This morning I landed back home in Europe after being in DC for a couple days. In doing so, I increased my environmental temperature by approximately 50°F….to approximately 50°F. Just think, if I did that again it’d be like being in the Caribbean.
And then I remembered that everyone else stateside is left in the cold. The windy, snowy, icy…generally miserable cold. For you in Australia, you don’t get to complain at this juncture about your warm temps.
Thus, in order to make the situation a tiny bit better, I figured a giveaway was in order. It’s been a little while since the last one. Actually, sorta way longer than I realized. Not exactly sure how that happened, but we need to get that fixed pronto!
The prize is simple: A $400 credit to to Clever Training to buy anything from the site you’d like. You can use it on anything they offer, from a Garmin watch to a PowerBeam trainer. If the item is over $400US, you’ll simply pay the difference, shipping is free either way. The giveaway is open to all readers – including international folks.
To enter yourself in, simply leave a comment below with the following:
To Enter: Give me the lowdown on the coldest swim/ride/run you’ve had this winter – simple as that!
Got it?
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Entries will be accepted through Sunday night, 11:59PM Eastern time (February 2nd, 2014). I’ll be you giving one device worth up to $400US from Clever Training. Winner will be chosen at random and announced on roughly Tuesday (my Mom’s Birthday) or Wednesday (if I’m still celebrating the Seahawks win on Sunday at the Super Bowl). One entry per person. The winner can decide on which device after they win. Devices/gadgets/gizmos over $400, the winner can pay the difference.
This giveaway is sponsored by Clever Training, which I’ve got a great partnership with. As you probably remember, by picking up sports technology gadgets from Clever Training you support the site. And on top of that, all DC Rainmaker readers get an exclusive 10% off all products they sell (basically every sports tech company/gadget/device) using coupon code DCR10BTF. Even cold weather gear. And most of all, you support the site in a big way – so I appreciate it!
Note, if you’re US Active Duty Military – you can submit your entry via e-mail [entry period closed] instead. No bunny rabbits or chocolatiers allowed via this method. Mmmkay? Thanks all!
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I’ve probably done a few runs that were colder this year, but yesterday I decided to bike 20 miles to work at 32F (I’m in Austin, TX). This was the first time I’ve ridden that far at a temperature that cold, and I simply wore my only pair of normal full finger cycling gloves. The rest of my body was plenty warm with some leg warmers and arm warmers, but the wind cut through the gloves and turned my hands into little blocks of ice on the ends of my arms. It seems if I’m going to do any cycling around 32F I’ll need to purchase some warmer gloves.
Give me the lowdown on the coldest swim/ride/run you’ve had this winter – simple as that!:
8°F (minus 10°F windchill) 6am 2k run (x2) to pool.
I had an 8 mile fartlek run in 12F with ohio winds keeping me cool thw whole time. It wook about 3 miles before I could feel anything but pain in my fingers and I was wearing 2 pairs of gloves.
I did a run from my in-laws here in Nebraska out in the rolling country hills in late December. 0 degrees F. plus -20 degree F. wind chill. Frost on our eyelashes and face masks began to form. Good times though!
Originally being from Toronto Canada and currently living in London UK, I feel guilty complaining at all!
This is my first winter outside of Canada and although I am usually a big fan of winter, I think I chose a good year to move. So far, winter here has been a breeze! Except when the sun is shining, it’s 7C and you decide it looks like a good day for a run- and 10 minutes in it starts pouring rain and you’re soaking wet and freezing cold. This has now happened to me several times, and I can honestly say that running on a (typical) Toronto winter day is much more enjoyable than running in the rain.
Headed home to DC after a work trip to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. It was a brisk minus 15F in Ottawa. I did not go for a bike ride.
About an hour-long run at 19F here in DC. My water bottles contained ice/water slush when I finished.
Probably won’t seem too cold for much of the world, but living in the desert southwest a 28 degree run in the morning is about as cold as it gets! On the flip side we are also stuck with 110 degree runs in the summer!!
