Racing in the Cold: Samson Stomp

In article said:

My wife and I did a 5K this morning in 10 F weather with 20-25mph winds, reaching down to -20F
windchill. Of course our times were slower (i normally run ~18min and did a 19:15, she ran a 20:30
and normally does 19min).

[snip]

Quoted message said:

What is everyone's experience with cold weather racing? How much time do you usually lose over a
5K or 10K.

I think in this case, the wind probably had more of an effect than the cold.

I ran in blizzard conditions (heavy snow and wind) at a little below 32 and I'd estimate that the
conditions cost me 12-15 seconds per mile over a 10k race. I would attribute most of that slowdown
to snow on the road.

It probably helps that I rarely overdress for races -- if you wear a lot of bulky, heavy clothes, it
may slow you down. I just wear running tights, wind boxers, ordinary running socks and a windproof
top down to single digits.

I did run a race in single digits last year and it went fairly well. My impression is that if the
winners took a performance hit, it was only a few seconds per mile or so.

Quoted message said:

At what temperature do you think its too cold to go as fast as you normally would?

Once you start needing to put on heavier clothes, you'll lose some speed.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗

i wear light coolmax or drylete stuff. in fact i didn't warm up until the 3rd mile in this race.

"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

My wife and I did a 5K this morning in 10 F weather with 20-25mph winds, reaching down to -20F
windchill. Of course our times were slower (i normally run ~18min and did a 19:15, she ran a
20:30 and normally does 19min).

[snip]

Quoted message said:

What is everyone's experience with cold weather racing? How much time

do

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you usually lose over a 5K or 10K.

I think in this case, the wind probably had more of an effect than the

cold.

Quoted message said:

I ran in blizzard conditions (heavy snow and wind) at a little below 32

and I'd

Quoted message said:

estimate that the conditions cost me 12-15 seconds per mile over a 10k

race. I

Quoted message said:

would attribute most of that slowdown to snow on the road.

It probably helps that I rarely overdress for races -- if you wear a lot

of

Quoted message said:

bulky, heavy clothes, it may slow you down. I just wear running tights,

wind

Quoted message said:

boxers, ordinary running socks and a windproof top down to single digits.

I did run a race in single digits last year and it went fairly well. My impression is that if the
winners took a performance hit, it was only a

few

Quoted message said:

seconds per mile or so.

Quoted message said:

At what temperature do you think its too cold to go as fast as you

normally

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

would?

Once you start needing to put on heavier clothes, you'll lose some speed.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗

She thinks she sucks. But I think she could make olympic trials in the
marathon. She's done a 1:00.30 15K and a 3:15 marathon (her 2nd one), but
will probably do near a 3:00 at Boston in April.

I keep telling her that she could be really good. She's only 24 and has the frame of a
Kenyan all-star.

What are your feelings on cold weather? Maybe we were just off today. The weather has been really
[censored] lately and it really drags on your spirit and legs.

"Globaldisc" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040118154132.24672.00000187@mb-
m13.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

ya know...based on what you've said....your wife sounds like she's a bit

of a

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track star. don't know her age group but here in new york city if she raced....she would finish
3rd, 4th, and 5th overall in fields of a 1,000 women....and easily recognized as a very top runner
and good enough to be

a

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professionally sponsored runner. i know lesser runners who are.....

In article said:

i wear light coolmax or drylete stuff. in fact i didn't warm up until the 3rd mile in this race.

Don't know then -- that's normal clothing, shouldn't hurt your running economy. The extra weight
will add up to a few seconds (2-3.5) per mile at most.

Tough course ? Long course ? Wind ? Bad day ? Could be any of these things.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗

I just don't think I was mentally all there. When you're body fighting to stay warm, its just not
thinking about running fast.

I know that it was mental, I ended up lining up too far back in the field and got boxed in for the
first 1/2 mile and lost about 20 sec right there. The second mile was just cold and windy. I just
couldn't muster the strength to fight the cold.

Oh well, lesson learned. On to Boston!!!!

Joe

"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

i wear light coolmax or drylete stuff. in fact i didn't warm up until

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3rd mile in this race.

Don't know then -- that's normal clothing, shouldn't hurt your running

economy.

Quoted message said:

The extra weight will add up to a few seconds (2-3.5) per mile at most.

Tough course ? Long course ? Wind ? Bad day ? Could be any of these

things.

Quoted message said:

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