Let me set the scene: you’re in Evanston, on a Tuesday, in the middle of a polar vortex. It’s one degree Fahrenheit outside, but the wind makes it feel like negative fifteen. You’re sitting there, looking at the frozen tundra outside your window, and you think: “I should go on a run right now!”
This was a reality for Medill junior Jake Epstein.
JAKE EPSTEIN: Alright, so, this is what I’m thinking: I was doing a takeover of The Daily’s Instagram story that day, and I figured, why not give the people some entertainment? And I put on like five or six layers, put on a ski mask, gloves, hat, the whole shebang, and I just went outside and went for a six mile run. And I didn’t really think much of it, like, I was pretty bundled up, so it was fine cold-wise, but when I got back to my apartment, I noticed, like, my eyelashes had frozen. So, it was definitely an interesting experience. It was fun.
Whether it’s the height of summer or the dead of winter, there always seem to be people out on runs around Evanston. I’ve always wondered: What motivates people to run outside in cold weather? And how do they stay safe in frigid conditions?
AUDREY BANNISTER: So basically, if it’s, like, pretty icy or maybe it snowed, I tend not to run outside because I don’t really trust my footing. You know, you don’t want to slip.
That’s Weinberg senior Audrey Bannister, a member of Northwestern’s cross-country team.
BANNISTER: You want to make sure that you have the right kinds of layers on, like, cotton isn’t a good base layer, because then if it gets wet from your sweat it’ll stay damp. So you want something a little breathable, and then something maybe with like a fleece line and then something on top that’s kind of like weatherproof, slash, also breathable.
You also want to make sure that you have, like, gloves and ear warmers, maybe a hat on, or like a little face mask that you could kind of pull up. That’s also helpful because at those kinds of temperatures, like, you’re at risk for cold injury. I think it’s 25 degrees and lower you’re at risk for cold injury, so you just want to make sure that you have like, all your most sensitive areas, like your fingers and your nose and your ears kind of accounted for.
Bannister says she’s more cautious than others when it comes to winter running.
BANNISTER: I’m, I would say, on our team I’m one of the wimpier ones. Once the weather starts dropping, I’m like, okay, I don’t mind switching to treadmill a little early on. But, we had a girl maybe two years ago that definitely slipped on the ice and got a concussion. Personally, I slip on ice on my, like, way to class. Like, you know, it can happen to anyone, whether you’re running or walking, so you just kind of have to be vigilant.
But, I mean, running in cooler weather does feel really great. Two days ago, it felt like 40, and so we were able to run outside. And some of us even wore shorts, and it, we were like, wow, this is, this is brilliant. So, even when it’s a little bit colder like that, but not extremely cold, it does feel really good to run in those temperatures.
For School of Communications junior Kiki Sikora, the cool air isn’t the only reason to exercise outside in the winter months.
KIKI SIKORA: I think that running in the winter is really good for your mental health, because you can’t go outside a lot in the winter. So, like I don’t know. I try to think of it as like the time I spend outside, and I don’t dislike it. I don’t feel too cold because you’re running.
I will say that running in the winter feels a little bit like, primal. Like you’re in the cold and like you’re toughing it out and the air feels actually really good once you warm up. Like, I really believe that. And there’s just a lot more layers. There’s a lot more weight on you, so I just think it’s harder in that way.
This feel-good aspect of winter exercise that these runners are mentioning isn’t just imagined. Studies show that running in colder temperatures actually releases more endorphins, burns more calories, and reduces airway inflammation for those suffering from outdoor allergies.
EPSTEIN: Part of why I love running so much is it just it makes me feel good, makes me feel as if I’m accomplishing things every time I step outside to go for a run, so if it has some added health benefits, that’s great. And I enjoyed all the bizarre looks I got from people as I ran by in that frozen tundra-esque weather.
For WNUR News, I’m Sofi Pascua.
Web Sources:
Winter Exercise Reduces Allergic Airway Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Study (https://www.mdpi.com/476410)
5 Ways to Work Out in Winter (https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/fitness/winter-workouts)
