[Mar 24, 2016] 6th Annual Winter Challenge (Worldwide)

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... i'm also silly and record using "actual" temperature rather than windchill. i guess that's because my routes usually include varying degrees of shelter from the wind, so when i'm blocked from the wind, there wouldn't be much extra chillage whereas ... :)

Windchill affects my body a lot more than my feet and I just wear more layers. My feet really notice wetness, slush, and powder snow. Wind, not so much. And then there's the ground temperature ... 30F and snowing in the first storm of Fall after a string of 70 degree days is a whole different kettle of fish than 30F and snowing in February after a -20F cold snap ...

Gordon
 
Why can't you run anymore did you get hurt? I think walking should count. It seems like it would be even more difficult because my feet would get even colder if I were walking.
I found out this summer that I have degenerative meniscus cartilage. The saga was detailed in a thread called "Good-bye Running." I actually ran a half block yesterday, so running isn't completely out, but it is one of those activities that aggravates the knees more than other activities like cycling, or even walking. I may still follow Dutchie's advice and try to work in a little running from time to time. It felt good to put my body in motion again like that. Just to have to monitor things, and I've gotten better about that too.

In past years, walking has counted, so it was more of a rhetorical question, but still, we're under new WC management, so I thought I'd confirm. And yeah, I agree, it's colder than running. I don't know if I would say it's more difficult, because for me, conditions for winter barefooting either do or do not fit within my tolerances. If they fit, then it's a pleasure, if they don't, I throw on the Sockwas. I really don't mind a little numbness, it feels good and natural. Walking-wise though, I would imagine my temp range would move up at least 10 degrees F, and 2-3 miles would probably be my max distance below freezing. We'll see . . .
 
I found out this summer that I have degenerative meniscus cartilage. The saga was detailed in a thread called "Good-bye Running." I actually ran a half block yesterday, so running isn't completely out, but it is one of those activities that aggravates the knees more than other others, like cycling, or even walking. I may still follow Dutchie's advice and try to work in a little running from time to time. It felt good to put my body in motion again like that. Just to have to monitor things, and I've gotten better about that.

In past years, walking has counted, so it was more of a rhetorical question, but still, we're under new WC management, so I thought I'd confirm. And yeah, I agree, it's colder than running. I don't know if I would say it's more difficult, because for me, conditions for winter barefooting either do or do not fit within my tolerances. If they fit, then it's a pleasure, if they don't, I throw on the Sockwas. I really don't mind a little numbness, it feels good and natural. Walking-wise though, I would imagine my temp range would move up at least 10 degrees F, and 2-3 miles would probably be my max distance below freezing. We'll see . . .
The rules haven't changed Lee, just the caretaker of the spreadsheet ;)

Enjoy your walks
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PROGRESS REPORT

NUMBER OF RUNNERS: 41

MILEAGE TO DATE: 1,216

Germany: 520
USA: 339
France: 146
Belgium: 89
UK: 45
Canada: 42
Sweden: 22
Denmark: 13

Lead Runner: Christian Lemburg: 158
2nd: Burkhard: 156
3rd: Spoonerweb: 144

Coldest Run: Dutchie53, Canada, 20 deg F (-6.7 deg C)

No runs on snow reported yet
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I found out this summer that I have degenerative meniscus cartilage


Is that where the bones pop and crackle? I have a thing where my knuckles on my hand are always popping and cracking. It has turned into a habit of mine to just pop them all the time. It happens a little bit all over my body after I go running, mostly in my knees though.

But my hands are much worse than the rest. I can pop my knuckles almost once a minute. Whatever the stuff is in there, it goes back and then a minute later I can pop them again. Almost the same with my wrists.

V/r,
Bryan
 
Is that where the bones pop and crackle? I have a thing where my knuckles on my hand are always popping and cracking. It has turned into a habit of mine to just pop them all the time. It happens a little bit all over my body after I go running, mostly in my knees though.

But my hands are much worse than the rest. I can pop my knuckles almost once a minute. Whatever the stuff is in there, it goes back and then a minute later I can pop them again. Almost the same with my wrists.

