By SUMMER BRADFORD
summer@du2.byu.edu
The winter weather has not stopped many BYU students from running around the streets of Provo.
Bryan Lindsay, a freshman and member of the BYU track team says he sometimes likes to run in the cold, especially in the snow. He says it adds to the effect of nature he enjoys while running.
'(The snow) is just another element that is different than normal,' Lindsay said.
Even though the winter weather is sometimes appealing, many people who run during the winter months are concerned about the effects of the cold air on their lungs and muscles.
'Contrary to what a lot of people think, there's not a lot of danger of freezing your lungs because only about one-fifth of the air inhaled is exchanged in the lungs,' said former BYU track runner Steven James.
James, a 26-year old illustration major from American Fork, recommended that people who are not in shape and breathe heavily when running wear a bandanna around their mouths.
When the temperature is in the teens, James said people probably should not run. However, he said, if people still want to run in the extreme cold, they should coat their ears, nose and lips with petroleum jelly.
James warned runners to be careful of ice, particularly at intersections.
James also recommended that people who run in the cold dress warmly and wear layers. Runners should also wear a pair of light knit gloves, James said.
Sometime people can actually dress too warmly, James said.
'You should feel a little chilly when you start, but you'll warm up,' James said.
Jeff Galloway, author of 'Galloway's Book on Running' and former member of the United States National Track and Field team for the 1972 Olympics, said cold weather actually makes running easier. There is less body fluid lost because there is less heat buildup, Galloway said.
He said when running in the cold runners should start running into the wind and finish with the wind behind them. This technique makes use of the cooling effect of the environment at the beginning of the run when the runner is running fastest and producing the most body heat.
With the wind behind the runner at the end of the run it decreases the chance for sweat to turn to ice. He said runners should keep sweat away from their skin, since cold weather can make it freeze
Galloway said marine wool or polypropylene are the best materials to use next to skin when running. These materials keep the person warm, but release excess heat as it builds up.