The weather is always a hot topic amongst runners. Living in the north I get to complain about how hot and humid it is or bitter cold nasty it is outside :) Last week was a little teaser of what a mild winter might be like with January temperatures reaching the 40's one day! How quickly we forget what true winter weather in Chicago feels like. Today we are back to a high of 13 degrees, real feel -1. Brrr... and even more so after the temporary "warmup". Yet on my drive home from the suburbs this afternoon I saw people running the lakefront path. I know it's sunny today and we haven't seen that orange ball in the sky for awhile but a wind chill of -1 is just too cold for me to get outside. The cold and wind hurt, my jaw goes number, and overall it is uncomfortable and not a lot of fun. Yes, treadmill running is mundane and frustrating (for me) but a necessary evil. I'm usually okay with running short to mid distances outside with temps in the 20's and I run in snow and slush. However, once it hits the teen's or is iced over I'm heading to the gym. the picture courtesy of flickr of lake michigan on a day much like today.
24 comments:
We were really spoiled this weekend, weren't we?
I am so sick of the treadmill, I have been going on in the teens and lower on the weekends.
I live in the north too, but luckily I don't have to deal with temps that cold on a regular basis. Yikes! Honestly, I've never not run due to the weather, but I totally get why you would do the treadmill. That's COLD.
I hate that this winter has been so bipolar. i love how warm it gets but if drops below 30 I get so mad. How easy we forget that this is what is should be...The only thing that really stops me if is if its windy! I can't handle that!
I think 30 is about the limit for me! I have raced in single digits once, but then I learned that kind of cold isn't meant for running because even the Gatorade gets slushy!
Back in college, in Buffalo the weather cold didn't really bother me. Not sure if I was tougher then or just stupid! Luckily, I live in NC and it never really gets too cold to run outside. You guys are definitely hard core.
I think I can safely say that I'll run in just about anything...
Totally don't blame you, though. If I wasn't meeting up with a group, I'd bail a LOT more often.
I fried my treadmill! I've been forced to the fridgid! Now we're getting snow?
So last year I decided that I could pretty much run in any temp, but I couldn't run with the crazy ice!!! OIk fine I've also never had to try like -30 either
I live in the south so I pretty much only get to complain (or brag depending on the day) of the heat and humidity.
I think it just depends on how warm you dress! plus the first mile in the cold is always the hardest until you get warmed up!
I'm a wimp. If it's dipping into the 20s I'm not going out.
It got teaser warm and then cold again around here too. Hate. I can do down to 10 when it's sunny and about 15-20 if it's cloudy. Not that I like it though.
YEAH - ITS TOO COLD! Darn You Chicago!
Anything with windchills below 0 I will not go out in. I prefer not to head out unless the "feels like" is at least 10.
I hate the mill. But, will run on it as a very last resort. I head outside as much as I can. Bundle up if necessary.
omg--i am dealing with this dilemma RIGHT NOW!! It's 13 degrees and I could either run outside (yikes) or go to the gym for the "good" treadmills. I have 13 on the schedge for today. I don't know what to do!!!??
I seemed to be a lot tougher last year, now that I have my gym literally across a parking lot from where I live, I choose the necessary evil of the treadmill too. Although, I really do prefer the outdoor runs a lot more. Stay warm!!
Wow! I'm REALLY wimpy! I grew up in California and while I now live in Texas, I can't go running if it's under 50 degrees!
You all are hard core!
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