Winter Challenge - 2012

[Bare Lee]

Sounds like a great run Lee. I know the feeling, your feet are cold but just tolerable and that feeling just stays with you. Just remember that if they were burning and tingling a little to much when you got back in the warmth you have come to the limit. Until then, keep pushing the limit, it is amazing how far off they can be.

I'm pretty sure that was close to my limit! I didn't have any burning or tingling though, so perhaps I could've taken more, as you suggest. We'll see. The feet took just 5-10 minutes to regain their warmth once inside, so I know I didn't take any unnecessary risks. Last winter I set my limit at around -6 C, but I guess I have to rethink that, at least when there's a good windchill. If the temp had been a pure -13 C with no wind, I don't know if my soles could've taken it. And I'm sure running later in the day helped as well. On future runs that are close to my limit, I may experiment with wearing my Moc3s for the first mile or so, as it seems like it's between one and two miles before the body heat kicks in. Up until then the feet are steadily getting colder and colder, then they stabilize, tap out, or begin to warm up.

The nice thing is that I know I'll never be able to outdo you Winter-pagans, so there's no sense in trying to go beyond my tolerances . I'll be satisfied if I can keep up with tropical Canada, like Toronto or Vancouver .

After my shower I was out on the snowy deck grilling a T-bone and NY Strip, warming up with a lovely Merlot my older brother brought over. As I like to say: "Grilling season? There ain't no stinkin' grilling season!"

 

[Barefoot YOW]

Had a great winter run today. 20km at -2°C 30km wind (about -8 windchill) light snow blowing horizontally. I had been frustrated by the demands of work this week, which reduced my running. It felt great to get outside and just go for a run. I ran through a trendy section of town and it was fun to see the reaction of all those people, who were dressed in winter coats, boots, hats, and scarves. People were taking cover from the blowing snow ... and then just stand there mouths dropped as I ran by barefoot and smiling.

 

[Barefooting Bob]

Awesome, so you now have the pleasure of being in the lead for mileage. Thankfully that monkey is off my back, now back to your regularly scheduled program.

My km's are going to be spread far apart at this point and distance will be small. Weather is cold and the snow is piling up and no clear sidewalks or roads to be had that have not been doused with snow melt. At least I had a good go of it this year. Come on YOW take us home.

 

[dutchie53]

Bob, we will have to makeup for lost time in the spring. I am sending the cold and snow out his way as we speak, just like we did for Bare Lee in St. Paul.

 

[Barefooting Bob]

I agree, I have some serious training to do until Feb, so there will be limited if any barefooting for me. Feb is 130 km from St. Malo to Winnipeg through the fields and snow machine trails for Actif Epica

 

[Bare Lee]

I agree, I have some serious training to do until Feb, so there will be limited if any barefooting for me. Feb is 130 km from St. Malo to Winnipeg through the fields and snow machine trails for Actif Epica

Man, this is so disappointing. I can't believe the Winterpagans are taking themselves out of the running so early. Almost worse than finding out Lance Armstrong was on drugs. Fallen heroes indeed.

If I hadn't had to take October off, and if I weren't nervous about an emerging ITBS issue, I would try to give YOW a run for his money, just to keep him honest. Thanks for sending down the cold wind from Valhalla Dutchie. Even if we concede victory to YOW though, I will still endeavor to test my limits, because I HATE RUNNING WITH SHOES ON.

BTW Dutchie, I haven't heard anything about marathon training lately. Has that gone by the wayside too? I doubt I'll be up for it next year, but I may be able to do a half mary if I can finally get free of this injury bug of the last few months.

 

[Barefooting Bob]

Don't be to disappointed Bare, YOW lives in the more temperature friendly area of Ottawa (not saying that it doesn't get as cold as here, but realistically it doesn't ) , I will still be running bare but not nearly as much as I usually do. A mile here or a mile there, but the days of 10km and more bare runs are gone until the spring I fear.

 

[Bare Lee]

Don't be to disappointed Bare, YOW lives in the more temperature friendly area of Ottawa (not saying that it doesn't get as cold as here, but realistically it doesn't ) , I will still be running bare but not nearly as much as I usually do. A mile here or a mile there, but the days of 10km and more bare runs are gone until the spring I fear.

Wait a minute, temperate temps are good? Last winter was unusually mild, and I only had to run shod a handful of times, but even if this year's winter is more typical, I still hope to run bare at least half the time in January. The average temp is 19F for January, which means half the time it's above that right?

 

[Barefooting Bob]

If your temps stay around 19F you are damn lucky. January and into Feb is usually 0 F to damn right frigid for us. You should pass my mileage with no trouble with temps like that. As long as the snow does not pile up to much though. That is the other determining factor.

 

[Bare Lee]

If your temps stay around 19F you are damn lucky. January and into Feb is usually 0 F to damn right frigid for us. You should pass my mileage with no trouble with temps like that. As long as the snow does not pile up to much though. That is the other determining factor.

I thought your average high was just 10 F / -5 C colder than here (http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatravelplanner/tp/temperatures_canada.htm), which takes out your January of course, for the most part, but you get more October and spring possibilities than we have down here.

In any case, you know I'm just giving you cr@p. I don't actually like winter running at all, but you have to make the best of it, right?

 

[Barefooting Bob]

Really where the hell did they get those numbers, I have been in Winnipeg for almost 20 years and if we had a average like that on a consistant basis I would be shocked. Now the highs are probably closer to the lows if you ask me. January is usually our month of -25's C to -35C for the lows on average. Correct me if I am wrong Dutchie but the common in Jan is definitely not -12 for a high.

