Running in freezing cold weather...

I visit Fairfield NJ once in awhile during the winter months and yes it is cold. I still do five
mile runs outside though. I have a gore-tex running outfit that I got from road runner sports and
have been extremely satisfied with it. I do wear another light shirt under the jacket mainly for
some added softness plus I wear gloves and if its really cold a toboggan. Works for me.

In article <[email hidden]>, "Ryan Atici"

Quoted message said:

Hi folks!

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather? I live in New Jersey. In this time
of the year, it is very cold here. For some obvious reasons, I need to train outdoors.

Proper clothing. YMMV, but my preference is a coolmax singlet under coolmax or similar long-sleeved
shirt; if it's enough below freezing or I'm feeling wimpy, a polartec or similar fleece top. Bottom:
wind-block shorts under dry-line tights, with long underwear in between if it's cold enough. Light
microfiber glove liners, outer gloves or mittens, and a wide headband to protect the ears. That
combo is good down to about 5F for me. For rain just above freezing, I'll wear gore-tex outerwear to
keep the wet out.

For anything below freezing I usually coat my face (excluding forehead which the headband takes care
of) in Vaseline or some similar grease. Just a very light coating for freezing, thicker if it's
colder or windier.

Cold is a relative thing, too. I'm not sure I suggest warming up indoors, beyond a bit of
stretching/limbering. Better to just go out and do it.

Karl

Ryan Atici said:

Hi folks!

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather?

Go to florida.

In article said:

Hi folks!

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather? I live in New Jersey.

So do I.

Quoted message said:

In this time of the year, it is very cold here.

No it isn't. (If you think it is, wait till mid January ... )

Quoted message said:

For some obvious reasons, I need to train outdoors.

Before I start running on the streets or on the running tracks, I warm up stretching and walking
on the treadmill at home, then I put on layers of clothing before I hit the streets.

No matter how much I warm up at home before I start running on the streets, I feel some kind of
contraction in my leg muscles when I start running in such cold weather. I've been running 1.5
mile everyday for a week. I haven't had any injuries or problems so far. I would appreciate it if
you throw in a few suggestions.

How fast are you training ? I recall that you were previously doing all of your training runs at
maximal or near maximal pace. Try slowing down. If you do speed work, try running at an easy pace.

If you're dressed appropriately for the weather, you shouldn't feel cold.

Depending on how much heat you generate, you could be OK in shorts and a tank top, or you might need
running tights, a lightweight tee, a lightweight running jacket, and gloves. I don't think you'd
need any more than that.

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

In article <[email hidden]>, "Ryan Atici"

Quoted message said:

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather? I live in New Jersey.

First, I must laugh at you: ha ha ha! I have lived in both NJ and Minnesota, and you do not know
what "freezing cold weather" is.

Quoted message said:

In this time of the year, it is very cold here.

One more time: ha ha ha!

Quoted message said:

For some obvious reasons, I need to train outdoors.

Before I start running on the streets or on the running tracks, I warm up stretching and walking
on the treadmill at home, then I put on layers of clothing before I hit the streets.

No matter how much I warm up at home before I start running on the streets, I feel some kind of
contraction in my leg muscles when I start running in such cold weather. I've been running 1.5
mile everyday for a week. I haven't had any injuries or problems so far. I would appreciate it if
you throw in a few suggestions.

I'm not sure why you warm up indoors first. I usually just walk outside for a few minutes, then jog.
You should feel cold when you start out; if you're comfy, you're overdressed. If I start to get
warm, I peel off a layer.

What are you wearing? Do you have a decent pair of running tights? Do you have CoolMax stuff, or are
you wearing cotton? The right clothes can make a big difference in your comfort level.

I've never had the "contraction" thing in my muscles in the cold, so I can't speak to that.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

Ryan Atici said:

Hi folks!

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather? I live in New Jersey. In this time
of the year, it is very cold here.

Hmmm, what is cold? All the temps I saw for NJ on weather underground were in the 40's F. This is
pleasant running for many folks 🙂

For some obvious

Quoted message said:

reasons, I need to train outdoors.

This is good. It's more enjoyable there anyway 🙂

Quoted message said:

Before I start running on the streets or on the running tracks, I warm up stretching and walking
on the treadmill at home, then I put on layers of clothing before I hit the streets.

What types of layers? synthetics or wool (good); cotton (bad)?