V/r,
Bryan
The little bit I know about this stuff was gained this last summer, but focused almost exclusively on my meniscus issue, so I don't know about the knuckles. Might be more like osteoarthritis? I guess ask a doctor, although if it's not painful, there's probably not much that can be or should be done. The meniscus cartilage is the padding that sits between the femur and tibia, which themselves are covered with articular cartilage. The meniscus functions to shock-absorb and stabilize the articulation of the joint. Unfortunately, it gets a poor blood supply so it doesn't heal well, especially for people in their fourth or fifth decades. Also, people like me have a genetic predisposition to degenerative menisci, and there's not really much that can be done about it. Unless there is pain, the consensus among orthos is to just let it slowly deteriorate, and let the patient decide how best to manage it. All three of the orthos I saw in person recommended against running. Two were skeptical about doing heavy squats and deadlifts, one was in favor, stating that keeping the joint otherwise strong would help the meniscus and is probably why I haven't had more problems earlier, given the state of my meniscus as revealed in the MRI. I've found so far that squats are actually therapeutic for the knees, but I'm still not sure about conventional deadlifts. Seem to put a lot of pressure on the knees at the initial pull. So I've been doing Romanian Deadlifts instead. I'm on the verge of trying some hill running, but I think my days of running more than a mile at a time are probably over. Just too much repetitive stress.

The meniscus can pop or crack at times, and a year ago my right knee would actually lock up. These are common symptoms of a degenerative or injured meniscus. You might want to get an MRI, but if there's no pain, I doubt there's much you can do differently. Maybe try squatting more (low-bar barbell squat) to see if it gives you the same therapeutic effect as it does for me. Start light, develop good form and proper depth, and then build up slowly form there, would be my advice, in case you're not already into squats. I used to hate them, now they are my new religion.
 
UPDATE

No. of Runs: 363

MILEAGE TO DATE: 1,704

Lead Runner: Christian Lemburg: 203.51 miles

Coldest Run: 19 deg F (-7.2 deg C)

First run on snow reported by Gueng in Germany. 4.1 miles

First reported case of Frostbite. Please be careful out there guys. We don't want to encourage injuries!
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In previous editions of "Winter Challenge" we had a table showing Country vs. Distance and vs. Number of Participants.
Is there any special reason to omit such a real-time analysis in the current edition? It could help encouraging people to stay active in the Challenge...
 
It feels somewhat disingenuous to participate in this as I live in Los Angeles and as of yesterday it was still in the 90s. :wtf::banghead:

Just ran home from work (CSU, Long Beach) and it was 96 degrees when I left work (fortunately, it cooled down after a few miles)... Maybe we need our own, "Extreme Temp Running" challenge?
 
Just ran home from work (CSU, Long Beach) and it was 96 degrees when I left work (fortunately, it cooled down after a few miles)... Maybe we need our own, "Extreme Temp Running" challenge?
I had my coldest run of the year Sunday, the day before you posted, at -1F (had to wear my Soft Stars)... but that day to in my stompin' grounds in northern New York was the coldest spot in the lower 48, I think it was a record for the day my folks said, -37F. That is like almost 60 degrees below my cold threshold!!
 
I missed the pages and pages of good cold weather running dialogue this year like we've had in previous years. Maybe because the thread wasn't in the regular running section that fewer people saw it? I haven't checked the total but pretty sure my mileage was down from last... a lot of that was simply warmer temperatures which I'll take as much of as I can get! But I didn't acclimate as well this winter it seems. Plus we got very little snow compared to usual.
 
I understand that Paul Beales is putting together the report for the 2015-2016 Winter Challenge.

Yes, perhaps next year, the contest thread should be put back where it can be/was seen more.
 
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I haven't checked the total but pretty sure my mileage was down from last... a lot of that was simply warmer temperatures which I'll take as much of as I can get! But I didn't acclimate as well this winter it seems. Plus we got very little snow compared to usual.

My qualifying mileage was down as well due to warm temperatures. That's a little scary considering that up to 50°F counts :wideeyed:.
No, we didn't get a lot of snow...but I took advantage when we did, especially since the temps were warmer (in the 20's and 30's), and went for some fantastic 8 and 10+ mile runs through the snow :joyful:
 
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Are you guys still putting together the final report? Paul?
 
This thread is now locked. Please see go to this link for continuing info: https://www.thebarefootrunners.org/threads/winter-challenge-coordinator-needed.19917/


Winter Challenge Coordinator Needed

As you all know, I don't have much to do with the organization of the Winter Challenges, except to post the final report on the home page.

I just found out that the last Winter Challenge was never finalized, the report/article never written, and the Snowflakes never given out to the participants. I still do not know who created the Snowflakes, so if you know who did, please let me know, so we can have him/her create new ones for the last challenge.

I am looking for someone to volunteer to step up and finalize the 2015-2016 Winter Challenge and submit the report to me for the home page. Paul has given me access to the spreadsheet that is stored online, and I will give you access, so that you can do this. Anyone interested? Any past coordinators available?
 
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