What is the lowest temperature you have run in?

Today I did 8km in a temperature of -17C and apart from the frozen eyelashes and hair it felt fine. Obviously it is harder on the heart and lungs so was probably around 30 secs slower per km than in say 5C but I didn't feel breathing unpleasant. So I am wondering how much colder I could stand - what is the lowest temperatures others have run in? I really hate the treadmill so want to avoid it all costs.

Where was that just out of curiosity? Coldest I've run in was -11C last winter although I've been out walking in -17C back in 81/82.

When I was living in Northern China, I was training for a Spring Marathon and also hated the idea of doing all my running on treadmills. I did attempt to go outside and do a few miles a few times with the temp between -19 and -22 deg. C. I found it very uncomfortable though, especially with all the layers I was wearing.

I live in Sweden - we have 30cm of snow and has been below (often well below!) for last ten days but potentially January and February could be colder. I am one of the coldest people around so am surprised I am coping quite well and the snow is really beautiful

I went for three layers on my top half, two on my legs and feet, fleecy headband, neck gaiter and thermal mitts and I was warm enough. They were all quite close fitting so didn't seem to impede me greatly.

Cool.

I remember running to work about 25 years ago and there was a clock and thermometer on a building next to work which showed -6%. I have probably run in colder temperatures since but I do recall that day.

Minus 15 is my limit, unfortunately I had a few of those in the last couple of weeks.The first couple of miles are the worst, flexing the hands just waiting for the warmth to come. After that point I am quite happy and dont notice the cold so much as you might think. Have done a few runs in the 15 to 20km range, then its not so much the cold as planning a route that is never that far away from home just in case something goes wrong. Wouldnt want to have to walk-hobble home without the boby heat that comes from running. Aimingforfaster am i right in remembering this is your first winter here? Have you looked into those mask that tend to be used by the cross country skiers, heat transfer masks or whatever they are called. Havent tried one yet but i am thinking about it

Yes it is my first winter here so it is all an experiment! I haven't looked into the masks but imagine they would be good if there was any wind chill and for solving the frozen eyelashes issue. I agree with choosing a route that does not take you too far from home; I would love to be heading out on the forest trails but given I am just coming back for injury I think it is too risky. 

Emmy - I run with Yaktrax and they are brilliant, apart from when you are going through loose deep snow it is just like running normally.

I´ve been out in -19 but it was not a nice experience so now I have a limit of -15. It was actually -14 when I run last week (as my nick indicates I´m from Sweden). I have registered for Paris marathon in early april which means that there will be a lot of running this winter...

Aimingforfaster: Just by curiousity, where in Sweden are you? I´m from Västerås.

I find that well below -10 can be perfectly comfortable so long as it's reasonably still. Puff on the inhaler before I get going, start off slow, maybe a buff covering my face for the first five/ten minutes to warm the air I'm breathing a little, and I'm fine. However, if it's really cold and windy too then I find that just smashes the energy out of me.     

Stockholm Syndrome: I live in Norrköping so know the temperature measurements are pretty accurate as they are taken at SMHI (I work two floors below the forecasting team )

This week looks like being a bit warmer though so hopefully get out for a few more runs.

I have spent far far too much time looking at smhi during the last week or so looking at smhi hoping to see a forecast that allows an outdoor run rather than a bash on the cross trainer. Prefer the forecasts on yr.no they are warmer Emmy right its not the cold or the snow but the ice. Hopefully we will have a good winter that stays just slightly cold and we can avoid the melting snow refreezing problems. While we are at it I will stick my immigrant flag in Falun. Good luck in Paris Stockholm Syndrome.

I ran in -20c in Helsinki last year, in shorts.  There was no wind so it wasn't too bad.  I had been training for a cold water sea swim and had swum in 3c water so I was somewhat acclimisted to the cold.  If it had been a windy day I would have wore thermal leggings.  

-40C in Kazakhstan for a bet as it is the same in Centigrade and Fahrenheit, however the thermometer on the outside of the hotel was a bit wonky and it was probably about -30C. I ran regularly at -15C to - 20C and the locals thought I was nuts, but running on the Ural river when it was frozen over was amazing. Literally run from Europe to Asia.

Had no problems as a very dry cold, very low humidity but had to wear glasses to stop tears freezing.

-21 in sweden, i race/train there a lot because i have close friends there and £30 return on ryaniar is just awesome. i can dress well for it, the hard bit is the cold air on the lungs,

 Looks like snow is going to be more of a problem than very cold weather this week . Yr.no does seem to be a bit more optimistic than SMHI but I would prefer to expect worse than it turns out to be (maybe that is the dour Scot in me). The Swedes, in contrast to Brits, seem to almost overdress for running with long running tights even in the summer.

Seems like there is quite a few of us in Sweden! Ryanair is particularly handy for me as only 50 mins from Skavsta but flying with them is a horrible experience.

-20 in Colarado at 9,000 feet, freezing and no oxygen! but that was a one off, have also run regularly in -10 to -15 in Russia and Canada, I found that a neoprene ski mask was ideal, otherwise lots of layers.