Winter running: running when it’s freezing?

[Puppy-love]

I’m benefitting from reading the answers to all the recent questions about what to wear in cold weather. I’d be grateful for advice from experienced runners about when - if ever - it’s too cold to run.

In Hungary we get proper winters and next week we are already due some chilly (5 or 6 degrees) mornings. At some point, hopefully not too soon, we’ll get the big freeze. That can mean at least a couple of months of never going above zero. I don’t want to stop running - I truly hate treadmills - and I don’t mind the cold but I don’t want to fall. Is it ever safe to run in snow and ice? I have seen people doing it here and I wonder if they have special shoes.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Ice is something that I won’t run on, but there’s not so much of it here in England, I think I lost a couple of days to ice last year, certainly less than 5. If it’s likely to be icy for weeks then specialist shoes or things like Yaktrax will help.

Fresh snow that’s not sat on ice was wonderful to run in, I took to the trails for this, don’t think it would be the same experience in the city.

I ran at 4 below freezing last winter and once warmed up it was great out there, the running bit came easy. I was having to warm up in the house, and I managed to run in shorts and t-shirt despite purchasing tights and a long sleeved top specifically for the cold. I don’t think I’d like to be out running (or at all) in temperatures too much lower than that though.

[Annieapple Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Helpful!!! ✅😀

[Puppy-love Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you, UNM. Very helpful. I've just looked up Yaktrax. I wear something similar for walking. We live on a hill which makes leaving the house in winter a challenge. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a mild winter.

[Ping-pong Graduate]

Hi PL, I've also been looking up all the cold weather suggestions but for the South of England, not Hungary, good luck with all your winter running there 😊

[Puppy-love Graduate in reply to Ping-pong]

Thank you. I think I'll have to resort to the treadmill. That means going to the gym and that's a whole can of squiggly things for me.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I’m another one, I don’t run on ice, due the fact I can’t seem to even walk on it without falling over 😂. In the cold layers are the best, and I like zips for my top layer, so I can strip off while running and tie it round my middle. Gloves that can be put in the pockets of that jacket as I heat up and a buff, I personally would say the buff is the most important as it just makes such a difference without burdening you with too much extra weight.

[Annieapple Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Helpful! Thanks 😀

[Puppy-love Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Thank you Realfoodieclub. I'm pretty rubbish at staying on my feet in ice too. I don't want to break any more bones so I may have to find a friendly treadmill venue.

[Zebadee1 Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

I 'm clearly not clued up on this. What is a buff? 🤔

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Zebadee1]

These are the original ones but I tend to buy cheaper ones from eBay 😀.

buff.com/gb/reflective-dryf...

They can be used many ways, as a scarf, headband, hat and all can give an extra layer of protection from the cold. In the really cold mornings I will pop my buff on my neck and over my mouth and breathe through it to take the edge of the really cold air hitting my lungs. They seem like a small thing but they do make such a difference in the cold weather, just having one around your neck and a tshirt is sometimes better than another layer.

[Zebadee1 Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Thank you!....my friend made me one of those. Guess I'm sorted then 😀

[Annieapple Graduate]

Great question as I am going to Canada soon?

[Puppy-love Graduate]

How lovely and brrrr!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Layers..lots of ..and a hat..and a buff...and gloves.

I have Rab winter leggings for really bitingly cold days

Ice running is a no no...Yaktrax for snow .

[Puppy-love Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you, Oldfloss. I guess I’ll have to track down a treadmill for when we’re iced in. And many thanks for the clothing tips. 😊