# Running outside in cold weather **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 20, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338 "2006-02-20T16:42:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/1 "2006-02-20T16:42:31Z")
Is there any secret trick to running outside and not getting a sore throat? It goes away fairly quickly, sure, but I guess the combination of heavy breathing and cold air just irritates throats a lot (or at least, mine). Is there a technique I’m unaware of to reduce this, or it just one of those ‘suck it up’ type things? ---
**Author:** ![Bewildebeest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bewildebeest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bewildebeest)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/2 "2006-02-20T19:51:12Z")
The more you train in cold weather the less it bothers you. Of course, you have to start over every year though. How cold are we talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/3 "2006-02-21T00:29:49Z")
If you’re going to jump right into outdoor running now, wear a scarf/bandanna over your mouth. If you’re lazy you can keep going outside and being physical throughout the year, but extremely low temps will always be harsh on the mucous membranes. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/4 "2006-02-21T01:53:24Z")
> [@Bewildebeest](#): > > The more you train in cold weather the less it bothers you. Of course, you have to start over every year though. > > How cold are we talking about? Twenty-five, thirty degrees or so. Below freezing, but not to the point where being outside is painful or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/5 "2006-02-21T03:54:07Z")
You could try soaking a towel in hot water, and putting that over your mouth/nose. Maybe put a scarf over that too. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/6 "2006-02-21T19:31:05Z")
Only someone from the South would consider putting that idea forward. The wet towel will _freeze in the shape of your face_ **Electronic Chaos**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/7 "2006-02-21T23:21:47Z")
Is this common? I live in the N. East and run year round, but I’ve never experienced a sore throat due to the cold. It might just be that I’m put together differently, but here’s what I wear: Skull cap over headphones. I never run without my Ipod. T-neck base layer – think zip-up mock turtleneck if you aren’t familiar with them. Soft shell jacket and pants. Lycra gloves or glove liners. Sometimes I get a “why am I doing this?” feeling when I first hit the cold, but I usually warm up within a hundred yards or so. I run fairly fast, but when I’m all bundled up I don’t run so fast that I “suck wind” so that could be another difference. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the hot towel idea isn’t such a good idea. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/8 "2006-02-22T01:17:34Z")
Running winter track in the Northeast got me used to running outside in cold weather. The sprinting coach required us to cover our faces on the first day of practice. Though he did not care what we used I have found that most generic [ski masks](http://www.fogdog.com/fog-snowboarding-facemasks-headliners--fi-1423528_cp-702245.html) do the trick. You can also use a standard scarf but I have run into problems with moisture build up when using products that are not designed to pull the moisture away. This has only presented a problem to me when I exceed 7.5 miles. So if youre below that it probably will not make much of a difference. Other than that **Waverly** has a winning recipe for attire when it comes to cold weather running. The most important thing is to layer so that you draw as much moisture away from your body as possible. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/9 "2006-02-22T03:54:28Z")
Can I hijack and ask if there’s anything you can do for the runny nose you get from being active when it’s chilly out? That’s why I quit trying to run - either it was too cold and I couldn’t breathe and got a runny nose, or it was too hot. Do you guys just not notice? ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/10 "2006-02-22T04:06:57Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Can I hijack and ask if there’s anything you can do for the runny nose you get from being active when it’s chilly out? That’s why I quit trying to run - either it was too cold and I couldn’t breathe and got a runny nose, or it was too hot. Do you guys just not notice? Wear soft gloves. (Seriously, that’s what I do - I’ve got a couple pairs of cheap cotton gloves that I use once for running, then wash.) ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/11 "2006-02-22T04:17:09Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Can I hijack and ask if there’s anything you can do for the runny nose you get from being active when it’s chilly out? That’s why I quit trying to run - either it was too cold and I couldn’t breathe and got a runny nose, or it was too hot. Do you guys just not notice? I just blow my nose over my shoulder from time to time. That and the glove thing, like NinjaChick. Don’t follow too close! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-outside-in-cold-weather/345338/12 "2006-02-22T15:58:39Z")
Well, gross but okay, but I can’t _breathe_ sometimes with a runny nose. No remedies?