Winter is the best time of the year to go running, study finds

Winter run: cold conditions can shave two minutes off your 10km time
Rex
Tom Powell11 November 2016

Winter is the best time of the year to head outside for a jog, a new study has revealed.

The cold conditions actually make it easier on the body by bringing the heart rate down, according to scientists at St Mary’s University in London.

With less blood being pumped out to the skin to expel heat, a runner’s heart rate can be reduced by as much as six per cent.

A jogger sweats 1.3 litres over 40 minutes on an average British summer day, forcing the body to work hard in combating dehydration.

But because cooler weather requires less energy, there is more to spend on running quicker and further.

The research commissioned by the London Winter Run suggests that the winter conditions could potentially shave two minutes off your 10km time.

Researchers made six male athletes carry out 40-minute runs at 22C and 8C. The greater cardiovascular strain that came with the hotter temperature led to a worse performance.

Professor John Brewer, part of the team behind the study, said: “It may be nice when the sun is shining, but very quickly your body starts to overheat, so it has to cope with producing energy to get from A to B and also keep you cool.”

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