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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A run at -25F temp, -40F windchill earlier this month here in MN. Bundled up well for polar vortex #1!
This winter has been extremely warm for me, since I moved from Finland where I’ve been running in -20 C to California, so I can’t really say that I’ve had a cold training session. Yeiiii for me!
12 degrees F run in NC on my way to a Parkrun (i volunteered at the race; my husband drove there to race and pick me up). i’m told we’re having an abnormally cold winter. it just snowed here!
I went on a 32km run on Sunday and it was a freezing 10C… does that count? Sorry,not a very cold winter in the UK this year… just very very very very wet.
In the garage last night. Bloomin freezing with the fan on…
Did 10 mile trail run in 3 inches of fresh snow and 7F
NJ
During the first day (1/7/2014) of the “Polar Vortex” in NJ it was 3* F when I started riding and a whopping 7* when I finished over five hours later! Thank goodness for electric heated insoles!
Warm winter in Italy…lucky year for me that hate the cold (frozen hands, bad road conditions, etc.)… Bike ride not colder than 5/6 °C….Love this condition!!!!!!
I went trail running with my RWB Teammates last week. Clodest run ever as im from Hawaii. hope i win….
I’ve been on a bike focus for most of the winter (on my KK Road Machine purchased from Clever Training–cheap plug!) so I haven’t been doing a lot of running outdoors. Thus, my coldest run this year has been around -20° C with the wind.
I did a ride when it was 15 F out, It took a super long time to defrost. Yesterday I ran 6 Mi. in 10 F!
The winter has been brutal here in Texas. Wait…did I just disqualify myself?
Anyway, I had a nice 5AM run at 25 degrees in December. I really didn’t feel the cold until hitting the open road and the wind struck. I couldn’t feel my thighs and used that to my advantage. Legs without feeling are legs that deserve to be pushed. It was a great run but I don’t know how I’d survive in a place with a “real” winter.
Polar plunge in my local sandpit! Air temp 26F water temp 34F!
Burr
0 degrees when in high schol years ago. i moved to florida for a reason
A two minutes run at -1 °C in Zurich, cut short to two minutes because of what turned out to be ITBS.
Oct 26, 2013 The Pine Mountain Challenge is 115mile charity ride with an elevation gain of over 8,378 ft. The ride located in the southwestern part of Georgia & the starting temperature was 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The only reason I even did the ride in such cold temperatures was because I had DNF’d the year prior & told myself that I “HAD” to redeem myself for that terrible performance. I was literally frozen for the entire ride, the temperature never got above 40 degrees that day. It didn’t help that I had never ridden that far and or done that much climbing, & my PM stopped working which meant I had no proper way of pacing myself. Some how despite all those factors I still managed to complete the ride.
link to connect.garmin.com
36.3*F water temp swim in Alaska Feb 2013. And my dry suit leaked.
Florida boy here. Coldest run was 42 degrees. Actually used my arm warmers!
2 days ago -8 Celsius during cold wind which made the feeling of -16 Celsius
New Years Morning 20 degrees Fahrenheit with 20 mph winds.
Coldest: 23 degrees, 23mph winds, feels like of 7 degrees.
Hmm last run was a 5 mile race on New Years Day. I think it was a balmy 20 degrees. Haven’t run outside since!
Since your were in DC, you know how cold it was here this past week. I did a track workout (1000m repeats) in 10 degree weather on Wednesday night. Had three layers on, but still managed to run at threshold pace. Yay for me!
Up in Edmonton, AB it’s pretty much always cold, with -30C temperatures pretty normal. I don’t head out for workouts when it’s that cold but during winter you just have to grin and bear it otherwise you’re stuck inside!
Mild winter here in the UK (but very wet!) so not too cold. Only a couple of sessions below 0c.
Coldest run: a 4-mile run through Baltimore city, 16 degrees plus some wind
Coldest bike: walking 100 feet from the car to the gym for spin class @ 5 degrees
Coldest swim: we have an outdoor pool that is covered in the winter, and during the first cold snap when the high was like 10 degrees I went for a swim…the condensation was freezing on the roof and falling off as snow/ice chunks
This past Saturday, January 25, I ran in the F^3 Lake Half Marathon in Chicago. The Lakefront Path was icy, snowy, slushy, muddle, and even had some puddles – all on the same route. The temperature was 12 Degrees Fahrenheit with a Feels like of -6 because the wind was coming out of the Northwest at 21 mph. It was a pretty chilly day for a run.
