Run-Down Forums

[backwoods]

I was wondering if anyone has any good ways to make breathing in cold weather more comfortable. You know that burning freezing cold feeling that gives you lung burn? I was thinking of a face-mask which warms your breath or some such device. also what to wear to keep the part of the back of your head right below your hat behind your ears from freezing. this is my biggest problem running in the winter and really makes me feel like sitting on the couch.

[Dan]

Those are very good questions. A mask of some sort might help the breathing, but I would think it would be more annoying than anything. I've always found the first few cold weather runs are the worst, then I start to get used to it.

Reminds me of a story... I was in Walla Walla on a fairly cold day, as I recall. I'm walking into a Safeway and this lady standing outside smoking says something about how cold it is. I don't remember my exact reply, but it was something about running in that weather being quite something (we once had a track workout cut short because it dropped from low to mid 40's to less than 10 degrees in one day). To which she replied, "running in cold weather is bad for your lungs." Uh, coming from a smoker...

Regarding the back of the head, you could try a neck warmer or a bigger hat. I sometimes run in a hunting cap (gets lots of jokes, but it's warm as could be and has cool floppy ears ), which would probably work quite well.

Dan