My First Run of 2014

What is the best strategy for warming up really cold toes?

Gently, gently.

Don't you love bluebird days? I've been on XC skis the last couple of days and the weather was spectacular. Flat calm, around -12C, clear skies, bright sun - I've probably got more colour now than I have in the summer!
 
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My First Run of 2014
By JosephTree
Photo by PublicDomainPhotos.com


I've been suffering from Motivational Deficiency (MD) of late, but couldn't resist the sun and sparkle of this morning. So what if there's 7 inches of new snow and the temp is hovering around 12F? That's up from 1F this morning, and should feel relatively balmy. Wind is calm today, anyway, which is a blessing.

So I layered up a bit:
- 4 long sleeve tech shirts
- 2 long lycra pants
- one pair knit ankle warmers
- one pair knit half mits
- one nearly felted knit wool cap, and
- one pair of Vibram Bikilas

I headed out my door and skipped around the already melting bits of slush and within 400 yards was on my local trail. I was delighted to find it was still virgin snow, except for the tracks of lots of deer, fox, squirrel, rabbits, and et ceteras. I hadn't realized how busy the wildlife was around here!

The running was exquisite! Easy and quiet, and the layered clothes served just fine. My feet felt the cold, but were OK for most of the run. I limited my distance to about 3.5 miles just to be sure to get home with the same number of toes I started with, and was glad I did. I hadn't realized how much more work it is running in snow. By the time I hit the 3 mile mark I was really starting to feel it, and was streaming sweat. Also, my feet were feeling a little too good, in that they weren't feeling much at all. I could wiggle my toes, and did that a lot, but I knew I was just about done.

It was a fine First Run, and I look forward to many more through the year.

I do have one question for the intrepid winter runner folk here, and that is:

-----> What is the best strategy for warming up really cold toes?

- Shuck off the shoes (if any) and hit the shower? or

- Baby them a bit and let them come up to temp gently before subjecting them to the warm water?

Either way I think one will get some of the agony of returning circulation....or maybe not? Any wisdom on this point?
 
-----> What is the best strategy for warming up really cold toes?
I like putting on a pair of smart wool socks when I get home, or keeping them on and just taking off the shoes if I was running shod, then doing whatever I was going to do besides taking a shower until the feet have returned to normal, or close to normal, and then take the shower. Seems like reheating them with socks on speeds up the process a bit without overdoing it.

If you've got actual frostnip or frostbite, it's especially important not to warm up the feet quickly, and only do it when you can keep them warm, that is, don't warm them up and then let them get cold again. I know this suggestion doesn't really apply to the kind of run you've described, but might serve for future reference.

Man, forecast for tonight: -25F/-31C air temp, -52F /-47C windchill. It's going to be an ordeal just getting into and out of the car tomorrow on our way to the airport for a trip to Southern CA!
 
"Man, forecast for tonight: -25F/-31C air temp, -52 F /-47C windchill."

Lee, now you're getting into ArticDuplo/Thomas' territory! I don't blame you for scampering away to warmer climes. Bon voyage!
 
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Re: "win / win"

You are a lucky man. Such behavior got me consigned to a different floor for sleeping quarters and gave my spouse incentive to turn exclusively to women for consortium. Ah, well. Live and learn.
 
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-----> What is the best strategy for warming up really cold toes?

When I get finished, I go up the stairs in my apartment. The stairwell is not really inside any building but it's enclosed and has a little heater device at the bottom, trickling a small amount of heat up the stairwell. This makes it warmer than outside but not really _that_ warm compared to inside an actual person's apartment or say the office areas.

Anyway, when I go up to the third floor is this semi-heated stairwell. That's how my feet end up nice and warmed up enough to make it to my apartment back through cold, outside hallways (the hallways aren't heated). Then once I'm inside my actual apartment, my feet warm up the rest of the way fairly easily.

I guess going up the stairwell is a nice way of gradually warming my feet up. It seems better than just plunging them into scalding hot water or something along those lines.

By the time I get in and take a shower my feet are pretty much back to normal and they can handle the hot water.

V/r,
Bryan
 
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So I layered up a bit:
- 4 long sleeve tech shirts
- 2 long lycra pants
- one pair knit ankle warmers
- one pair knit half mits
- one nearly felted knit wool cap, and
- one pair of Vibram Bikilas
That's quite a bit of clothes! I run all winter in some nasty cold like -25C with wind.
Base layer is Nike Pro Combat wifebeater, long sleeve t shirt (merino wool), long sleeve t shirt, Arcteryx soft shell. Lower body, Nike Pro Combat compression shorts, Lifa light weight long johns, Under Armor Evo Cold fitted running pants and socks. I can't wear my VFF's, so it's Neo Trails. Start out a bit cold, but quickly warm up. Good luck with the cold weather! Keep us posted! Always good to hear how others are surviving winter running!!