-2 Fahrenheit 7 mile run, in the dark, with 25 mph winds. I also ran a half-marathon one day when it was 8. I set a new PR.
When you say that you live in Spain, people automaticlly think of sandy beaches and high temperatures.But here in Burgos training below 0°C is an every day thing during winter
Half-an-hour run in Quebec when the thermometer said ERR and the weather network was calling for -44 F
I am a wimp when it comes to cold because I spend the rest of the day caughing. I have done several long runs in 25-30 degrees simply because I would rather run cold than run long on a treadmill. Thanks for the giveaway. ps today it is snowing and 20 something and I have a run planned for after work. I have not run in the snow yet and want to be able to say that I have LOL.
In my second year of tri’s I thought that, with a solid training base, I would have a fantastic first HIM. With a lake swim, a flat ride on closed roads and a super flat run all the elements for a fantastic race were set. Well, I failed to factor in one element, the weather. Never before had the water for this race been so cold. 53. To some of you, that’s no big deal but here in NC, we don’t swim in those conditions much. Matter of fact, I had never been in water that cold. On my way race day the banter on social media floated between a canceled swim or a shortened swim, neither of which made me excited. I had psyched myself up so much for this race that nothing short of HIM distance would suffice. Gladly, with high winds and choppy cold water, that swim introduced me to what makes our sport amazing. The choice to endure and the reward for doing so. TRI on!
OW swim training sessions during winter are probably the only time you are glad you didnt have a wee before you started training!!! ;o)
100k of biking in 33 degrees with chance of rain. Luckily it didn’t rain. Rode as fast as I could. Stopping just made it feel colder.
30oC! No winter in Singapore! All hot n humid
In Minnesota. -24F, wind chill -50F. Just a short run so I could say I did it. Most runs outside this winter, short and long runs have been in subzero temps.
Went snowshoe running after it snowed ~10 inches. It was about 10 degree F.
My coldest activity this winnter was lest week when I was cross country skiing in Slovenia. The temperature was -5 °C, but due to the strong wind it felt a lot colder. I didn’t realize how cold until when I was back at home and noticed a funnny redish pattern on my thighs. Luckily, my legs “defrosted” in several hours.
In Stockholm I started out in January on a cold (-10) , but overcast day in the forest. When I had gotten halfway through a 15km run, the wind picked up (as the windshield factor) and snow. It felt like it was snowing from the ground, the sky and right into my clothes. I had to shower cold to not “burn” my skin when I got home…
Thanks for a great blog!
Way back in July (winter in Rio) had a 11km run @ 11°C… As cold as it gets here… ;-)
Not often I’m glad of the Manchester weather but reading other comments feel lucky that although I’ve had plenty of wet and windy runs not many where it’s been down to 0c
Well since I can only bike (knees went bad) the heat was down one day on the trainer so about 60 degrees
Well, it’s summer now down here, but probably the coldest was the swim on a 70.3 triathlon in the ocean. Water temperature was probably around 15 and the course seemed longer (2.200 mts app) so I did not feel my toes until half the run!
20km at -30C (in the -40s with the wind chill). Had to stop due to ice buildup on the sleeves of my base layers.
Bike ride so cold we had to stop at a church to warm up and have someone come get us.
-8 windchill run one morning in DC. Not a way I prefer to wake up!
I’ve done cold and snowy runs; 10F in wind and snow. But by far the coldest I’ve ever been was during the Utah Tough Mudder. Event temp was around 40, cloudy and windy. The 2nd obstacle was the Arctic Enema (ice plunge) and I never warmed up after that. By the end of the 12 muddy miles, I was wet, muddy, shivering uncontrollably and could not warm up to save my soul.
Doing a hill training session with my local club a couple of weeks ago in 0°C Yorkshire rain. I had to warm my hands up before I had the dexterity to unlock my front door!
-2 °C – Frankfurt isnt as cold this year :D
Here in the tropic the lowest temp has been 14°C or 57°F @ 6:35 am while commuting to work.
last weekend morning run and I reckon its bout 22°C cos that’s the coldest you get in Penang.
Coldest swim EVER in 2000 training for Hawaiian Ironman 6 deg needed wetsuit washing up gloves and 2 swim caps still came out shivering 6 weeks later on Waikiki water temp was 26 deg an came out sweating
I did my first proper run workout of the year on the day the Polar Vortex landed on DC. It was about 6F, not accounting for wind chill, which is evidently cold enough for sweat to freeze underneath a hat.
