How cold is too cold?

[Habs4ever]

Oh wow, that DHR 500 is serious business! (The fact that I'm imagining it and thinking I couldn't get through it all probably means I need to start doing it...)

Be prepared to cry, I did.

[ratherawkward]

Reporting back: I just tried the DHR 500 and by the time I got through the push-ups (and I had to do them girl-style), I was forced to cut the rest down to 20 reps instead of 50. I was still cursing all the way through it, and almost couldn't get my arms over my head to change shirts afterwards. I have never done anything like 50 pushups in my life before, though (even doing them on the knees, I think the most I've ever managed was maybe 20-ish), so I'm feeling accomplished nonetheless.

I was having trouble figuring out how I was meant to touch my toes in the V-sit, though - are you supposed to reach forward and touch toes or is it more like a jackknife?

[fit-kitty]

Smartwool socks are great, but at a certain point they don't work (usually below -15 and after about an hour, haha).

I was actually surprised to find that my feet are never an issue. My ass gets cold, and working out the balance between having a warm face and being able to breath is an issue, but feet no problemo.

Having said that, have you tried the "Woolie Boolie" socks at MEC? They are actually cycling socks, but they are great because they are warm and also because they cover your ankles nicely so there is a good overlap with your tights or pants.

+1000 on the ass coldness! There was a really windy day a few wks ago, and my skin was swollen and itchy after. And puckered like chicken skin! Ha


I really really hate the treadmill, so I avoid it as much. So as long as I can be seen (blizzardly snow) I would just rather be outside.

[Habs4ever]

Reporting back: I just tried the DHR 500 and by the time I got through the push-ups (and I had to do them girl-style), I was forced to cut the rest down to 20 reps instead of 50. I was still cursing all the way through it, and almost couldn't get my arms over my head to change shirts afterwards. I have never done anything like 50 pushups in my life before, though (even doing them on the knees, I think the most I've ever managed was maybe 20-ish), so I'm feeling accomplished nonetheless.

I was having trouble figuring out how I was meant to touch my toes in the V-sit, though - are you supposed to reach forward and touch toes or is it more like a jackknife?

I do them jackknife style.

[La]

Reporting back: I just tried the DHR 500 and by the time I got through the push-ups (and I had to do them girl-style), I was forced to cut the rest down to 20 reps instead of 50. I was still cursing all the way through it, and almost couldn't get my arms over my head to change shirts afterwards. I have never done anything like 50 pushups in my life before, though (even doing them on the knees, I think the most I've ever managed was maybe 20-ish), so I'm feeling accomplished nonetheless.

I was having trouble figuring out how I was meant to touch my toes in the V-sit, though - are you supposed to reach forward and touch toes or is it more like a jackknife?

CAW started a new thread for this discussion in the Training forum.

[Tisha]

I have only one thing to add re:duct tape...I used to put it on my shoes, but had issues with it falling off so I started duct-taping the top of the socks themselves...worked like a charm - blocked the wind and didn't come off. My DH uses clear tape on his socks with the same results.

That's what I was thinking when I suggested putting the tape on the inside of the shoes. I like your idea better! For cycling, if I don't have my booties or toe warmers, I've put my feet in plastic bags before putting on my cycling shoes and that works GREAT. But I don't think it would work for running because my feet usually do heat up after a while running, whereas in cycling they do not (once they're cold they stay cold).

Also with plastic bags I wonder if the foot would slip around in the shoe more...

A friend uses plastic bags and has never had a problem. She didn't complain about slippage in the shoe. My feet haven't given me an issue. I do wear a thicker pair of socks in the winter than what I wear in the summer but haven't duct taped or bagged my feet yet. I also praise shoe grippers although they send shock waves up my legs and back when I hit bare pavement in them.

[NMG]

Probably about -20 or so is my limit. I've run in colder than that but I'd rather just hit the treadmill if it's that cold. I think the bigger issue for me is footing and wind. If I have good footing and no wind, the temp doesn't really bother me all that much. If either of those are issues, I'll typically hit the treadmill regardless of temp.

[QuickChick]

Great ideas about the duct tape on the socks, and the toe warmers!! I'll have to look for those- they could change my life!!

Cold feet just suck- I'm sitting here INDOORS, and my right foot is currently completely pale yellow and numb. They are probably also the reason I wouldn't cycle a lot in the winter, too- I've biked a bit when it's been dry, but the last day I did, it was about -2 and my feet FROZE after about 45 minutes. I had my full-grain leather Ugg boots on, too, which are super warm, as well as wooly socks. As La said when they're not moving, once they get cold they just don't warm up!

[Strider]

At around -40 the layers and clothing you have to wear get a little Thick/Heavy/Stiff that it makes "running" difficult so that seems to me the more limiting factor over the actual cold in my experience. That said, if I want to run the YAU100 next year I need to be able to run in -50 (That is what Spaff said it got down too overnight last year), so I better get use to it.

[Marg]

Marg cries at about -20. Proven fact.

No argument here!

[HCcD]

Marg cries at about -20. Proven fact.

No argument here!

It's suppose to be -19C / -29C windchill later this evening, Jes .... Just under your threshold ... and, about -10C over my current threshold, so we'll see who whines first, 'k !!!

[purdy65]

OK,

8K fairly easy on the TM, but I'm NOT looking forward to my clinic tonight. Yuck.

[HCcD]

Ever tried thost Hot Pants, yet ??? http://www.runnersworld.com/running-apparel/hot-pants-warming#.UP6kCGhO5fs.twitter

[Joe Dwarf]

I think these Bun Toasters might be a little more practical. ETA: discussed in this thread.

[ultraslacker]

I love my sugoi bun toasters!!

[HCcD]

Those hand warmers actually works .... Have a stock of them in my stash that I picked up a few years back, but never actually used them, for whatever reason ... Used the Little Hotties (up to 8 hrs) this evening in betwen gloves and mittens, and my digits stayed relatively toasty in the -22C / -29C windchill for my hour run ...

[Blair]

-25c including the windchill is about my limit (pushed that tonight!).
I wear two layers on the legs (one windproof) and three on the upper body (again, one windproof). A double layer of mitts and an extra warm toque. The feet have never been a problem so it's a single layer of tech socks.

I try to plan my route so that it's multiple smaller loops or out-and-back with a cross wind. Tonight, the gang did a trail run so the trees blocked most of the wind.

[La]

It's currently -20. It hasn't been that cold in TO since January of 2011 (when Carla was here). It's supposed to "warm up" to -9C so depending on how I feel about that, I might actually run on the TM at the gym rather than braving the cold. Brrr.

[KBO]

I love my sugoi bun toasters!!

I have the RR version of them and love them as well. They are an essential layer on a cold day.

This week I find it too cold to run outside. It's -29 this morning with a windchill of something crazy. I'm quite content on my treadmill in the morning. At least I can wear shorts and don't have to deal with all the layering etc.

[DonnaRigs]

I've run in -50 and although I wasn't cold while running, I always am a little terrified of getting injured, so I try to stay where there are lots of people/places. Those temps can be pretty isolating (not many people outside) so it's important to be safe.

But I am also paranoid.

[JoaniB]

I would not be running outside in Ontario's weather right now, that's for sure!

Now that I'm back in Alberta, I find I don't mind running up to about -18C, depending on wind-chill. This is a far cry from my wimpy self last year where I couldn't bring myself to run outside in -5C.

Still, I can't wait for spring to come.