The Running Thread - 2016

[DopeyBadger]

Effort level is huge for me, along with run distance. If I am running 3-5 miles at high effort, I can go out in 15 degree weather with wind in shorts and a tee. But that windy 15 degree day requires more clothing if I am going to be out there for a while or running at an easy pace.

Good call on the distance too. It makes a difference if it's 60 min or 150 min on what I choose to wear.

 

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: I get pretty cold easily especially since I'm not running as fast as you speed demons. I cannot imagine wearing shorts for any reason in the 20-30 range for example! I get the coldest in my legs/butt and my belly. I think I should get a vest, because often my arms are hot but my belly area is cold. It would bridge that gap between wanting like 2 good overall layers in the colder temps and wanting to keep my belly warmer but let my arms breathe.

It was about 35-36 for my group run on Saturday, and that is right at a confusing clothing choice area for me, especially since it was sunny (so would feel warmer) but kind of windy. If it was earlier in the fall, then those temps would definitely just be capris and a long sleeve shirt or a thinner half zip with a short sleeve tech shirt underneath to give my belly/chest a second layer. But it's December, so I went with my lighter pair of fleece lined tights (I have two pairs of Sugoi ones that are great, the MidZero ones which are lighter and the SubZero ones which are heavier) and my Target C9 half zip that has some thin fleece inside and a wind panel on the chest area. That was a mistake on the top half, I should have gone with the thinner half zip. I was really sweaty.

In the 20's, I will add a long sleeve shirt under my half zip and maybe keep the short sleeve tech shirt, too. I have a good NB cold weather jacket, but it was snug as a bug last year and I've gained about 10-15 lbs since then, so that's not getting pulled out this year. On my head, I don't start wearing head coverings until it's down into the 20's. My head gets really warm and sweaty and even if it's cold right at the start, it doesn't take long to warm it up. I should probably get one of those headband earwarmer type things that leave the top of my head open. For hands, I have some thin Smartwool gloves that usually get peeled off pretty quickly as well unless it's in the 20's.

 

[roxymama]

A treadmill

ETA: Sorry if that's a bit glib. I couldn't resist

Same!

 

[opusone]

Has anyone ever had their wrist-based heart rate monitor fail to register because it was too cold? That happened on my last long run. It was somehow picking up my cadence as my HR until it warmed up some. I have skinny wrists, so I wonder if that has something to do with it.

I'm not sure anyone responded to this question yet, but if the watch is even slightly loose, it will likely pick up cadence instead of HR. In cooler weather, I usually have to go one notch further than normal on the strap to ensure it doesn't slip. That usually seems to do the trick. Once you start sweating (even slightly), the watch typically "sticks" better to your arm, so that is why it starts working better once you've warmed up.

Now, all that being said, on my run yesterday, the watch started picking up my cadence towards the end of the run (see graph below). This is the first time I've seen this later in a run, and I'm not quite sure why. The watch still felt like it was on tight enough.

As you see, there was a blip at about mile 8.5, then for the last 2.75 miles. It was the coolest weather so far this fall, so I will try to tighten one more notch for my next run.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Some much colder weather is forecasted to make a run into the deep south in the coming days. What type of gear do you use to stay warm on those colder than normal days?

Well I ran in 31 degrees on Saturday. It might have been colder with the wind chill I am not sure. Anyways, I usually will wear a thin dry-fit shirt with a long sleeve running shirt over that. Then depending on the temperature I will either just wear shorts or wear shorts with compression pants underneath.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

It would take a lot to make me move inside to the treadmill...I think it would have to be in the single digits and icy/with lightning, so layers it is!

Amen! I've only run on a treadmill a half dozen times or so. They were either business travel or the exact weather conditions you describe!

I don't have much special winter gear other than Manzella WindStopper gloves, an earband, and a burglar hat. I layer a combo of short and long sleeve running shirts, trying to guess which one will be the appropriate final layer. I do the same thing with bottoms: shorts, tights, wind pants.