Quoted message said:

No matter how much I warm up at home before I start running on the streets, I feel some kind of
contraction in my leg muscles when I start running in such cold weather.

Any chance you've got too many tight layers on and they're restricting blood flow? Do you have
any easy dirt trails nearby to see if it is a surface issue (paved vs dirt vs dreadmill)? mud vs
snow vs pavement? Does the contraction start right away or after a period of time? flats,
downhills, uphills?

Quoted message said:

I've been running 1.5 mile everyday for a week. I haven't had any injuries or problems so far. I
would appreciate it if you throw in a few suggestions.

Did you completely recover from your August injuries before you started ramping up again? Are you
varying the effort levels - some easy days, some harder? Adequate recovery?

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Lizzy areas=3D loose bright silk stuff. [censored] areas=3D designers fashions, and proper fits. homeless.
your basic,church,salvation,and trash leftovers. (probe best.) this way you can go from area to
area. Now if your a long distance runner. might need more selections. lol
p.s. if this area is like what I see on t.v. you well be warm no matter what you wear because of
speed you has to run not getting >🙁)*.>---

most people train and wear stuff to stay warm and slow down pace some.not to get sick. and on race
day looks like a bunch of slapping selfs bouncing colors penguins.till the sound of start. then
beware if in straight path of open gate. danger zone....... no kids aloud here because runners won't
care what is in there way...

Running in freezing cold weather...

Group: rec.running Date: Sun, Nov 30, 2003, 7:15pm From: [email hidden] (Ryan=A0Atici) Hi
folks! What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather? I live in New Jersey. In this
time of the year, it is very cold here. For some obvious reasons, I need to train outdoors. Before I
start running on the streets or on the running tracks, I warm up stretching and walking on the
treadmill at home, then I put on layers of clothing before I hit the streets. No matter how much I
warm up at home before I start running on the streets, I feel some kind of contraction in my leg
muscles when I start running in such cold weather. I've been running 1.5 mile everyday for a week. I
haven't had any injuries or problems so far. I would appreciate it if you throw in a few
suggestions. Thanks in advance...
---
Ryan

"Ryan Atici" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather? I live in

New

Quoted message said:

Jersey. In this time of the year, it is very cold here. For some obvious reasons, I need to train
outdoors.

Before I start running on the streets or on the running tracks, I warm up stretching and walking
on the treadmill at home, then I put on layers of clothing before I hit the streets.

No matter how much I warm up at home before I start running on the

streets,

Quoted message said:

I feel some kind of contraction in my leg muscles when I start running in such cold weather. I've
been running 1.5 mile everyday for a week. I

haven't

Quoted message said:

had any injuries or problems so far. I would appreciate it if you throw in

a

Quoted message said:

few suggestions.

I just checked NJ's weather and it appears that 40's or so is what you're dealing with as
"freezing cold".

Seriously, most people still wear shorts in temps like that, and only a few degrees warmer is what
most consider to be perfect running weather! I'm not at all trying to be "macho" or whatever - just
telling you the facts. 🙂 You must be very sensitive to cooler temps, or you are unaware how much
the body heats up... of course, I feel a chill when I first step out for a run. I'm underdressed for
walking around, that's for sure - but within 3 - 5 minutes I'm fine.

But, a pair of lightweight mid-temp tights should do it, and one non-cotton t-shirt with a
lightweight long-sleeved shirt overtop. Wear a pair of gloves, too. Often when it's quite warm (high
40's, low 50's) with a wind of some sort, a pair of gloves is the only addition you need on top of
regular, summer running gear.

cheers,
--
David (in Hamilton, ON) www.allfalldown.org

New Jersey shouldn't be too bad in the winter. All you really need are some tights or long running
pants, some 'wind briefs', a few long sleeve running shirts, a good wind shell (Sugoi make nice
jackets), gloves or mitts for colder days, a hat of course... and for the odd brutal mid-winter
day, you might need something to cover your face / neck. That's about it really. I've used nothing
more than the above for -5F winter runs. There might be a few odd runs over the winter when I need
a full face mask... like when there is a -40F wind chill. Those days are generally few and far
between tho'.
--
David Nova Scotia, Canada

He wants you...

Donovan Rebbechi said:

In article said:

Hi folks!

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather? I live in New Jersey.

So do I.

