Thursday, January 28, 2010

too cold

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.

How cold is too cold for you? Or will you run outside in nearly anything?


the picture courtesy of flickr of lake michigan on a day much like today.

24 comments:

kilax said...

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.

kristen said...

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.

Jocelyn said...

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!

The Laminator said...

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!

Anonymous said...

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.

Marlene said...

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.

Mark said...

I fried my treadmill! I've been forced to the fridgid! Now we're getting snow?

RunToTheFinish said...

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

Tricia said...

I live in the south so I pretty much only get to complain (or brag depending on the day) of the heat and humidity.

J said...

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!

Jess said...

I'm a wimp. If it's dipping into the 20s I'm not going out.

X-Country2 said...

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.

lifestudent said...

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.

carpeviam said...

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.

Mom, inc. said...

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!!!??

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Mel-2nd Chances said...

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!!

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Hey Lady! said...

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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