For winter races, I use disposable stuff: arm warmers made of knee socks, old baseball hats, long sleeve Ts with the bottom cut off (so my race number shows), trashbags, etc.

Ariel484, you look like you're ready for a Runner's World photo shoot. When I go running in my winter gear, I look like a homeless person!

 

[cburnett11]

ATTQOTD: In the past, I've probably under-dressed in cold weather relative to what I do now. I've been wearing more lately for 2 reasons: 1) for Easy days I over-dress a bit to help keep my effort down. When I'm more comfortable, I tend to run a bit faster. 2) the temperature in last year's WDW marathon was quite a bit warmer than what I had been training in here. So I'm trying to stay "too warm" in my training in hopes that the likely higher temperatures in Florida for race day will shock me less.

 

[Ariel484]

Amen! I've only run on a treadmill a half dozen times or so. They were either business travel or the exact weather conditions you describe!

I was way more okay with longer treadmill runs when I first started...somehow I did 12.5 miles on the treadmill when training for the 2011 Princess Half. ??!?!?! Now my limit is about 5, and even that is a little much.

Ariel484, you look like you're ready for a Runner's World photo shoot. When I go running in my winter gear, I look like a homeless person!

Why thank you!! I'm not gonna lie, having cool running clothes gets me more motivated to get out there. It's such a cliche girly thing to say, but it's true.

 

[Ariel484]

ATTQOTD: In the past, I've probably under-dressed in cold weather relative to what I do now. I've been wearing more lately for 2 reasons: 1) for Easy days I over-dress a bit to help keep my effort down. When I'm more comfortable, I tend to run a bit faster. 2) the temperature in last year's WDW marathon was quite a bit warmer than what I had been training in here. So I'm trying to stay "too warm" in my training in hopes that the likely higher temperatures in Florida for race day will shock me less.

YES - the weather is so weird for this weekend that I think it's great idea to occasionally train in slightly warm weather. I've done this weekend 3 times - heat advisories in 2012 and 2013, wind chill warning in 2015 (for part of the weekend, anyway). You just never know.

 

[croach]

ATTQOTD: generally I'll go out in a warm long sleeve under shirt over a lighter long sleeve top, shorts, beanie, and gloves. Have to have my hands warm. That's a must. Will go tights depending on temps but usually has more to with the wind. Broke them out this weekend as it was breezy. Whatever it takes to avoid the treadmill though.

 

[JeffW]

QOTD: Some much colder weather is forecasted to make a run into the deep south in the coming days. What type of gear do you use to stay warm on those colder than normal days?

Layers, layers, layers. Colorado can throw all seasons at you in a 3 hour run, so I've found layers that are easy to carry when you have to take them off are key. I like Zensa arm sleeves and calf sleeves, instead of tights or a long sleeve shirt. That way I can tuck them in my belt if I want to take them off. Gloves like the Craft Hybrid Weather glove have a cover that converts them to pseudo-mittens if the wind whips up.

 

[Miranda]

I was way more okay with longer treadmill runs when I first started...somehow I did 12.5 miles on the treadmill when training for the 2011 Princess Half. ??!?!?! Now my limit is about 5, and even that is a little much.

I am the same. Tink 2015 was my first half, and first race in 20+ years, and it was a very hard/snowy winter up here in NH that year. I was not able to make it outdoors until late March because I didn't have any cold weather gear yet that year, and I did all my runs on the treadmill at the gym, right up through the 10 miler. I was doing the Galloway beginner plan that alternated the 4 mile weeks with the long run weeks, so I did the 10 miler, then the 4 miler, then in late March I finally did my first outdoor run for the 11.5 miler. Yikes! This past winter, I thought surely my training would go better because I was in better shape, but I could not make myself get on that darn treadmill for anything more than a 30-40 min run, and even that was torture.

