The frozen hootus (running content)

pilotbraden wrote: I second the merkin. Below -20F I would be concerned with frost biting my lungs. My friend that runs bobcats with his hounds will not let them go unless it is warmer than 10F , due to the hounds freezing their lungs.

Having played hockey outside at -30F, you get used to it. Not willingly, and not without a lot of pain, but you get used to it.

Working hard enough (but not too hard), your lungs don't get too cold. Chin hurts. ice will form on what is in front of your mouth (face guard, balaclava, whatever).

The most painful thing about that kind of temps- when you feet thaw. Oh, the pain.

alfadriver wrote: I'm trying to figure out why your hootus is freezing. Below 32, I wear some kind of full running pants. Not the loose sweat pant, but tights design. Sure, it looks silly, but I'm running an the haters are sitting on their rears. With briefs, my hootus has never been an issue. Top- running "sweater"- tight to the body. Depending on the ambient, short sleeve over that (15-25F) or another long sleeve (less than 15F) PLUS a light weight running shell. Plus Hat, head band, gloves, heavier socks- I know I'm good to -7F with that kind of layering. What was horrible was running for 50 min, and STOPPING, warming up to the point of sweat, and then running again- man that was COOOOLLLLD. Anyway, running tights. They are great to run in.

I use bike shorts under a set of what are essentially thinsulate ski pants. It is fine at 0F - they keep wind and cold out for a while but after 25 minutes in real cold the hootus is taking on some serious discomfort. The muscles and toes all have some work to do so they stay warm. The hootus is just hangin' out front taking damage. Stuffing a sock in there is good for my image but chaffs.

I will request some top end running tights from Mrs Claus and see how it works out. It hasn't gotten really really cold here yet so I'm trying to get a Hootus protection plan in place before that first day I have to limp back with one hand on my junk.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

Bike shorts allow chafing? interesting. Thought they were tight enough not to have skin to skin contact...

(Mrs Clause should get you a gift certificate- I have 3 pairs, of which only one fits well enough.... I DID try them all on, but missed the boat on 2)

Got my feet soaking wet in +20 temps once (on a dirt bike, my boots got full of water), I could not feel them. When I got back to the truck and put my feet under the heater I thought I was gonna die. Hootus stays warm all the time, I'd hate to lose my little buddy.

Tom_Spangler wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote: Find a warm place to put it?

I mean, that's what we spend our whole lives trying to do anyhow, right?

bingo

where do you live that it's -20° when you're out running ?

I have s0me compression underwear with a pouch for a cup. hand warmers in the cup works well

http://www.target.com/p/c9-by-champion-men-s-power-core-9-compression-short-assorted-colors/-/A-14149411

my cold weather gear, minus face mask, hat and gloves. the only things I have trouble keeping warm are my feet and ankles.

When I was in college, there was a guy on the wrestling team who went out running one day when it was -10F. For some reason he didn't notice his fly was open and he got frostbite on his hootus. I don't think he was the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I could see bike shorts or tights causing chafing b/c of the chamois (pad) in the crotch. When road biking in cold temps ( below 40, hey, it's GA) I put one of those hot hands warmers on top of each foot between the shoe cover and the shoe, and drop a couple in the pockets of my jersey. Toes stay warm and I can warm my fingers in the jersey pocket when we stop at stop signs and such.

If you try bike shorts as a base layer, you can probably find wind-proof shorts with no chamois, but I'm sure they have them for running specific as well.

^ That ^

Generally called "wind front"

As a cyclist of decades I understand, plus we get more wind chill. Wind front shorts as a base layer under tights - that's the answer.

Lycra bike shorts? You need a dedicated seamless base layer. I like synthetics, but some people swear by silk. Thermal fitting layer over that; running tights, cross country ski tights, something like that. If it's really cold, I put a loose wind pant over that. I've cross country skied in some wicked cold without issue.

What bump are you climbing? Be smart; great climbers know when to turn around and call it a day. It's how not to die.

I'm resurrecting this because I made a break-through discovery in this area the other morning. We've been dipping into the teens here, so I have been using the tights (which, after getting a pair last Christmas, I will never abandon). But, I was still getting a little "chill". So, the other morning, as I was dressing my 1-year old, I noticed he had a lot of socks in his drawer that were missing their match. The light went on. They are tight enough to stay on, but not as tight as the condom. They offer plenty of insulation and they are small enough that they only cover the meat and not the potatoes and, therefore, do not cause chaffing. So, buy a couple of pairs, so that you can run multiple days per week without having to re-wear anything that has been on your hootus during a previous workout between laundry days (and therefore smells like a sweaty hootus). Just my .02.

Do you find certain colors or patterns to work better than others?

Bright colors? Stripes? Argyle?

Hopefully you never trip and hurt your ankle when running...when the ambulance crew arrives and discovers you have a little boy's sock on your hootus, it's going to be pretty hard to explain.

ransom wrote: In cycling, there is chamois cream for chafing and embrocation for keeping your **legs** warm, but it is considered **vitally** important not to get the latter anywhere near the former.

Yeah, you may think "just the smallest bit with the chamois cream shouldn't be bad!"

Trust me, it is.

belteshazzar wrote: the O/P's screen name is now particularly funny.

Perhaps he should change it to shrunken, frozen purple snorkelwacker.

I got nothing for ya … when I ran in the winter, many of the evenings it would be in the 20's or even the upper teens … typically a 6 mile run … never had any problems

standard running shorts, tights, and GoreTex wind pants … several zippered layers for the chest/arms, that would get un-zipped as the run progressed, open mesh cotton gloves, and a toboggan hat

Do like in the picture. Although substitute cotton for wool if there is any chance of it getting wet.

compression running shorts under silk long-johns under regular sweat pants worked for me last winter, but i did not run when the temp got below +17 deg F.

HAHA! When I saw the title I immediately clicked not realizing it was my own thread from last winter.

I went with full compression shirt/tights under windproof running pants and SmartWool long sleeve tee under a seam sealed, windproof ski parka and used the rest of my ski gear (thin mittens/hat/face mask).

It worked fine down to -5 for 10 milers, which was as cold as it got. Other than the running pants basically what I wear skiing in northern VT (because running in Helly Hansen bib-overall ski pants would be hilarious and impossible) .

I just can't really run in that many layers. It adds a good 5 minutes to my 5-mile time -- makes me feel like I'm running through water with a parachute on....

I was going to suggest you fold Mr Happy up a couple of times so its not hanging out the bottom of your pants...

pilotbraden wrote: My friend that runs bobcats with his hounds will not let them go unless it is warmer than 10F , due to the hounds freezing their lungs.

I can't help picture dogs operating construction equipment.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Running in sub-20F weather is a necessity for me.

Seek professional help. It is never too late to discover Beer. It fixes everything.