying.
 
You breathe in cold air and you have to warm it up in your windpipe. This cools down the windpipe, then you breathe out warm air, this warms up the windpipe. So your wind pipe is jumping from cold to warm like a (insert something that jumps from point to point very fast, here) this can cause irritation. Also, the windpipe moisturizes the air. Cold air is dry, exhaled air is moist, so you also get a continious swing from moisturizing to drying of the windpipe.

The above is actually the reason people with asthma get more irritation from running in the cold than from running in warm weather. The continious jump from cold and dry to warm and wet causes inflammation to occur.

I think someone might have mentioned this but I felt like typing it in anyways :p

Also:
why dress as if it was 20 degrees warmer? Your body will get warmed up from the metabolism when you run, so too much clothing can be a bad thing as it just heats you up more.
 
Karky said:
Also:
why dress as if it was 20 degrees warmer? Your body will get warmed up from the metabolism when you run, so too much clothing can be a bad thing as it just heats you up more.
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Exactly, I think you read it backward. If it's 30 degrees, dress as if it's 50 (lighter clothing)
 
Thats ok aslong as you keep your chest warm
 
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