Last week on our Facebook page, as much of the eastern U.S. was enduring the “bomb cyclone,” we asked you BAMRs to chime in about what they enjoy about winter running. The responses made us want to pull on our Yaktrax and put in some miles in a tundra-like landscape! While Mother Nature has loosened her icy grip a bit, these invigorating perspectives will give you a kick out the door when frigid temps + snow returns!
Winter Weather
Birgit: I’m in Louisiana. We have had freezing temps for a week straight now, first time in 20 years. July is coming—I’m not complaining!
Sierra: I would always prefer Arctic cold over hot any day…so I enjoy it while I can! Period.
Samantha: Being able to breath versus 98% humidity thick air! I ran in a wind chill of 6 in New Year’s Day in Georgia, and I’d take that over a summer day for sure.
Winter Zen
Cassie: I love making the first footprints in the snow. It makes me feel like I’m ahead of the entire world, even though I’m more tortoise than hare.
Elizabeth: Oddly enough, I feel it’s like the best kind of distraction. My legs sort of go numb (a functioning numb), and I go on autopilot. The silence and sight of my own breath is very calming, too.
Sarah K.: That winter, night sky! I’m a night runner and somehow the sky and stars just look so much clearer in winter. It is so peaceful to run down the sky with everyone else tucked away in their houses.
Practical
Polly: Of 4 kids and 1 manfriend, no one offers to “tag along.” None of this, “Well, Momma, I can follow on my bicycle. I’ll keep up.”
Melinda: Wearing my running clothes more than once before washing. I live in Texas and spend a good portion of the year drenched in sweat and there is no re-wearing anything once I finish a run.
Maureen: No overheating because I can always unzip or take something off! I also love the pockets as well.
Lizzie: It’s so much easier to breathe in the cold. And I don’t overheat and get that awful “too-hot” headache.
Attitude
Krissie: I’m going out tomorrow morning for 18km in -33 Celsius windchill with my half-marathon clinic I’m co-leading. I’ll be dressed well, and I know I’ll feel pretty bada$s when I’m finished. That’s my silver lining!
Elle: Oh, for sure it’s the Instant Badass Cred. I am full of such smugitude for the rest of the day.
[Bonus badass points, Elle, for sharing that assume portmanteau of “smugitude” with us!]
Barbara: Plain and simple, the cold is invigorating and makes me feel alive (and maybe a little faster).
Ginny: There is a different sense of adventure running in the same places in extreme temperatures. The colds feeds my Viking ancestor blood!
Hidi: Bragging rights!
How ’bout you, mother runner: What do you dig about winter running?
There can be such a sense of adventure when it comes to winter running, and I love that. But, when temperatures were sub-zero and windchills of -30, I just can’t. Treadmill for me!
I love this collection of reasons why!
This is such a diverse collections of reasons but I resonate mostly with the Winter Zen folks. I love being the first tracks in the snow.
As long as it’s not too icy or windy, I love a winter run. The snow is beautiful and the cold air does wonders for my attitude. I also like that I can’t worry about pace in the snow. I just go.
I agree with the badassery and smugitude. I love that. Got my first pair of Yaktraks coming in the mail. Can’t wait.
I love these reasons, especially “smugitude”. I run outside unless it is icy or well below zero. We generally get snow rather than ice, so I miss very few runs. I do have to admit, winter is my least favorite time of year to run.