 

[Bare Lee]

If your temps stay around 19F you are damn lucky. January and into Feb is usually 0 F to damn right frigid for us. You should pass my mileage with no trouble with temps like that. As long as the snow does not pile up to much though. That is the other determining factor.

I wonder if it's part perception. If you ask your average Minnesotan, they'll probably tell you that the average high is 0 degrees F in January, and 99 F in July. But they're just remember the worst days.
I agree the snow is a big limiting factor. I have a real hard time running bare with cold and moisture. Yesterday just a few steps in the snow and it took me a good minute or two to recover. I'll also have to pick my routes carefully to avoid salt. Pretty much all my lake and river paths and sidewalks will be unavailable if we have a snowy winter. I'm hoping to move out to Colorado's Front Range in a year or two, so hopefully I won't have to put up with stuff for too much longer. I don't mind Minnesotan winters that much, but I could easily do without them. It's nice to flash a little Borean bravado, but I'd rather live year-round in my shorts.

 

[Barefoot YOW]

Einstein had it right, it's all relative. Exploration of running barefoot in the winter is challenging for each of us. The big prize is learning that you can break through that line in the sand. Three years ago, I would have said no way can I run 5-10km in the cold. Now, I can do 20-30km. I can run in cold wet and windy conditions. Each year, I learn a little more about the limits of my body. Just as I continue to journey through winter running, others explore heat or distance.

As a testament to how well we are doing individually, let's compare distances run so far in 2012 vs 2011: (we're not even half way yet!)

I get a sense of satisfaction knowing that each and every one of us, that steps outside in the cold and puts skin on the ground, is learning more about ourselves.

 

[dutchie53]

BTW Dutchie, I haven't heard anything about marathon training lately. Has that gone by the wayside too? I doubt I'll be up for it next year, but I may be able to do a half mary if I can finally get free of this injury bug of the last few months.

I am still planning on it. Right now I am in the min shoe transition and having issues with that. I know Nick was talking about bad shoe fit causing issues, but my evo's and kigo's fit fine. I am just having problems adjusting to them. Cadence is down, HR is up, just not feeling it yet. This time of the year I usually go in maintenance mode, then after Xmas start the mileage buildup.

 

[NickW]

I am still planning on it. Right now I am in the min shoe transition and having issues with that. I know Nick was talking about bad shoe fit causing issues, but my evo's and kigo's fit fine. I am just having problems adjusting to them. Cadence is down, HR is up, just not feeling it yet. This time of the year I usually go in maintenance mode, then after Xmas start the mileage buildup.

Dutchie, again I am misunderstood about the shoe comment. People were complaining about shoe pain when switching back to shoes for winter. What I am saying is if the shoe hurts, it's not the right shoe for you. You should not have pain from wearing a shoe. Seems people think all shoes hurt when really it's only all ill-fitting shoes hurt. Now, with that being said, you definitely have to adjust your running form and relearn to run in shoes which can take a little while.

 

[Barefooting Bob]

I agree with Nick, even though I am not a big one on shoes, I can switch back and forth when I have to from barefoot to shoad. None of my shoes hurt me when I run, well except when I wear my MT110's and KSO's with no socks and I have run in the 20 mile range, then I get some serious chaffing from rubbing. But other than that.

 

[NickW]

I agree with Nick, even though I am not a big one on shoes, I can switch back and forth when I have to from barefoot to shoad. None of my shoes hurt me when I run, well except when I wear my MT110's and KSO's with no socks and I have run in the 20 mile range, then I get some serious chaffing from rubbing. But other than that.

Thank Bob for understanding what I am trying to say.

 

[Bare Lee]

Einstein had it right, it's all relative. Exploration of running barefoot in the winter is challenging for each of us. The big prize is learning that you can break through that line in the sand. Three years ago, I would have said no way can I run 5-10km in the cold. Now, I can do 20-30km. I can run in cold wet and windy conditions. Each year, I learn a little more about the limits of my body. Just as I continue to journey through winter running, others explore heat or distance.

As a testament to how well we are doing individually, let's compare distances run so far in 2012 vs 2011: (we're not even half way yet!)

I get a sense of satisfaction knowing that each and every one of us, that steps outside in the cold and puts skin on the ground, is learning more about ourselves.

I dunno, I get a sense that I have an absolute threshold that can't be crossed, especially when it's wet, but we'll see if I can do any better this year than last. I also wonder if distance is relevant. It seems to me if you can do 3-5 km, you can do how many more your conditioning will allow you. On my run on Friday I would've gone farther if I wasn't worried about my ITBS flaring up again.

 

[Bare Lee]

I am still planning on it. Right now I am in the min shoe transition and having issues with that. I know Nick was talking about bad shoe fit causing issues, but my evo's and kigo's fit fine. I am just having problems adjusting to them. Cadence is down, HR is up, just not feeling it yet. This time of the year I usually go in maintenance mode, then after Xmas start the mileage buildup.

So if I pie out of the Twin Cities Marathon next year, are you still coming down or will you find one around your parts?

 

[dutchie53]

If I am up to it, I will be coming down. I am still shooting to get one full in locally before then, using that one as a training run. If I can not get up to full distance by that time I will throttle back and do a halve. They have one of those at the the same time right? I will come down with halve my clan, they can go shopping in Albertville while I am occupied.