Are there any dangers, to running in tempatures below 20 degrees F.?I've heard of increased stress on the heart and lungs in the col.I Usually try and get about 2.0-2.5 miles 5 days a week in at a 8:30 pace, but have found it darn near Impossible with the tempatures here in ohio the last cpl weeks,I've lost about 40 seconds off my pace and nearly a quarter of a mile of acheivable distantce.


So tell me what do you guys do for cardio in the winter?My only real option is drive 20 miles round trip to my mothers to use her treadmill,but that sucks not necessarily cause of the drive,but because I usually follow-up my weight training with cardio,and don't want to lose the benefits of driving in the car between places.

 

No real dangers as long as you take some precautionary steps. Make sure you stretch very well, warm up, and dress accordingly. I lived in Montgomery, OH and now in Eastern PA, I've never had a problem with running in cold weather.

 

warm up in side your house if you need to stretch prior to running. Do not stretch cold muscles.. especially outside in freezing weather. Warm up first, then stretch if you must.

 

I run/cycle in the cold weather, cycling is the worst because of the wind chill factor. In any case, yes there is more stress on your body to keep warm and your muscles tend to tense up when you are cold so moving can become more difficult. The key is to keep your muscles that are moving warm and nimble.

The one area where I sometimes have an issue is with the cold air. I don't have regular aesthma, but sometimes in the extreme cold I can't keep my pace and have been told there is sich a thing as cold induced aesthma.

Doing 2 or 3 miles in the cold shouldn't be bad, I find going longer and finding the proper clothing amount so you don't sweat like a pig or get cold is the hard part. Make sure your top layer is a wind breaking layer and then something that wicks moisture against your body and possibly something in between those two layers.

It is amazing how much good clothing and equipment can make a difference, I went out cycling in 17 degree weather the other day and had a great time, while I won't go my warmer temperature distances, it still gives me a great workout.