I was running on wednesday and temperature was about -4 degrees Celsius in Zagreb.
Spending winters at 9500ft in Colorado, most of my runs are pretty cold! The coldest this season so far was a 10k in -30C in the driving snow! Loved it…!
In Northern Virginia its too cold and icy to cycle outside – so I have to train in the Garage. But it still below freezing and after an hour I cant feel my toes. Argh. Bring on the summer weather
1 hour outdoor run in 28ºF.
I am from Mississippi and am not use to this cold but I went running this past Thursday in 30F. I am usually use to 50F so all this is new to me.
I’m one of those crazy Canucks and I was out for an 8km tempo run Jan 1st, -26C plus wind chill felt like -40. Hands were numb when I got home but felt very refreshed!!
My coldest workout this winter was a run in the low teens when we visited Branson right before the “Polar Vortex Blizzard” hit and snowed us in this January.
A couple of weeks ago, in Atlanta, we had a low of 6 degrees with a windchill of -12 and I ran 4 miles. My nose felt like a rock!
I’ve got to get a 15 miler in tomorrow am. In Chicago. Forecast is currently for 3-5 inches of snow. At least it will be warm (25*). I’ll post back tomorrow to tell you how awesome / horrid is was. Stay tuned.
It’s only a couple of miles but I try to bike to work as much as I can. The coldest day was a ride home after dark, where with windchill, it was -1 F outside.
I’ve been out there in the 30s with some wind, which isn’t too bad considering some of the other comments on here.
Probably nothing compared to what you guys have to go through in the States; I’ve lived at Thailand all my life but finally went back to Taiwan this past Christmas, much of my runs were done in around ~10 degrees Celsius in the morning. Really wasn’t too pleasant with my lightweight summer clothes and the winds blowing!
A run at 4ºF in Butte America. Standard winter temps.
I’m not much of a cold weather runner–I usually head inside when it’s really cold. But the other day I thought I could sneak in a run before it got to cold. It was about 15 degrees, but I didn’t realize how windy it was! I only lasted about 30 minutes before heading inside and taking a nice hot shower.
I’m from Gandia, a sunny town in the Mediterranean coast in Spain so, I hate cold water. Thus, my coldest swimming session was one were the heating pump from my local swimming pool stopped working. Anyway, I think it was not colder than 20°C, :-)
10F Run in St. Louis (-6 wind chill)…and I was still over-dressed.
A five miler in mid December, about 25 degrees. Not too bad here in Central MO.
A 6 mile run in 9 degrees Fahrenheit, with a wind chill down to -5! That’s pretty cold for Alabama!
I live and work in Philly. During the polar vortex, I ran outside, which was surprisingly fun, but my car didn’t like it so much. After finishing my long run, my rear-wheel drive car couldn’t make it home on the icy streets. Oh well, that day, I got my longest run of the year in . . .
Thanks for the giveaway.
Richard
48º run. Not bad. That’s why I live in Arizona!
In the evenings in Bristol it drops to about 3 deg C. Still that’s what long lycra is for and it’s dark so nobody sees…
A few weeks ago we had a thaw here in Maine. It was sunny and 17 degrees. I took advantage to do my run outside. I forgot it got dark so early, by the time I was home from a 5 mile run, the sun had dropped and it was 4 degrees. It took the rest of the night for my feet to warm back up!
It has been all treadmills and trainers for me since then.
biking, 29 januari 2014, 53km, very hard front winds. Feld like -10 degrees. The way back was much smoother and less cold with wind in back.
25F with 20mph wind, on the bike with multiple wool tops.r.
13.6 miles in 10 degrees Fahrenheit with snow on the sidewalk. missed my half marathon PR time by 30 seconds.
21 km running in -15°C. Couldn’t speak for an hour afterwards, but it was all worth it! <3
Have a great weekend out there!
Christmas Eve in Chicago. Went for little 5 mile run at 6:00am. 3F, -13F with the windchill. And that Chicago windchill is no joke.
