According to epidemiologists at the University of Toronto, COVID thrives in cold weather. Not only does the virus remain infectious in cold temperatures for a long time (one study showed the virus survived for up to 28 days in the cold vs. 6 hours in warm temperatures), but our own bodies’ viral filtration systems such as the mucous membranes inside our noses, dry out in the cold and aren’t able to protect us as well. Together, these factors make venturing outdoors in winter weather a riskier proposition than our (more or less) safe socially-distanced outdoor activities in the summer. It doesn’t matter if you’re running alone: because the COVID virus remains viable in the freezing winter air, the possibility exists that you could become infected from the exhalations of someone who previously passed by, or you could unknowingly exhale virus particles to infect the next person who comes along.
So what is a winter runner to do in these COVID times? Running indoors on the treadmill is one option, provided you own a treadmill and don’t have to venture out to a germ-infested gym, if indeed, gyms are still open in your area. But if you don’t have or don’t want to run on the hamster wheel, is running outside in the cold while wearing a mask an option? This week, I tried out the Adidas Face Covers 3-pack mask, retail $28 (Canadian) online at Adidas.ca. It’s made of 93% recycled polyester, 7% elastane, and is both machine washable and dryable. First, I ran 5K through the trails in the dark (temperature approximately -3C/26.6F), then I ran 18K in the morning (temperature ranged from -10C/14F to -3C/26.6F) on single-track and double-wide trails with a bit of road running thrown in. My rating: 4 out of 5.
Other considerations: I rarely take along water in the winter for shorter runs, so I didn’t have any problems on the 5K trail run, but I definitely needed both water and nutrition on the 18K run, which required removing the mask each time I wanted to drink or suck on a gel. I was left asking, what’s the point of wearing a mask on a long run if I have to keep taking it off? Between that and the fact that, once wet, masks no longer provide protection from exhaling or inhaling droplets, I’m not sure if masks are practical for winter running (or at least for winter long runs). Still, it’s better than running 18+K on the treadmill (oh, the agony of even typing that sentence!) or running outdoors in virus-laden cold air while completely unprotected. We’ll see if I change my mind as the weather gets colder. If the mask freezes to my face I’ll have a somewhat different review. But for temperatures down to -10C, the Adidas Face Cover is a good option.
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AuthorKathy Istace runs and races in one of the coldest cities on earth. Archives
December 2020
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