After running my first marathon this fall (Philly Marathon) my wife decided to start running with me. Every new run with her is better than the last.
Since we only get snow once every 3 years or so in Atlanta, I thought I’d run this past Tuesday while it was still just crunchy snow, and not ice. So I literally ran to costco, checked on snow pants for the kids, and ran home. About 20 F.
20 degree bike ride to work.
Saturday January 25th. We had a warmup to all of 20 degrees. Got out for a run on the snow-packed roads. Negative wind chill. 6 miles. I was just so sick of the indoor track and treadmill I was going outside no matter what.
This price is built for Quebec!
We have to get used to cold and ice in Quebec if we want to keep on pace on the run. My worst/greatest run (depending how you see it!) was on january 2nd 2014 with a nice – 27 Celsius. I can proove it with a garmin connect record!
I am use to have a icy beard these days but on that run I also had icy eyelash and difficulties to open my eyes!
Thanks for your work and dedication Ray
Ran 90 min, about -3C (windchill -12).
I swam about 4km in 18C without a wetsuit.
Coldest run by 0°C. This winter is not as cold as in past years…
Ran across the Brooklyn Bridge during the polar vortex. I felt toasty, but the horrified looks from tourists were entertaining!
We went out for a bike ride. It started as a beautiful morning but clouds rolled very quickly. First it started raining and then hail started pouring down on us. It was so bad we had to stop and get some cover under some trees. It took us a full hour with the heater in the car on to regain our body temperature.
Back in December it was 10 degrees out as I tried to do an FTP test on my bike
So far I’ve done two commutes (21 miles one way) at 0F. That first sub-zero commute is still eluding me but the winter is young yet!
Almost 2 weeks now as I spin day to day below -10°C. Down to -18°C.
But yesterday I thought my balls will break loose as ice cubes as I was nordic skiing at the shore in -12°C without any windproof trousers and it was blowing over 60km/h.
30 min and I had to ride onto the cliffs, into the forest.
cheers from Poland
Considering that MN is a virtual tundra, this is the first January I haven’t ridden outside. So I guess my coldest workout has been a 60 degree house…
Living in Alabama, the coldest I ever remember running in was this year Jan 6th. It was 12F (-11C) with windchill of 3F (-16C). I opted for a 5 mile tempo run in that non-sense rather than watch the BCS Championship that featured the arch rival of my alma mater.
Earlier in the winter, before the ice, snow, and bitter cold arrived, I had a few runs in the 20sF. Enjoy. And Thanks.
Upstate NY. Last day of the year. Not the coldest day by far, but 32 degrees and sleeting for 20 miles on the bike with plastic bags in my bike shoes left me standing over the heat register in the floor for an hour upon returning home. Never again.
Awesome!
Tuesday January 28th Georgia froze. Having been in Vermont for the past few years to me it was no big deal. But! Winter weather is a whole different animal down here.
Everything started to close by about mid morning. I left work to drive how 3.9 miles by noon. I sat in the car for about an hour and had made it 2 miles. At that point I decided to ditch the car and run home.
That was SO much fun that I got my dad to bundle up and we set out on a 3 mile loop running through grid lock traffic on back country roads. The description zombie apocalypse was the most fitting.
Later that night was when I got the coldest of the runs in. Around 9:30pm my friend called and asked if he could crash at the house. He had been in his car for 8 HOURS! and gone 5 miles. He was still 8 miles out from our house. He did have some boots and gloves in his trunk but was not fully prepared for such a journey.
It was about 19 degrees out at the time. I geared up and packed a bag with hot tea some cliff bars and extra gloves hat and coat and set out to meet him half way. I ran down dark roads littered with abandoned cars and had a blast.
We finally made it in around 11pm (Way past my bedtime). And he was able to get a ride the next day.
All of us safe and sound and grateful for the excuse to go adventuring in the snow.
Definitely Lock Dan for the Wicklow Triathlon…lost goggles at the start of the swim and could barely put my face in the water after that!
2 degrees F at 9pm in Virginia. Daughter and I ran a mile in shorts and t-shirt just to see how cold it was.
Cross Trained in 8 degree F night with YakTrax and 18 MPH winds. It was a bit rough
Living in San Francisco,it got down to 40 on my morning run recently.