Yesterday. 50km bike ride at 2º C. Not that cold, but this was the coldest day untill now, this winter, Last year we already had some -10 ºC and below, so I’m not complaining.
Living in California… even when i get out early it doesn’t qualify as “Cold”. However, when I was visiting Fort Erie, ON. I did go for a short jog outside in the -10 degree F weather!
Mountain bike on Phil’s trail in 6″ fresh powder at 13F.
First hour on the bike at IM Tahoe in Sept! Snowed the night before… Crazy day!
Did a swim in les arcs 2000 skiing resort, luckily the pool was heated, but it didn’t stop my friends throwing snow balls about!
Turkey trot was a balmy 30F
Travelled to Chicago for work and it was -1F without windchill. Stayed inside on hotel treadmill.
One of the reasons I live in Las Vegas is so I can comfortably train year round….so I’m never going to try to one-up the people who train through real cold, but I have done a couple long runs in the rain (yes it rains here) that were downright cold, and I’ve done a few winter swims in Lake Mead that definitely make one stronger.
Thanks for all the great content and reviews. Keep it up. You are my go-to source for info on all the gadgets out there.
Can’t say it has been too cold here in Houston, TX. But with Snowpocalyse 1.0 and 2.0 we’ve had a few chilly days. But what’s “cold” when the low is 30F and the high is 72F. It’s practically paradise here. All that to say I’ve had a few good 10+ mile runs in the 50F (10C) range. It has been great.
Outdoor run in Chicago’s 2nd round of the Polar Vortex with temps going as low as -30++ degrees. Had to wear my snowboarding goggles to keep my eyes from freezing shut.
My coldest run this year was the New Year’s Resolution Run on January 1st. It was about 12 degrees out. Other then that, I’ve wimped out a lot and done a lot of my runs on the treadmill.
I was wearing Vibram Five Fingers on what I thought was a snow/ice free run. Also one of my first runs in over 5 years… Anyway I didn’t think it was ice but it was, and less than a mile into the run my right foot went through a thin layer of ice into a five inch pool of ice water! I ran pretty quickly (and awkwardly) back home.
Coldest ride here in the Greater Seattle area was dry weather, high 30s.
I ran 3 miles in 10 degrees weather!! it was soo cold and haven’t done it again!
Run from work to pool, swim (indoor pool), run back to work during lunch on Tue in DC area.
California International Marathon at 25F (-4 C), for my first open marathon.
12 degree windy run at work during my lunch break. My entire office building thought I was a lunatic :)
10k run at zero degrees here in Israel , wearing shorts only!!!!!
8 degree outdoor run in St. Louis. Nothing too crazy!
Tough pick living in New England this winter. There was a 14 mile/22.4k run at 18F/-8C in January, but also the indoor bike ride with open windows and -4F/-20C. Needless to say I skipped the penguin plunge and outdoor swim even though I am training for a TRI in April.
My coldest run this season was just yesterday. It was 45F and rainy on my 12 miler… I know that’s not much compared to most. But, I live in FL and it was cold for me!
So far the coldest this winter has been a 4.5 mi run 10F with -2F wind chill.
Winter run at -15 C with wind chill into the -20’s. Icy as well, so not much fun.
it just hasn’t been that cold in utah this year. i am a lucky duck.
Thankfully it’s not too extreme here in Atlanta, but 12F did feel pretty cold for a run
link to connect.garmin.com
Not the coldest I’ve ever done but my first ultra ever (45mile) on the 11th of January was the muddiest, longest and definately not warmest run I’ve ever done. Tomorrow’s 50miler will be the windiest, coldest, longest ever I’m afraid, with the current flooding it might make for the wettest too (although the route got changed)
Tie between 10 degree run on Christmas Morning and a 10k race in 15 degrees last Sunday…for both I looked like an Eskimo:)
I’ve had a couple morning runs at -5F, with lots of dodging ice patches on the sidewalks. What’s even more “fun” in those conditions is having my hair freeze leaving the pool. I hardly know what it’s like to have unfrozen hair anymore.
i thought i had finally put together the right winter gear for cold early morning brooklyn rides in prospect park…until i went out at 530 am in 20 degree weather in early December. It’s been trainerroad ever since…
In Montreal, It was really cold. The lowest temp I ran outside was last week at -30C and -45C with the wind factor ! That’s cold !
