Posted: 1/23/2011 9:11:18 PM EDT
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A couple months ago I went out for a 2.8 mile run (seven laps around the neighborhood, .4 miles each), a difficult amount for me at the time but one that was definitely doable if I just sucked it up. It was cold out for someone used to living in Arizona, maybe 45-50 degrees. I had just finish up 2 miles when I had to stop. My mouth/nose were getting full of mucus, and I had this feeling that if I ran anymore I would throw up. I wasn't nauseous or anything, but I could tell I was close to puking... really strange feeling. I think it was from all the mucus. I could have finished up the run if it wasn't for that. This was my first and last time running in those kinds of temperatures until I could figure out what the hell was going on.
I remember running stadiums a couple years ago in 40 degree temperatures for school, coming inside, and spending the next little while over a trash can spitting and dripping mucus into it. Not full blown pepper spray/tear gas style, but pretty bad. My friend says he has this same problem in the cold, but something tells me it shouldn't be THIS bad. Is this problem normal at all, and is there anyway I could help/fix it? |
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pretty common, although not at thoughs temperatures.....
In the police academy we would run 5 miles in the snow, about 20 degrees out, then do push-ups, sit-ups and 8 count body builders. And we weren't allowed to spit (that sucked pretty bad).... of course I've lived in Michigan all my life....when I run at home in colder weather I blow my nose out a lot as I run. |
Driving to church yesterday there was a nut out running. External temp on the car said 6 degrees! 
Yeah, mucus is normal when running in the cold. I've never experienced it that bad (ie, feeling nauseous from it). I suppose you need to get used to the "cold"! My nose doesn't start running until its below freezing. K |
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Quoted:
45-50 is still shorts and short-sleeved shirt, maybe sleeves. But, in regards to the mucus issue, I do get a lot more when I run in the cold. Just spit it out a lot. Were you over dressed for the temperature and over heating? Jacket/shorts until half way through when I felt too hot, so I took off the jacket. Hmmm... |
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Quoted: Jacket/shorts until half way through when I felt too hot, so I took off the jacket. Hmmm... I'm told you should be a bit cool when you start and then warm up. I tend to overdress a bit because I hate being cold, but after a couple miles usually start getting too hot. As an example, I ran yesterday evening and it was about 35 with a bit of a breeze. Wore a tech t-shirt, set of sleeves, then a long-sleeve tech shirt over it. Light thermals on my legs. Hat and light gloves. Turned out to be just about right. Monday it was closer to 40 and sunny and wearing something similar got way too hot... had to pull the sleeves, hat and gloves after a couple of miles. Just make sure to dress in layers and remove them as necessary. |
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I think the worst part about running in the cold is usually the increased risk of knee injury. My knees seem to tighten up so I make sure to keep them protected when riding, running, bc skiing, snowshoeing, etc in the cold.
I remember racing in the Salomon WAR (Winter Adventure Race) in Sol Vista. It was a 2 day stage race. Multisport. I met Ian Adamson and Mike Kloser there...it was a cool event. The start of day one was -23 without accounting for wind chill. It started with a long, uphill backcountry ski leg. Holy fuck it was cold. I was standing there at the start thinking surely it will be canceled. Nope. Game on. At that point breathing in a searing lungful of subzero air and the biting pain in your eyes from cold is more the issue. I raced wearing essentially mountaineering gear. No fucking way was I doing that in tights with some light shell jacket. Not being out there 12 hours at a time. ETA: The temps you're talking about are not cold. I think something is wrong unrelated to temperature. |
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Quoted:
Driving to church yesterday there was a nut out running. External temp on the car said 6 degrees!
You can't quit doing PT because it is cold out. 6 degrees is nice and comfortable if you dress right. OP...as others have said ...40 to 45 degrees is not cold, and it should not be screwing you up. Perhaps you do have a cold coming on. I run in the cold all the time, and will come back either with frozen snot on the back of my gloves or a big ball of frozen mucus on the front of my balaclava. No worries. A couple things that will help. As already mentioned...40-45 is shorts and t-shirt(maybe long sleeve) weather for running. Don't bring all the extra shit with you on a short run like that. Warm up inside, start running slowly, and then speed up when your leg free up. Find someplace else to run...umpteen laps around the neighborhood to get a couple miles in is more boring than a treadmill. Find a place where you can make one big loop, or straight out and straight back. |