... windchill it was still 7°C.
Nevertheless... It was my first run on totally wet streets that I could enjoy, and my feet felt comfortably warm.
Ha, ha. This is where this challenge is so perverse. We actually end up hoping for less optimal running conditions...
I got my first winter challenge run in today.
Temps were 38 degrees with a slight wind. Last year, my lower limit was 40 degrees but this year feels better. I just bundle up all over the rest of my body and it seemed to help, though that probably looks even stranger to folks to see someone with a hat and mittens on but barefoot!
That wasn't my experience last winter. Although I agree, normally the soles get colder/number much faster than the tops of my feet, a strong wind can change that equation, especially if it's blowing across a lake or such-like expanse with nothing to impede it.I'm not sure if I'll bother with wind chill. It's all about the feet. If the air temp is 34 deg. F and the wind chill is 24 deg, no matter how hard it blows it won't cool your feet below freezing. Wind chill has a greater effect on core temperature.
Unrelatedly, I've found surface temp is much more important than air temp in calm conditions, but there's no way to measure that. This year I've done a few early morning runs, and 28 F /-3C feels a lot colder then than at mid-afternoon, after the sun has warmed up the surface.
Sweat pants and gym shorts are all I've ever worn, but I'm an instinctively low-tech kinda guy. When it gets really cold I put long underwear on underneath the sweat pants. For running I don't like the sweat pants to be too baggy though, but not skin tight either. Up top, over my torso, I like layers. On really cold days I wear a turtle neck as one of the layers and a nice neoprene face mask with air holes. I've had that for a long time and it works really well, cuz you can velcro it over the overlapping turtle neck and hat, keeping everything in place, with only your eye balls exposed. Sometimes I even wear two hats, or a 70s-era head band with a hat over it. A more recent concession to high-tech has been last week's purchase of some triple-layer, double wrist bands to use on my ankles. I think JT recommended that. Not sure if it will help, because like I mentioned above, my soles usually tap out before the tops of my foot, but it's worth a try. They do feel nice and snug. I think I may have to take off the toe rings soon too. They probably conduct cold, and reduce circulation just a bit, right?A good point Lee, I doesn't take too much sunlight to warm the surface, at least right now. You can feel a huge difference when you run through a shady area.
Also in my experimenting, I am done with tights. My feet stay warmer if I wear loose shorts. Now that is a funny sight, hat, jacket, gloves, shorts, bare legs and bare feet, but it works better. When it gets colder, I'll try some baggy sweat pants. Anyone even have those anymore with all the recent tech clothing?
I wear shorts too and am fine. We don't typically get cold enough for me to wear a jacket, but I do wear long sleeve shirts, headband thing, and gloves as needed. I also have a pair of the baggy workout pants if it get's really cold (I think I only needed them once or twice last year). I don't like the tights personally and don't feel they offer any extra warmth compared to shorts.Also in my experimenting, I am done with tights. My feet stay warmer if I wear loose shorts. Now that is a funny sight, hat, jacket, gloves, shorts, bare legs and bare feet, but it works better. When it gets colder, I'll try some baggy sweat pants. Anyone even have those anymore with all the recent tech clothing?
Okay, I'm finally in. I made my first entry in the Winter Challenge.
I have been running pure barefoot in the winter for a lot of years; I wasn't aware of the Challenge last year, unfortunately, 'cause I got quite a few miles in. My problem this year is that I've been having problems with my ankle (non-running related injury) since about mid-August, so I haven't run AT ALL since then. The ankle's been feeling pretty good the last couple of days so I decided to give it a try.
Did 2.5 miles around my neighborhood in just over 25 minutes - definitely taking it easy after not running for 3 months.
Felt fine at the end; ankle is slightly sore this morning, but really not bad. Signed up for the local Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day, so I have some incentive. Looking forward to more cold weather running for sure.
I'm not sure if I'll bother with wind chill. It's all about the feet. If the air temp is 34 deg. F and the wind chill is 24 deg, no matter how hard it blows it won't cool your feet below freezing. Wind chill has a greater effect on core temperature.
Wow, that's a lot of work!I believe that Lou actually used an infrared thermometer on some of his runs.