Do runners feel the cold more? (Read 818 times)

rururunner

Winter wear

posted: 1/26/2008 at 7:22 PM

This might be a silly question, but something that I've noticed lately..

I was at a social gathering last night - oh, okay let me be honest - start again... I was playing poker at a friend's place last night and myself and the other runner there were both complaining about how cold we were. Everyone else felt comfortable with the room temperature. The others said that it was due to our running and that we didn't have enough "meat on our bones" which is actually a dumb thing to say considering that running actually builds muscle = meat. However, I digress...

Anyone else think that running makes you feel the cold more than others? Is it the ratio of body fat to lean muscle?

Suffering from late adult onset athleticism. Not looking for cure.

2010 Goals: Run. Not too fast. Mostly easy. Mix it up a bit.
April 3 - Harry's Spring Run off 8k (what was I thinking?)
May 4 - SL 10k down Yonge St (again, what was I thinking?)
TO Women's Half Marathon May 30th

chrimbler

posted: 1/26/2008 at 7:33 PM

Yeah I think it has a lot to do with how much body fat you have and maybe because as you run you have warmer muscles/tissue, so you are yused to moving around with the internal furnace burning.

Run like you stole it!

jsobo119

posted: 1/26/2008 at 7:48 PM

There are some studies of cold tolerance and amount of subcutaneous fat. But who cares... are you going to go eat like a pig to gain 20-30 pounds of fat so you can be warm when you are at someones house who is too cheap to turn up the heat to a comfortable level? Or you could just buy a sweater.

Tongue

zoom-zoom

hydration is important

posted: 1/26/2008 at 7:56 PM

I found that I was MUCH more cold sensitive when I lost weight...this was pre-running. I have talked to others who have found the same thing to be true. I haven't found that running, per se, has made me more sensitive, though. I AM, however, MUCH more willing to brave the cold outdoors to get a run in. I don't have another alternative if I want to run year-round, since I don't have access to a treadmill.

Kirsten
'07: 1324.5 mi
'08: 1561 mi
'09: 1810.9 mi

'10 Goals:

2000k (1243mi.) running
1500 miles biking
1st sprint duathlon (5k run, 30k bike, 5k run)
1st century ride
PRs: 15k, 25k, HM

rvelich

Another Passion

posted: 1/26/2008 at 8:01 PM

I'm always cold now. When I started running in '06, I was 202 pounds, and am now at 165 - 170 and don't have much of a tolerance for cold. Unless I'm running in it, which is all the time right now. Roll eyes

Rick
"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." - Juma Ikangaa
"I wanna go fast." Ricky Bobby
runningforcassy.blogspot.com

MissWhitney

posted: 1/26/2008 at 8:05 PM

I used to be quite skinny (had sorta a non-eating issue) i was cold all the time.. Wore pants all summer in 100+ degree weather, always had cold hands and feet. Once i got pregnant and ate normal (and also gained about 50 pounds) i noticed that i was a lot warmer all teh time, and in the winter i don't find it as miserable. I think it also has to do with how much nutrients your body is getting at the time.

Teresadfp

posted: 1/26/2008 at 8:07 PM

Huh, I lost 30 pounds and run a lot (for me), but I don't notice the cold anymore than before. Of course, I LOVE cold weather and always have. The only time I feel cold is when it's windy - ychh.

spaniel

posted: 1/26/2008 at 9:39 PM

My wife always says I'm so warm....I reply it's because I LEAK all my heat!!

It has to do with body fat and it's true. In my case, it's worse because I have a hereditary low metabolism to start with.

"I think it comes from video games. You never have to reload and you get three lives if you screw up. What they missed was that it sucked every quarter you had out of your pocket; when you are done you still haven't accomplished anything, you lost your three lives and now you can't buy a soda."
-- C-R on the world

marathon - 2:28
HM - 1:09:53
10K - 30:57
5K - 15:18 (2nd half of above 10K)

Figbash

posted: 1/26/2008 at 10:57 PM

I feel the cold more since starting to run and feel the likely cause is lower blood pressure and a lower resting heart rate. Having to dress a little warmer is a small price to pay for better health.

Tom

Mr Inertia

Suspect Zero

posted: 1/27/2008 at 12:31 AM

I don't know about the physiology, but I notice that colder temps affect me less than the rest of my non running family. I think because I'm out in the elements, I just get used to being cold, so I don't bitch about it as much as "normal" people.

Keikirunner

Life time runner wannabe

posted: 1/27/2008 at 2:41 AM

Since losing a lot of weight and becoming a runner, I am cold much of the time. Until another hot flash comes along. It's totally confusing! Big grin

Bugs

posted: 1/27/2008 at 2:46 AM

IMO, Lower body fat makes you cold. When I was 115 I had to frequently take a hot bath else I just couldn't get warm. You get use to always bringing a sweater with just incase.

Bugs

Crabby

Dog-Love

posted: 1/27/2008 at 9:21 AM

I'm not 115 lbs , I am 150 lbs ...I have a bunch of fat in all the right places (that's what I'm told) and I think runners are cold because they don't thermoregulate consistently. While running they produce a ton of heat via muscle contractions, and shut down the normal processes for generating heat (kind of complicated mechanisms that require hormones). When their heat production ceases via running and a bit after, the normal routs for consistently generating heat are at low speed and they get cold.

I get cold and then go sit in my hot tub which once again heats my body up through different routes. I actually want to know more about this cold phenomenon.

Run like you are on fire!

5K goal 24:00 or less (PR 24:34)
10K goal 50:00 or less (PR 52:45)
HM goal 1:55:00 or less (PR 2:03:02)
Marathon Goal...Less than my PR (PR 4:33:23)

swgross

12 Squared

posted: 1/27/2008 at 2:05 PM

I don't think it bothers me more or less. One one hand, I'm the dude out running in 35 degree weather with shorts, ls shirt, gloves and a hat. On the other hand, when I'm in the office for a while, my hands will absolutely freeze. I agree with eveyone else, I'd rather be trim and cooler than fat and warmer.

If you don't know where you're going, chances are you will end up somewhere else. - Yogi Berra

timwilson

posted: 1/27/2008 at 4:35 PM

I am like others. A year ago when I was 80 lbs heavier I would always be hot and was always sweating like a pig... even when just sitting around. When I started to lose weight and get more active I noticed I was not always sweating as much and also was feeling cold more often. The funny thing is now I can run 1/2 mile before even starting to break any kind of sweat. Sometimes it makes me feel like I am not working hard enough, but I know it is mostly because I have lost the weight and my HR has gone down quite a bit.

I do not have a problem with it. I love the more active lifestyle and healthier body. I will take the cold. I just bundle up more when I go running. I usually run in shorts and a T until about 40 degrees, under that and the long sleeves and long pants come out.

"Better to take the slow approach then the no approach."
My Quest to a Marathon blog.262quest.com