Canadian cold weather running

[TaintedVampyre]

Alright,

I feel like I've asked this question, but boo hoo I'll ask again Maybe I'll get more replies.

 

Alas, fall is quickly creeping upon Northern Alberta and evenings are warm-ish, but the mornings are starting to get crispy. Either time of day, the air is chill. Enough to make a runner's breath quicken and sharp. Anybody have any suggestions on what I could buy to aid in that department?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

[buffyfraz]

I know this might sound funny, but we use to use a scarf over our faces when I use to run in January. I bet you could use what hunters or people who go snow mobiling use to cover their face. It will make your face feel a little warm but it did keep the cold air out of the lungs better.

[cleo]

I live in Toronto. In the winter I wear base shirts- the brand I have I got from Eddie Bauer, but any sports shop/hiking shop should have them. Skiers use them too I think. I used to just wear a thin Adidas jacket on top of the base shirt, with a neck gaiter I got from a running shop, that was good for up to -30c.

 

That all did me up until about -10, though typically my arms did get cold. But you then just layer on top of the base shirts as needed. I found they were excellent. Very comfortable, lightweight, and surprisingly warm given the look of them.

 

I never had a problem with my legs getting cold. But I know it's much colder in Alberta so I would adjust accordingly.

[QuirkyDM]

I got some cold running gear from Sports Chek, but I can't remember the brand right now. It seems like standard winter running gear to me. It lookss so thin, but it does a great job of keeping me warm and I have to be careful not to wear it unless it's cold enough or else I'll sweat too much.

 

On top of that, I wear my light running jacket and some loose nylon pants. This is to act as a windbreaker as that can bite through the clothes. In this gear, I've gone out in -30 weather without issue.

 

I have a pair of running gloves, but in really cold weather, I wear thicker gloves over top. I do have skinny hands with poor circulation, though. A toque and scarf works for me, but I will end up taking the scarf on and off my face depending on my breathing and how much it ices up.

 

I haven't tried it, but I've been told that smothering your face in vaseline is one of the better ways to protect your bare skin on runs. One of my friends who does a lot of outdoor running does it and he runs all through the winter.

[Kaylya]

I've been thinking of getting myself a Buff (They have several other kinds)

I'm a wuss and the coldest I've gone out in is about -15C, which is probably nothing compared to what's coming up in Northern Alberta. Last year was the first time I really kept up running through the winter.

[QuirkyDM]

Another thing about cold weather running is if you use your phone. Last year I went for a cold run and my phone shut down as a safety measure because it was too cold. So you might want to find a way to keep it insulated. I've run into the same issue with the drinking tube on my camelbak. I take it snowshoeing, but I have to tuck it in to my jacket or else it freezes up.

[aeshnidae]

I've done lots of winter runs in both Colorado and Maryland (I think Maryland is worse, because it has humidity that makes the cold sink into your bones. It took me a few tries to find "just right," where I wasn't chilly but didn't sweat excessively. For the winter, I have a wicking base layer (Merino wool is really great for this because it wicks moisture but also keeps warmth better than most tech shirts), a vest, a light water resistant jacket with zippered vents, running tights, wind resistant pants, a neck gaiter, a face mask, a hat/beanie, and gloves. Usually I just need the base layer, vest or jacket, tights, beanie, and gloves...and I usually take the beanie and gloves off mid-run. 

 

Active.com recommends the following:

From 32 degrees to 20 degrees: Use a hat, light gloves, a base layer and running tights.

From 20 degrees to 10 degrees: Use a hat, heavy gloves, a base layer, a jacket and running tights.

From 10 degrees to minus 10 degrees: Use a hat, heavy gloves, a neck gaiter, a face mask, two base layers, a jacket, running tights and winter running pants.

Below 10 degrees: Wear two hats, two gloves, a neck gaiter, a face mask, two base layers, a winter ski jacket, long underwear, running tights and winter running pants.

[mst3kharris]

I'm taking notes on what to wear in the winter, but I'm curious: do any of you wear glasses, and if so, how do you deal with your glasses fogging up if you wear a face mask?

[LazyDragonAR]

Alright,

I feel like I've asked this question, but boo hoo I'll ask again Maybe I'll get more replies.

 

Alas, fall is quickly creeping upon Northern Alberta and evenings are warm-ish, but the mornings are starting to get crispy. Either time of day, the air is chill. Enough to make a runner's breath quicken and sharp. Anybody have any suggestions on what I could buy to aid in that department?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

I'm just outside of Edmonton and have taken up cross country skiing during the winter, face wise I just use a loose scarf but its not a great solution.  Maybe check out mountain equipment co-op or any other outdoor sports store if they have one in Fort Mac?  Any equipment for cross country skiing would work well because its crazy cardio as well.  How late into the winter will you be running, that sounds daunting... and slippery!

[LazyDragonAR]

I'm taking notes on what to wear in the winter, but I'm curious: do any of you wear glasses, and if so, how do you deal with your glasses fogging up if you wear a face mask?

 

There are commercial or home-made anti fog sprays you can use that help a bit.  We use them for our safety glasses in the winter

[aeshnidae]

I'm taking notes on what to wear in the winter, but I'm curious: do any of you wear glasses, and if so, how do you deal with your glasses fogging up if you wear a face mask?

