Yesterday I ran 2 miles coaching my pace group. It was -4 degrees when I got up in the morning and -2 degrees by the time we started running. It was a challenging run and for many, their first-ever sub-zero run. I was proud of them for even showing up – all bundled up and ready to go – it would have been really easy to stay in bed for [only] 2 miles in bitterly cold temperatures, especially after they ran 5 miles last week!
I ran 6 more miles with Duane and Wendy – they coached me and kept me running when I wanted to literally walk back to my car and go home. I ran all 6 miles (except when I threw up, see below) and actually ran a few of those miles at a 12:30 pace, which made me feel really good about myself (thanks for pushing me, Wendy!). And, I learned the following:
- Negative 2 degrees is cold no matter how warmly you are dressed. It doesn’t matter if you have insulated clothes, cold gear, gloves, hat, wool socks, fleece, multiple layers – cold is cold.
- 2 miles is cold. 8 miles is still cold. You remember complaining about 97 degree days over the summer and wonder why.
- When it is -2 outside, you do not warm up once you start running, you just get numb.
- Even your sweat turns to ice. While it is still on you.
- You will have to ask someone if your skin is exposed under your outer layer (i.e. your stomach flab) because you can’t feel it anymore, but you think it might be colder than the rest of you.
- Chomps are hard to eat frozen – they also come back up hard, partially digested from your stomach, when you find out that nutrition isn’t going to be the one that works for you. Back to GU it is. Forget variety when you’re training for a marathon.
- If you stop to pee on the trail, you won’t be able to feel it, and then you will wonder why you even bothered to stop if you can’t feel it anyway.
- Running on semi-icy trails counts as an agility workout too by the time you dodge it all trying not to fall – again.
By the way – it was 0 degrees when we finished and I made it back to my car.
And now to hear what you all have to say:
What is your coldest run so far? Do you mind running in sub-zero temperatures? If not, what makes it enjoyable (or bearable!) for you? What is your favorite cold weather running product?
Happy running (especially if you are not living in the arctic),
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I gave up running in the sub-zero temps and am now a proud gym member. However, I did a lot of sub-zero running last year. You deserve a nice warm cup of hot chocolate. Way to go!
I have never run subzero either. I’m with Karen Disney 2010 with the sleet was the worst weather I’ve ever run in. Today it was 4 degrees here in Mass & my running partner & I decided to hit the gym for our long run. That freezing weather makes me nervous that there will be ice that I could slip and fall on. Sorry I have no good advice for you. You definitely deserve starbucks or something!
Oh my goodness! That is insane! You’re so hard core =)
I have never run in sub zero temps but it just doesn’t get that cold here! Honestly, the coldest run I’ve ever done was 2010 Disney World Half Marathon where I had sleet pounding me in the face! I’m a southern girl so when it’s 30 degrees outside, it’s COLD! lol
Way to go for getting out and running in such weather! Kudos to all the others who got out as well!
i am cold just thinking about that!! I live in Arizona, so luckily i don’t have to deal with the subzero temps. However, i do get to deal with the triple digit temps. Hottest weather i ran in was 104. (And that was AFTER the sun went down!)
sub zero SUCKS!!! I’m in MT and I get that all the time. My favorite running product is my Patagonia R1. It’s AWESOME! (I’m a new follower)
You were actually sub 12:30 on part of it. 😉 You hung in there just fine!
I’m laughing about #5. It took me a good 20 minutes in a hot shower to get my stomach to not feel cold to touch!
Great job – you, Wendy and the others are CRAZY! It was a treadmill kind of day for me.
Brrr!! I’m in Texas AND I’ma big wimp so I don’t run in anything less than 40-50!
sub zero SUCKS!!! I’m in MT and I get that all the time. My favorite running product is my Patagonia R1. It’s AWESOME! (I’m a new follower)
Oh my goodness! That is insane! You’re so hard core =)