This was a challenging week for runners with the Arctic Cold Front for the first part of the week. Cold weather is expected in the winter but we have been so spoiled with temperatures ideal for running the few weeks before it arrived. For most of the residents around here it was the first time we had to wear winter coats.
Runners had to add some necessary extra items to stay warm during the daily run. I think most runners have the clothing to wear for cold weather. It was just the problem of finding it since it was worn last year and digging it out of the closet.
When the temperature drops into the single digits, necessary precautions are needed for a run. The easy items are the mittens and wool caps for the hands and head. The runners that have been running in cold weather know that the first mile will be a bit chilly but body heat will catch up on mile two and not to overdress for that first mile. A nice long-sleeve shirt under a windbreaker is usually enough to keep a runner warm. I wore tights on my legs and on very cold days a pair of nylon pants to keep the wind out. One runner advised taking saran wrap and enclosing the shoes to keep the moisture and cold out. Some runners put the saran wrap around their feet inside the shoes and found it to work keeping the feet warm when running in some snow.
In very cold weather the addition of a mouth and nose covering is recommended. Breathing in cold air can damage the tissues of the lungs. A bandana will work in place of a runner’s mask. A thin layer of petroleum jelly or Vaseline on the cheeks helps prevent frost bite. The temperature is one item and the wind chill effect is another. Running creates its own wind chill effect.
I was visiting my parents one Christmas in North Dakota. The high temperature for the day was 10 degrees below zero. I thought it would be a good experience to run in below zero temperature. I put on a quilted underwear suit on my legs and body under a nylon running suit. I put on a wool cap that came down over my ears and a scarf to keep the wind off the neck area. I bought a runner’s mask that was a nice thick covering and had an opening in the front to breathe in and exhale out. I was comfortable for most of the run. I had trouble breathing through that slit in the mask for enough air and would pull it down for a few good breaths and then put it back over the mouth and nose.
The other problem was the six inches of snow on the ground covering a layer of ice underneath. The feet would slide out to the side and balance was a constant battle. Any uphill was a losing battle as it seemed one step forward was met with half a step backward. The run emphasized runners are a bit crazy to run in extreme conditions. The saying from people who climb mountains when asked why they do it the answer is always, “Because it was there.” Why did I run in extreme cold weather is the same answer, “because it was there and I had never challenged it before.”
For extreme challenges there is a marathon in Antarctica. Running in the South Pole stretches the imagination for cold temperatures. Now the below freezing temperature may be closer to minus 50 degrees. Running gear is jackets and pants designed for sled dog racing instead of running. The shoes may have small spikes for traction on the ice sections. But the number of runners is enough to have a race worth putting on.
Forecasts predict a few more cold fronts over the coming month or more but now runners have the winter running clothes out and will handle the cold just fine. Beginners that overdressed during this cold front will now know all those warm sweatshirts are not necessary.