I live in Maine. It has been nothing but freezing cold and icy. The few times that I have run outside, I have needed ice skates! Plus, with the number of layers of clothes – I look like Ralphie’s little brother on The Christmas Story!
The coldest run I had this year was at about 60 F (but hey, I live in the tropics!)
8 mile run in 35F in Arizona. This native was cold!
2.6 mile winter run -20 windchill, toes went numb
I was headed out the door for a run over Christmas break, and my 6 year old daughter asked if she could come along. It was 30°F and very windy. We ran two miles and wmwere both smiling the whole time. It was her longest run so far.
I’ve been a wuss this season and other than a -2C run in late Dec, I’ve been cowering in my 10C basement to do trainer rides.
I got in a few runs recently that were cold. 1. Frozen Sasquatch 25K, 5F at the start, WC ? but it was whipping up the hollows during this grueling trail run. 2. 1.5 miles 7F WC -13 (22mph average winds) along the river. Short just to say I was out there. 3. 2.5 miles the following day, 10F (heatwave!!), WC -1, 8mph winds. Run 1 was separated from runs 2, 3 by 1 day which I had another race where it was 50F. And this is at 38 N latitude. No way I’m jumping in the river to swim although I have kayaked in 38F water with the air temps in the low 40’s. Pool and trainer for me this time of the year.
My first Duathlon ever… this last winter. -2C. I freezed on the bike!
A freeking cold below zero track run yesterday.
Although Nebraska hasn’t had much snow it has produced a lot of good cold weather running.
So far my coldest run has been -4 with a 12mph wind to bring the wind chill to -26.
I live in southern Utah meaning its been in the mid 60s all week and I’m a fair weather runner so basically I’ve had it pretty good this winter. I think I ran when it was in the teens over Christmas.
One hour by -8°C last winter to comute to work. I’ prefer to no know to windshield value à 30km/h.
Coming California (60 degree weather) to Denver during a cold snap (10 degree weather), I took our host’s dog out for a morning jog. Couldn’t feel my face after a few minutes and race a super excited dog for 3 miles, slipping on ice as i went.
How winter land wonderful of you Ray! Thank you!
My coldest running adventure was a run with ‘Flash’ my border collie in -40* F with a windchill of -50+ This winter season (12/13). Luckily we haven’t been that cold again in 2014. But I’ve proven I will keep running even in our typically cold winter days. Flash is always waiting at the door.
For fun, I’m posting our run photos from our coldest run ever. With govt cutbacks, we no longer have a weather station close by, but we included a camera photo of the closet temps listed by a govt agency to us. The weather space link atop the photos shows the coldest spot on earth that day, so folks didn’t think I was kidding. :)
Thanks again Ray! You’ve got a warm heart for those of us in these temps!
Regularly go for really cold runs, but coldest swim was about 9 degrees. Did 1k as part of a multisport race.
Coldest run was last week, here in Michigan. I ran 7.2 miles on treacherous, snow-covered sidewalks with a windchill of -15F. It wasn’t so bad, except that running through snow drifts meant that snow kept getting in my shoes near the ankles.
10K early run at -13C, while in Cleveland.
just ran in the czech…near malenovice — a very hilly, windy and cold -7 celcius. good times :)
a 6 mile run in a snowstorm equals….ICE BEARD!!!!
though, next day hit a tree while mountain biking :(
Here in Bangkok we’re having the “coldest winter” in 30 years and the lowest temperature was 16C in the mornings and it stayed that way for nearly a month. 16C might even be warm for some people, but it was crazy cold for me since I’ve lived here for so long and the average temperature is 30-40+, and it normally doesn’t drop below 20 in the “winter”.