OH,the agony of it all
Coldest run this winter was in the Sandia mountains outside of Albuquerque. It was a cold day, but conditions down low weren’t too bad. By the time I got up to around 9500 feet, the weather changed to blizzard like conditions, which I wasn’t exactly dressed for. Great day nonetheless.
Just starting to run, been a cyclist all my life. Working on the treadmill, decided to try a run outside.
I live in Shawville Quebec Canada. I planed on a 5 km but the -25°c with a wind chill of -37 turned it into a 2.5K. I will ware a balaclava next time and some wool socks. Can’t wait for spring
Run/walk this week when everyone got stranded during the 1-2 inches of snow in Atlanta.
Sat 18 January; The coldest ride this year was a slow ~50km with my cyclocross bike. How cold you ask, well cold enough to freeze my water bottle solid:
link to twitter.com
Garmin Connect says the weather was -13C with “Feels like -20C”. There was snow, there was ice. I had wool, I had Goretex, I had Windstopper, I had studded tires and it was still really cold and slippery.
I ran 4.5 miles in -7F a few weeks ago. My 6 year old daughter wanted milk and the roads were too icy for my 2wd, so I ran to the closest store. Wasn’t too bad, given that the sun was out. Much to my surprise, I had to remove a layer to keep from overheating. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!
Did a pool swim @ 59F. Only 3 of us in the pool that morning – the other two were smart enough to wear wetsuits…
my first outdoor run (i’ve been using a treadmill)! The cold air is harsh on the lungs…
Polar Vortex – ran 9.02mi last Friday 1/24 at 7F with windchill at -10F in Pittsburgh, PA. My buff and gloves froze to my body and I had to warm up before I could get them off. It was worth it as I had the trails to myself and with the snow it was beautiful! Cheers to all.
22* F for a 20 mile training run.
Well not much goes on outside in Wisconsin during the month of january when we have only had 2 days without a low temperature in the negatives. I have ridden in my nice cool house at a balmy 68 degrees on the trainer though. Right now it is a mere -9.
It’s been a very cold winter here in Quebec (like was said previously). Two workouts stand out so far for me…
December 14 was -23°C, a balmy -35°C with windchill. Ran 15k, couldn’t drink anything cause it was instantly frozen, gel packs were rock hard and I had about 1″ of ice on my brow when I arrived home. Still felt awesome.
The following Saturday, December 21, was more manageable in terms of temperature (-8°C, -15°C with windchill) but there was nasty hail / frozen ice stuff falling down, and quite windy. The part of my face showing through the balaclava got the equivalent of a facial scrub after 16k.
January 26 in Berlin, at -12 C.
4 miler in Chicago at single digits, with wind chill below zero.
Not fun
Mine was a couple of weeks ago. Temps were pretty low (~12 degrees), but it was that nasty Kansas wind that dropped the wind chill below zero. I thought I layered up enough, but the wind still got through to me and made it very unpleasant.
New Years run outside of Boston and it was approximately 24 degrees F.
Last Saturday 17 mi run. 4 degrees. With wind the real feel was -17. Brutal. Chicago winter blows
A run in a very “frigid” 32 degrees. Ha!
I traveled to Ukraine for the first 3 weeks in Jan and ran in outdoor temps of 20f since gyms were out of the question. The snowboarding was even colder in Bukovel after it rained and the lifts were soaking wet and then it turned to snow and ice temps of 5f
7 degrees F. 6 mile training run. Bad bad idea.
8 degrees in Prospect park.it took a while to thaw out
Probably a short four miler while on business on Calgary last month. It was about 30F, not even cold. I love so cal.
Went for a nice 2 mile run during the latest east coast snow fall. 2 miles was all I felt safe attempting given the slippery conditions.
Coldest run of the Winter so far was just before Christmas -18C and – 30C with the wind.
Run at -12C and ice covered ground. Partially it was ride and yes, on ass too :)
Last Saturday’s John Tacey 10 mile race in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland. What looked like being a cold but dry race turned just as the race started so that the 1st 2 miles were run in driving sleet and rain. Brightened up after that, in typical 4 seasons in one day manner. According to garmin connect it was 4C feeling like -2C. Got a PB so not too bad.
On Dec 12, I had a 14Km in 2C. It was very windy and had a lot of rain.
I wasn’t alone in the park, there were about 3 or 4 other runners.
Definitely my 10 degree run through the park last weekend with bitter winds. Could not get warmed up at all (was running too slow – womp womp) and was sore for days.