Running in zero temperatures

Hello everyone

I’m now on week 5, planning to do R2 tomorrow. Living in Ireland it’s pretty cold and I tend to go out in the mornings or else at lunchtime, depending on work commitments. Question is.. my local park where I run has a fairly good surfaced track but if it’s say zero or 1 degree, would you run? It’s predicted very cold for the next week or so and I still want to get out! Any suggestions?

[I_can_run Graduate]

We have been running at night so many runs so far have been close or sub zero. The real problem is frost and ice we have found. There isn't always frost even with the low temperatures - the pavement can be properly wet and not yet frozen or it can be too dry for frost.

Substantial standing water going to ice I imaging is lethal and we wouldn't go out on that, nor very frosty pavements as they are almost as slippy, but where it has just started to frost up or the frost has been in patches we have run albeit with great care and we are running really slowly using the salted road when safer to do that. I was in some trial/road cross shoes and found them a bit slippery on these kind of surfaces but that improved with proper road shoes which increased contact.

I would say the safest thing to do would be to go off road with trail shoes as long as you steer clear of any paved surfaces.

[Hidden in reply to I_can_run]

Thanks for the great advice, really helpful 🏃‍♀️😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

As long as there is no ice.. run Layer up and as you get warm, strip off

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Great advice thank you so much.. looks like it will be icy tomorrow morning but I might get out at lunchtime when it might not be as bad 🙏🏻

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

As long as there is no icy surfaces, you will be fine... ice is to be avoided... think Bambi

[Razouski]

Definitely avoid ice. I ran on Friday when it was freezing here and slipped on a camouflaged patch of ice and ended up on the ground. If you can wait until later in the day to give it a chance to thaw then you're less likely to hurt yourself. After my fall I tried to run on the grass to avoid the slippery patches on the paths.

Hope it all goes well.

[Hidden in reply to Razouski]

Thanks so much.. yes, definitely need to avoid the ice!! Frustrating when you want to run 🏃‍♀️

[runswithdogs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Just to chime in, you can get slip on traction that go over your shoes to run on ice. Costs about $20 Canadian. Yaktrax is the brand that I have used in the past, but there are many brands. I prefer the ones with studs versus coils/chains. Great investment for running or just walking when things get slick.

[Hidden in reply to runswithdogs]

Thanks for that! I didn’t know such things existed! Must investigate! 🏃‍♀️😀

[Lulu64]

Phycoligically I just get too tensed up and can't get a steady pace if I know there is ice about....too risky for my old bones....always run on the sunny side of the street assuming the sun has come up 🌞🌞🌞

[Hidden in reply to Lulu64]

Yes I would probably be the same and then not enjoy the run 🏃‍♀️ 👍🏻

[Mammymoo]

Hi Mo98 I'm from Ireland too and I go out in all weathers. I tend to wait til 10/11am though if the footpaths are bad, giving them time to thaw out. I don't feel the cold though when I'm running. I'd say still go out you'll feel all the better for it and the idea of getting home may make you run faster

It's due to be very cold this weekend with snow predicted.