Running in cold weather?

[MnMs2467]

Ok I live in Wisconsin and it is currently averaging 25-40 degrees, and its going to even get lower then that some days... so its pretty damn cold...If I dress warmly and stretch/warm up properly is there any disadvantages when running in the cold besides freezing my ass off!

[RoaringMad Mac]

None what so ever. Actually you will burn more calories. This is why:

Your body is going to be trying it's best to heat up to keep warm. So therefore to heat up it is going to burn more calories. Whala......Cold weather actually makes you burn more calories when exercising due to regulating body temperture.

I believe that is one of the reasons you see a lot of cardio machines have fans on them. Most people think it is to just keep cool but I think it is a duel purpose to actually keep the body cooler so you can work harder to burn more calories. and fat cals.

The biggest downside to running in the extreme cold is the burning lung factor.

[MnMs2467]

I forgot about this post :D hey thanks for the information! I never thought running in cold weather would burn more calories.

[Fed372]

yep heat is Ideal for what we think of as workout weather. Cold is best. Its just getting that right amount of cloths. So you don't over heat or freeze

[madman]

Because lung/throat tissue contains a lot of moisture - you need to make sure you wear a mask over your mouth to prevent damage to this tissue. I've run with them before and it doesn't impede my running at all.
*I now live in Texas and it never gets below like 1000 degrees... but I am origanally from Wisconsin.

madman

[MnMs2467]

Would the damage be permanent?

[madman]

It's possible. Remember that when you are breathing in, you are creating a venturi effect when air is sucked in and forced into the smaller opening in the throat. This effect actually intensifies the effect of the cold air (causes the air to move at a higher velocity). This coupled with the fact that the tissue is moist - could spell trouble. When water freezes within a cell, the ice expands (one of the very few elemental mixtures that expands when it freezes) and ruptures the cell membrane. This is commonly refered to as "frostbite". This can easily be avoided by wearing a cold weather mask - I am almost positive that they now make athletic forms of the mask which are even better than those that I used when I was up there.

madman

[MnMs2467]

Hey thanks for the very informative replies! I got one more question, should I cover my mouth even if its around 32 degrees or is this something you should only worry about when its more like 0-20 degrees?

[madman]

I would - but that's just me. By the time the air gets into your mouth and on its way to your lungs - it will have warmed up a couple of degrees - above freezing (unless there is a wind chill as well). Also one thing to consider, if you are on a long run - the tissues in the mouth and throat will also cool down - and therefore this warming effect will not be as great.

madman

[Fed372]

so just like a painters mask or sumthing different

[madman]

They make special masks for running and/or cold weather work. You can pick them up at Academy and perhaps other sports stores. They are a soft/insulated mask that form fit to your face so cold air will not "sneak" past the mask.

These are just examples:
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001629.php
http://www.nextag.com/cold-weather-face-masks/search-html

madman