I've been doing a lot of running in single digit to negative windchill temperatures in the last few weeks. I've noticed that no matter how warm & loose my muscles are when I head out the door (I warm up for 5 min. on my bike & stretch before I leave), my leg muscles tighten up after a while (3-4 miles or so) and stay tight until I get back in.

I wear plenty of technical fabrics that pull sweat away from my skin, wear wool socks that also pull sweat away, and a windproof layer to try and keep most of my heat in.

How do you keep your muscles warm and loose when skiing all day? (Granted, I'm usually out about an hour on most running days, 2 to 2.5 on my weekly long run.)

quote:

Originally posted by Coaster Girl:
That's not likely to happen since I can't take a treadmill for more than about 20 minutes without going bonkers.

Do you have a Y or Gym close to you that has a indoor walking/running track?

Laura,
I was thinking about you, as I just got back from 5 days of skiing.

Add to my list of layers a knee brace... although I just wear it on one leg... and both legs seem to be about the same amount of warm and relaxed (or not relaxed...).

I keep thinking of this:

quote:

Originally posted by Coaster Girl:
...my leg muscles tighten up after a while (3-4 miles or so) and stay tight until I get back in.

You seem to be more concerned with tight muscles, vs. being physically cold...

I've been thinking... usually when I get stiff or tight or "not relaxed" it is more about the conditions and fear rather than the temperature. I will tighten up when it is icy, or the visibility is really bad or it is crowded and I'm worried about being hit by a snowboarder...

I was thinking maybe something else is going on to make your muscles tight... like maybe the road is icy or poor visibility or fear of being hit by a car sliding on ice or some other factor that occurs at the same time as VERY low temps.

Do you also experience tight muscles while shoveling snow or other activities outside or really, really cold days that aren't running?

quote:

Originally posted by Coaster Girl:
How do you keep your muscles warm and loose when skiing all day?

I can't really ski all day any more under the BEST conditions and 3-4 hours on a bad day is pretty much my limit.

I've skied many, many days in temps in single digits (and below zero, if you factor in wind chill).

I would imagine that anything you wear running will be very different than skiing.

When it is that cold, I usually wear one or two thin polypro thermal layer(s), two layers of fleece, and then my wind proof shell on top (which is lined and thus two thin layers of fabric). That would be a total of 6 layers of fabric.

On bottom, I have a heavy pair of thermal underwear and lined and insulated ski pants. This would add up to 4 layers of fabric. I have tried fleece pants but have been too warm and the extra thick thermal underwear is fine.

I also put toe warmers in my ski boots (ski boots are more padded and insulated and warmer than running shoes). Last year, I broke down and bought boot warmers with batteries but haven't been able to try them out.

I wear two pairs of mittens/gloves and put hand warmers in the mittens. The toe and hand warmers are really important.

And on my head I wear a fleece hat, a helmet (which is insulated), a face mask and goggles.

I basically have no exposed skin at all.

Also, on very cold days... I pretty much feel like the Michelin man with the two layers of fleece and all. I'm very seldom cold and have skied in some awful conditions... but I have a hard time imagining running in that get up.

I also don't know if a person can run with toe warmers stuffed in their shoes.

Best wishes trying!

That's not likely to happen since I can't take a treadmill for more than about 20 minutes without going bonkers.

If it's super cold, like it's been in OH the past few days, I make frequent stops into the lodge to warm up. Clearly not an option running so I'm not sure what the answer is other than moving your runs indoors when it's this cold.