Anyway, I went for a run once in the morning and nearly died from the cold as I don’t have any suitable running clothes. I thought I would warm up after a while, but after 30 minutes I was shivering so badly so I decided to head home. But when I got home I couldn’t recover since the water heater wouldn’t produce hot water as it’s designed for 20~25C. After that I decided I’ll only run in the evenings until the weather returns to normal.
Big icicle side burns after a long run in -3 degrees. It felt good until I stopped….
Most of my workouts haven’t been too cold since I live in FL, but I did do one ride where it was only 40 outside.
It was only 22 degrees, but that is plenty cold for someone use to much warmer California weather!
29th December, completing laps of Regents Park in London in order to make up my Rapha Festive 500 miles… I started at 5:30 & by the time I got to the park it was still dark and the road was covered in puddles. As the sun began to rise the temperature began to drop and the road (including the puddles) was completely frozen by the time the sun was in the sky. This unfortunately claimed a few casualties, including two cyclists and an elderly lady who was taken away in an ambulance (some other lovely cyclists stopped and covered her with their jackets & jerseys until the ambulance arrived, they looked bloody freezing standing there in their baselayers!), but fortunately I managed to stay upright.
The weather conditions weren’t great, but I definitely didn’t help things with my lack of appropriate clothing: my hands especially were freezing cold, wearing my normal summer mitts & I also lost all feeling in my feet, 3/4 tights and summer shoes were definitely a mistake. I was out for almost seven hours but clocked up only 80 miles in that time (still, somehow that’s my furthers ride to date!), I started off quite strong but was really beginning to hurt by the end.
I completed the festive 500 with a painful 60 miles the next day, a warning from my body that I should have probably listened to as I’ve unfortunately not been able to ride properly since: overtraining and a poorly positioned cleat mean I ended up with patella tendonitis and now I’m in pain just walking around the city. $400 at Clever Training could be spent very sensibly in getting something to replace my rumble-y ruined Tacx Antares rollers and get me back riding again.
A New Year’s Day run at the beach in North Carolina. Temps in the low 30s and snow showers. I could get that at home, but a unexpected surprise on vacation at the beach!
Coldest run this year started at 50° and dropped to 35° once the sun set. Was not prepared for the temp change. My ears and hands were numb by the time I got done.
Trail run 16° F. It was fun hearing the frozen dirt crunch under my feet. By the way, hydration bladders don’t work so well at that temperature; the tube freezes. Who knew? ;-)
92 F pool, 10 F air, getting in was worse than getting out!
As a person from warm tropics living in Ohio, I won’t say that I have started loving runs in the sub-freezing temps. But couple weeks ago I ran in 16F. After that I have moved indoors for my workouts.
And btw thanks for posting Garmin foot pod offer last Blaxk Friday. Scored that deal and now I run indoors with my Ambit 2S.
Been cold here with the vortex nonsense. Probably coldest that I stomached outside was about 19, but wind chill was about 9. But far worse than any cold is any run on the dreadmill.
22km long run i -3.5 degrees celcius, with the wind at 10m/s. It felt like -25 here in Denmark…❄⛄
Ok. Post of shame. Since Jan. 2014
Swim in AZ. US. 42deg F air and 83degF water
Bike in Windsor Leisure Center UK spin room. 18 deg C
Run in Pasadena US 40 deg F
Signed
Sissy Tracy
Had to be running to the car here in Nebraska when it was -30 (w/ the wind chill). That counts as a workout right?????
Attempting to do the Skyline Traverse run across Boulder’s front range “hills” in 10°F with 25 mph winds and 18″ fresh snow. 8 miles and 5h later we called it quits, I could not feel anything.
Awesome on the giveaway. Gives on something to look forward too pedaling down the cold roads in NW Indiana.
ice sickles forming off the bottom of my leaking water bottle. Snot/sweat/breath frozen on my face mask. Most miserable ride ever. I still cringe when i think about it.