Racing in the Cold: Samson Stomp

[Joe]

My wife and I did a 5K this morning in 10 F weather with 20-25mph winds, reaching down to -20F
windchill. Of course our times were slower (i normally run ~18min and did a 19:15, she ran a 20:30
and normally does 19min).

The race was very fun. It went through the Milwaukee county zoo. A few of the thick coated animals
were out in their pens. They were all running in circles as the runners went past. They probably
thought it was a stampede! There was a section of the race that was through a large parking lot. The
wind was blowing so hard that I felt like I was running into a wall, on top of that I started
getting a headache due to the wind.

What is everyone's experience with cold weather racing? How much time do you usually lose over a
5K or 10K.

At what temperature do you think its too cold to go as fast as you normally would?

Joe

[Donovan Rebbech]

In article <aQyOb.37557$LW.32225@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com>, Joe wrote:
> My wife and I did a 5K this morning in 10 F weather with 20-25mph winds, reaching down to -20F
> windchill. Of course our times were slower (i normally run ~18min and did a 19:15, she ran a 20:30
> and normally does 19min).
[snip]
> What is everyone's experience with cold weather racing? How much time do you usually lose over a
> 5K or 10K.

I think in this case, the wind probably had more of an effect than the cold.

I ran in blizzard conditions (heavy snow and wind) at a little below 32 and I'd estimate that the
conditions cost me 12-15 seconds per mile over a 10k race. I would attribute most of that slowdown
to snow on the road.

It probably helps that I rarely overdress for races -- if you wear a lot of bulky, heavy clothes, it
may slow you down. I just wear running tights, wind boxers, ordinary running socks and a windproof
top down to single digits.

I did run a race in single digits last year and it went fairly well. My impression is that if the
winners took a performance hit, it was only a few seconds per mile or so.

> At what temperature do you think its too cold to go as fast as you normally would?

Once you start needing to put on heavier clothes, you'll lose some speed.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

[Joe]

i wear light coolmax or drylete stuff. in fact i didn't warm up until the 3rd mile in this race.

"Donovan Rebbechi" <abuse@aol.com> wrote in message news:slrnc0lhlk.fl4.abuse@panix2.panix.com...
> In article <aQyOb.37557$LW.32225@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com>, Joe wrote:
> > My wife and I did a 5K this morning in 10 F weather with 20-25mph winds, reaching down to -20F
> > windchill. Of course our times were slower (i normally run ~18min and did a 19:15, she ran a
> > 20:30 and normally does 19min).
> [snip]
> > What is everyone's experience with cold weather racing? How much time
do
> > you usually lose over a 5K or 10K.
>
> I think in this case, the wind probably had more of an effect than the
cold.
>
> I ran in blizzard conditions (heavy snow and wind) at a little below 32
and I'd
> estimate that the conditions cost me 12-15 seconds per mile over a 10k
race. I
> would attribute most of that slowdown to snow on the road.
>
> It probably helps that I rarely overdress for races -- if you wear a lot
of
> bulky, heavy clothes, it may slow you down. I just wear running tights,
wind
> boxers, ordinary running socks and a windproof top down to single digits.
>
> I did run a race in single digits last year and it went fairly well. My impression is that if the
> winners took a performance hit, it was only a
few
> seconds per mile or so.
>
> > At what temperature do you think its too cold to go as fast as you
normally
> > would?
>
> Once you start needing to put on heavier clothes, you'll lose some speed.
>
> Cheers,
> --
> Donovan Rebbechi http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

[Joe]

She thinks she sucks. But I think she could make olympic trials in the
marathon. She's done a 1:00.30 15K and a 3:15 marathon (her 2nd one), but
will probably do near a 3:00 at Boston in April.

I keep telling her that she could be really good. She's only 24 and has the frame of a
Kenyan all-star.

What are your feelings on cold weather? Maybe we were just off today. The weather has been really
****ty lately and it really drags on your spirit and legs.

"Globaldisc" <globaldisc@aol.com> wrote in message news:20040118154132.24672.00000187@mb-
m13.aol.com...
> ya know...based on what you've said....your wife sounds like she's a bit
of a
> track star. don't know her age group but here in new york city if she raced....she would finish
> 3rd, 4th, and 5th overall in fields of a 1,000 women....and easily recognized as a very top runner
> and good enough to be
a
> professionally sponsored runner. i know lesser runners who are.....

[Donovan Rebbech]

In article <_EBOb.92671$fq1.34391@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com>, Joe wrote:
> i wear light coolmax or drylete stuff. in fact i didn't warm up until the 3rd mile in this race.

Don't know then -- that's normal clothing, shouldn't hurt your running economy. The extra weight
will add up to a few seconds (2-3.5) per mile at most.

Tough course ? Long course ? Wind ? Bad day ? Could be any of these things.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

[Joe]

I just don't think I was mentally all there. When you're body fighting to stay warm, its just not
thinking about running fast.

I know that it was mental, I ended up lining up too far back in the field and got boxed in for the
first 1/2 mile and lost about 20 sec right there. The second mile was just cold and windy. I just
couldn't muster the strength to fight the cold.

Oh well, lesson learned. On to Boston!!!!

Joe

"Donovan Rebbechi" <abuse@aol.com> wrote in message news:slrnc0mjdr.plr.abuse@panix2.panix.com...
> In article <_EBOb.92671$fq1.34391@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com>, Joe wrote:
> > i wear light coolmax or drylete stuff. in fact i didn't warm up until
the
> > 3rd mile in this race.
>
> Don't know then -- that's normal clothing, shouldn't hurt your running
economy.
> The extra weight will add up to a few seconds (2-3.5) per mile at most.
>
> Tough course ? Long course ? Wind ? Bad day ? Could be any of these
things.
>
> Cheers,
> --
> Donovan Rebbechi http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/