 

[Ariel484]

I am the same. Tink 2015 was my first half, and first race in 20+ years, and it was a very hard/snowy winter up here in NH that year. I was not able to make it outdoors until late March because I didn't have any cold weather gear yet that year, and I did all my runs on the treadmill at the gym, right up through the 10 miler. I was doing the Galloway beginner plan that alternated the 4 mile weeks with the long run weeks, so I did the 10 miler, then the 4 miler, then in late March I finally did my first outdoor run for the 11.5 miler. Yikes! This past winter, I thought surely my training would go better because I was in better shape, but I could not make myself get on that darn treadmill for anything more than a 30-40 min run, and even that was torture.

Seriously, treadmills are the worst.

 

[roxymama]

I guess I should amend my answer to say that I did run outside sat. when it was 38, but because of where I live I don't register that as the "cold weather." So my answer of "treadmill" is more like when it is like 25 or below. I'd do 25-30 outside if 3-4 miles or less. Above 30 and I'm just running in tights and a light pullover (maybe gloves)...cause I get real hot when I run.

Also, I was going to write, I need to bring tissues for my nose when it gets cold, but the fine folks over on my journal have urged me to learn to snot rocket

 

[roxymama]

Seriously, treadmills are the worst.

Treadmills = necessary evil

 

[DopeyBadger]

the temperature in last year's WDW marathon was quite a bit warmer than what I had been training in here. So I'm trying to stay "too warm" in my training in hopes that the likely higher temperatures in Florida for race day will shock me less.

A very wise strategy. I will start my heat acclimation period for WDW weekend on 12/22/16. The science says roughly 14 days or 10 workouts to adjust to a new temperature situation. At that point I'm just into the taper and can focus on just trying to adjust to the hotter temps. The paces of the runs will suffer, but the effort will remain the same. At that point, I've got the fitness I'll have for Dopey one way or the other, but the heat acclimation will give me that last edge I need. I used the strategy last year and was only roughly 10 min off my predicted marathon time.

 

[Miranda]

I just use my sleeve for tissues.

Man I am looking at vests and I thought they would not be that expensive because I mean, they don't even have sleeves, that's like a third of the jacket missing right there! But some of these cost way more than my good jacket did!

 

[Ariel484]

I guess I should amend my answer to say that I did run outside sat. when it was 38, but because of where I live I don't register that as the "cold weather." So my answer of "treadmill" is more like when it is like 25 or below. I'd do 25-30 outside if 3-4 miles or less. Above 30 and I'm just running in tights and a light pullover (maybe gloves)...cause I get real hot when I run.

YEP. I just keep reminding myself...38 seems cold, but it's gonna get a lot worse!

Also, I was going to write, I need to bring tissues for my nose when it gets cold, but the fine folks over on my journal have urged me to learn to snot rocket

Now, who would urge you to do that?.....



....oh.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I'm not sure anyone responded to this question yet, but if the watch is even slightly loose, it will likely pick up cadence instead of HR. In cooler weather, I usually have to go one notch further than normal on the strap to ensure it doesn't slip. That usually seems to do the trick. Once you start sweating (even slightly), the watch typically "sticks" better to your arm, so that is why it starts working better once you've warmed up.

How does this work in really cold weather? Does the GPS still work when covered by layers of sleeves? You have to pull back your sleeves to see things like intervals or heart rate?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

ATTQOTD: In the past, I've probably under-dressed in cold weather relative to what I do now. I've been wearing more lately for 2 reasons: 1) for Easy days I over-dress a bit to help keep my effort down. When I'm more comfortable, I tend to run a bit faster. 2) the temperature in last year's WDW marathon was quite a bit warmer than what I had been training in here. So I'm trying to stay "too warm" in my training in hopes that the likely higher temperatures in Florida for race day will shock me less.

I plan to start doing this 4 weeks out. It helps. Run uncomfortably hot by layering up and you acclimatize as if you are running in Florida temps.