Quoted message said:

In this time of the year, it is very cold here.

No it isn't. (If you think it is, wait till mid January ... )

Quoted message said:

For some obvious reasons, I need to train outdoors.

Before I start running on the streets or on the running tracks, I warm up stretching and walking
on the treadmill at home, then I put on layers of clothing before I hit the streets.

No matter how much I warm up at home before I start running on the streets, I feel some kind of
contraction in my leg muscles when I start running in such cold weather. I've been running 1.5
mile everyday for a week. I haven't had any injuries or problems so far. I would appreciate it if
you throw in a few suggestions.

How fast are you training ? I recall that you were previously doing all of your training runs at
maximal or near maximal pace. Try slowing down. If you do speed work, try running at an easy pace.

If you're dressed appropriately for the weather, you shouldn't feel cold.

Depending on how much heat you generate, you could be OK in shorts and a tank top, or you might
need running tights, a lightweight tee, a lightweight running jacket, and gloves. I don't think
you'd need any more than that.

Cheers,

Cold, please, try -50F below with a wind chill of -70F Look at Fairbanks, Alaska, yet they run year
round. First try warming up outside rather than inside, your body will adjust easier and your legs
wont tighten up. Second get a pair of Sporthill's XC Pant Third: Suck it up

"Harold Buck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, "Ryan Atici"

Quoted message said:

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather? I live in

New

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Jersey.

First, I must laugh at you: ha ha ha! I have lived in both NJ and Minnesota, and you do not know
what "freezing cold weather" is.

Quoted message said:

In this time of the year, it is very cold here.

One more time: ha ha ha!

Quoted message said:

For some obvious reasons, I need to train outdoors.

Before I start running on the streets or on the running tracks, I warm

up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stretching and walking on the treadmill at home, then I put on layers of clothing before I hit
the streets.

No matter how much I warm up at home before I start running on the

streets,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I feel some kind of contraction in my leg muscles when I start running

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

such cold weather. I've been running 1.5 mile everyday for a week. I

haven't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

had any injuries or problems so far. I would appreciate it if you throw

in a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

few suggestions.

I'm not sure why you warm up indoors first. I usually just walk outside for a few minutes, then
jog. You should feel cold when you start out; if you're comfy, you're overdressed. If I start to
get warm, I peel off a layer.

What are you wearing? Do you have a decent pair of running tights? Do you have CoolMax stuff, or
are you wearing cotton? The right clothes can make a big difference in your comfort level.

I've never had the "contraction" thing in my muscles in the cold, so I can't speak to that.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather?

Go to florida.

Yeah and get mugged by the Cubans and Puerto Ricans. No thanks, I'll take the cold.

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

Quoted message said:

Seriously, most people still wear shorts in temps like that, and only a few degrees warmer is what
most consider to be perfect running weather! I'm not at all trying to be "macho" or whatever -
just telling you the facts. 🙂

Aren´t you forgetting that a certain winter temperature will feel *very* different depending on
whether you´re on the coast or in the middle of a continent?:-)

I know I´d change the humid winter cold of Helsinki to the nice dry cold of Joensuu - which is
located about 500 km from the Baltic Sea, as Hamilton is(?) from the Atlantic Ocean - gladly (and
I´d probably accept a considerable drop of temperature in the bargain)!

Quoted message said:

But, a pair of lightweight mid-temp tights should do it, and one non-cotton t-shirt with a
lightweight long-sleeved shirt overtop. Wear a pair of gloves, too. Often when it's quite warm
(high 40's, low 50's) with a wind of some sort, a pair of gloves is the only addition you need on
top of regular, summer running gear.

Seconded, the order in which to add protection is: 1) head,
2) hands, 3) family jewels.

Anders

Anders Lustig said:

Aren´t you forgetting that a certain winter temperature will feel *very* different depending on
whether you´re on the coast or in the middle of a continent?:-)

I know I´d change the humid winter cold of Helsinki to the nice dry cold of Joensuu - which is
located about 500 km from the Baltic Sea, as Hamilton is(?) from the Atlantic Ocean - gladly (and
I´d probably accept a considerable drop of temperature in the bargain)!

