Wet Roads

Wayne Whiting

Barefooters
Mar 8, 2012
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Okay, I've been barefoot running for a few years now. Furthest run has been 10 miles, but I'm pretty sure I could do a half marathon without ill effect. My question has to do with wet roads. I find them to be uncomfortable. I thought they would be okay after a couple of miles in 34 degree weather, but they were still somewhat numb after 5 miles and overly sensitive. Is this normal or does it improve?
 
Wet cold is not so nice!

I'm happy down to about 45F in wet conditions - but only if I'm moving all the time, waiting at intersections gets me miserable in seconds flat. If you could tolerate wet roads at 34F you're doing fine!
 
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Reactions: Christian Lemburg
I can take wet and warm or dry and cold but not wet and cold. This morning will be a test of my limit as it is 50 F outside and the roads are wet.
 
Wet cold and wind are the main factors for feeling miserable.

Air temperature in dry conditions can be far below 0 C / 32 F with no problems at all and warm feet, but wet cold around 0 C / 32 F is really bad. Wet salted roads are near impossible, they can be around -23 C, nearly intolerable. I can run for more than an hour in wet cold around 0 C/32F, in fact, that is one of the main conditions I run in during Winter due to the climate in Aachen / West Germany, but it is not very comfortable, I much prefer lower temperatures and dry conditions. I can not run on wet salted roads for much longer than 1 or 2 minutes without getting fully numb feet. I must avoid the salt stuff. I always look forward to dry days, regardless of temperature.

So, don't feel bad about it, your feet should not get fully numb with wet cold, but they will feel a bit funny, and may stay a bit sensitive after longer runs. This will get better with seasonal adjustment - at the end of the last Winter Challenge, I did not feel the wet cold nearly as much as I do now going into the next winter - but yes, dry cold is a pleasure compared to wet cold.

Some of us have experimented with putting fat on the feet, for me, it does not make any difference. I think that learning to go slow with good form really helps, since it minimizes abrasion and injury potential, and helps you to relax, which will help the feet to get warm. Ah yes, and make sure you keep the head and core warm - always wear a cap or buff or similar. That really helps to keep the feet warm.

Good luck in adjusting to the cold season!
 
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I thought they would be okay after a couple of miles in 34 degree weather, but they were still somewhat numb after 5 miles and overly sensitive. Is this normal or does it improve?

It can improve. Depends on how often you expose your feet to these conditions (the more the better).
I live in Pacific Northwest and "wet cold" is what I run on most of the year.
Over the years my feet adjusted nicely. I can run whatever distance in wet 34 degree weather, the scenario is always the same:
feet stay cold for the first two miles (warming up) then they get hot and stay that way as long as I keep running (generating heat).

Good luck, it only takes some patience and persistence to adapt.