 

I don't wear glasses (yay for LASIK!) but some of my friends have prescription ski goggles and wear them for winter trail running as well as skiing/snowboarding. 

[Jay T Bone]

I may seem like a crazy Brit when i say this, but when i run in winter in the north of england (it can get as cold as canada; i checked ) i usually run in just a pair of tracksuit bottoms, a t shirt and thermal top, and military boots [which is hard, but warm and waterproof]. even though you WILL be cold at the start,you should be running as hard as you can towards the end of the workout, and when you have finished, you feel almost primal, you get so pumped because of the blood pumping under cold skin. 

anyway, you may think i am insane, but this is the best advice i can give.

cheers!

J

[MissoulaSquatch]

I couldn't remember where I bought this, low and behold google delivers again:

http://www.sears.com/outdoor-black-neoprene-thermal-half-face-mask-adjustable/p-SPM2358290703?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

I don't leave home without this in the winter, I've used it for cross country skiing, working outside (grew up on 10 acres..tons to do in the winter), and more.  I'm sure it will adapt well to winter workouts as well.  The ventilation holes on it are great for letting air out without getting a lot of moisture build up.

That aside, I'll be following this because I need to find good recommendations for winter pants/jackets since I walk everywhere..including my gym..and I don't want to take my giant wool jacket in with me, lol

[mediaguy99]

OK, Colorado runner here, and I run in midweight or heavyweight running tights when it's in the single digits (F).  On top of that goes a tech tee, with a long sleeve lightweight or midweight merino shirt, with a long sleeve fleece jacket over top of that.  Wool hat, fleece gloves (ranging from very thin to pretty thick) carries me from 32F down to 0.  When I run below 0F, I either turn the tech tee into a long sleeve tech tee, and then wear a heavier jacket, or a heavier hat, or a combination.  Can't imagine running with something over my mouth.  That'd make me crazy.  

 

I've gone cycling in 15F and that feels like -30F when you're heading downhill.  Down vest under windproof outer layer.  

[raymith]

When I lived in Edmonton outdoor hockey practices were tough, just something to help insulate the air coming in because I don't know how many people have run into it but as I breath in straight cold air it feels like I have asthma. but just a scarf or a face mask should help.

[Stonefist]

Speaking as someone who used to live in Ultima Thule (or at least pretty darn close), while having exercise triggered asthma, by far the best thing for warming the air going into your lungs would be the lungplus: http://robtech.fi/shop/, a sort of mouth-catalyst which heats it before it reaches your lungs. It will make it a bit harder to draw air, but at least compared to having an asthma attack, its preferrable.

 

Edit: It just dawned on me that access to this sort of equipment might not be readily available overseas. If so, there is a much cheaper alternative:

 

Adjust your breathing pattern to be in through the nose, out through the mouth, instead of pure mouthbreathing, as most people tend to do when exercising.

 

This will probably take some time to get used to, and you might feel like you can't exert quite as much, due to not getting oxygen as efficiently, but in my experience that's mostly psychological. After years of doing it, it's pretty much second nature for me at this point.

 

I personally would never use a mask or scarf over the mouth. It's bad enough that my own lungs are trying to choke me, I don't need to add to the sensation.

[Deirdredawne]

Lot of answers for what I view as chilly temps (-15 and warmer) but we have a lot of weeks where we are sitting around -20 and colder - anyone run then? 

 

I found a running mask type thing that covers my chin and part of my neck, as well as a fleece like cowl that doesn't stink up that goes over my lower face - these work awesome! Beats or a toque are for the head, and I wear sunglasses, unless it's at night - then I just struggle (ps: did you know you can actually freeze your eyeballs if the wind is too high at around the -30 point... that's a fun thought!).  But what about for legs? I have a load of fleece lined tights/exercise tights. and base layer is necessary for the real cold - but my constant conundrum about SHOES. 

 

What do you wear for shoes in the snow? I have my Sorel boots - (got for Xmas, and LOVE) but their not for running! Running shoes are far too cold (too breezey, and I find thick socks make them too tight), and don't protect my ankles from snow. So I'm curious - what do you guys use?

[Kaylya]

I wear normal running shoes with socks that cover my ankles; not terribly thick or anyting just not my thinnest or shortest. Some are merino wook and one are synthetic. If you find your feet get cold there are goretex trail running shoes you could get. Or maybe you could get some short gaiters if snow down the shoe is a problem.

My main limiting factor is if its cold enough that I want to cover my nose; I wear glasses and if I do that my glasses fog up and I can't see. Sometimes I'll take them off while walking but I really needn to see while running.

[mediaguy99]

When it's truly frigid out and there's snow, I pull gaitors on over goretex running shoes and wear thick hiking socks.  That'll spell me for up to a 60 min run as long as I keep moving.  The gaitors keep the snow from infiltrating my shoes too badly through trail type snow, but they won't do much for off trail.  I'm assuming you run streets and paths?

 

Anyway, for the ice, nothing beats microspikes.  For less than crazy ice conditions, yax trax runners are great.  

 

As for fog etc, though I loath them as a rule, for outdoor endeavors in the cold one just needs contacts.  They don't fog up.