I grew up in the middle Atlantic states, moved to Colorado, then southcentral Alaska (about 60km
from Cook Inlet, an arm of Pacific Ocean; near coast but not what's considered coastal Alaska) - and
+40F isn't "freezing cold" in any of those areas 😉, IMNSHO - unless the wind is howling at 40mph in
alpine sites while trying to read plots 😉

But, yea, the Fairbanks folks in the interior (about 500+km inland) really hate leaving their dry
-20F for our moist 0F. (They're -31F/-35C and we're +2F/-17C as I write around midnight.) Since
they're colder, they usually get better (drier) snow while we get ice and freezing rain. At -40F,
they start getting issues with square tires, metal fatigue, etc.

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

I don't know... I live at 50 feet above sea level... I can see the Atlantic from my front window...
and my cut-off point for wearing shorts is 40F/5C. I agree that a few degrees warmer than 40F/5C is
the perfect running temperature. But I guess everyone is different. I am but one cRaZy runner.

(Anders Lustig) said:

Aren´t you forgetting that a certain winter temperature will feel *very* different depending on
whether you´re on the coast or in the middle of a continent?:-)

--
David Nova Scotia, Canada

"Anders Lustig" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

"SwStudio" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Seriously, most people still wear shorts in temps like that, and only a few degrees warmer is
what most consider to be perfect running weather! I'm not at all trying to be "macho" or
whatever - just telling you the facts. 🙂

Aren´t you forgetting that a certain winter temperature will feel *very* different depending on
whether you´re on the coast or in the middle of a continent?:-)

I know I´d change the humid winter cold of Helsinki to the nice dry cold of Joensuu - which is
located about 500 km from the Baltic Sea, as Hamilton is(?) from the Atlantic Ocean - gladly (and
I´d probably accept a considerable drop of temperature in the bargain)!

My house is about 2km away from the shores of Lake Ontario, and of course also smack in the middle
of a vast set of lakes. What you envision our weather to be is probably more like Saskatchewan or
something. Southern Ontario is VERY humid, anyone who has been here will attest to that.

cheers,
--
David (in Hamilton, ON) www.allfalldown.org

(TheRacker) said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What is the best advice for running in freezing cold weather?

Go to florida.

Yeah and get mugged by the Cubans and Puerto Ricans. No thanks, I'll take the cold.

There's more PR's and Cubans in NJ than Florida.

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

Quoted message said:

Seriously, most people still wear shorts in temps like that, and only a few degrees warmer is what
most consider to be perfect running weather! I'm not at all trying to be "macho" or whatever -
just telling you the facts. 🙂

Aren´t you forgetting that a certain winter temperature will feel *very* different depending on
whether you´re on the coast or in the middle of a continent?:-)

I know I´d change the humid winter cold of Helsinki to the nice dry cold of Joensuu - which is
located about 500 km from the Baltic Sea, as Hamilton is(?) from the Atlantic Ocean - gladly (and
I´d probably accept a considerable drop of temperature in the bargain)!

Quoted message said:

But, a pair of lightweight mid-temp tights should do it, and one non-cotton t-shirt with a
lightweight long-sleeved shirt overtop. Wear a pair of gloves, too. Often when it's quite warm
(high 40's, low 50's) with a wind of some sort, a pair of gloves is the only addition you need on
top of regular, summer running gear.

Seconded, the order in which to add protection is: 1) head,
2) hands, 3) family jewels.

Anders

Anders Lustig said:

Aren´t you forgetting that a certain winter temperature will feel *very* different depending on
whether you´re on the coast or in the middle of a continent?:-)

I know I´d change the humid winter cold of Helsinki to the nice dry cold of Joensuu - which is
located about 500 km from the Baltic Sea, as Hamilton is(?) from the Atlantic Ocean - gladly (and
I´d probably accept a considerable drop of temperature in the bargain)!

I grew up in the middle Atlantic states, moved to Colorado, then southcentral Alaska (about 60km
from Cook Inlet, an arm of Pacific Ocean; near coast but not what's considered coastal Alaska) - and
+40F isn't "freezing cold" in any of those areas 😉, IMNSHO - unless the wind is howling at 40mph in
alpine sites while trying to read plots 😉

But, yea, the Fairbanks folks in the interior (about 500+km inland) really hate leaving their dry
-20F for our moist 0F. (They're -31F/-35C and we're +2F/-17C as I write around midnight.) Since
they're colder, they usually get better (drier) snow while we get ice and freezing rain. At -40F,
they start getting issues with square tires, metal fatigue, etc.

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope