Intense cold didn’t stop Montreal runners and outdoor trainers

A runner runs after a snow storm despite the cold. (AP / Kiichiro Sato)

The slightly colder weather that hit Montreal on Monday did nothing to dampen the spirits of some runners and outdoor exercisers, who all stressed the benefits of getting active outdoors, even if the temperatures can be chilling.

Montrealers who stepped outside in the morning had to deal with temperatures ranging from -16 to -14 degrees Celsius, with chills of up to -25, according to Environment Canada.

That didn’t stop Catherine Boily, Cardio Plein Air franchisee for Sud-Ouest-Verdun, from taking advantage of the beautiful sunshine and doing her cardio workout with a group of around ten people in a park on Nuns’ Island.

“When we move, our bodies generate heat and we feel great. We sat in the sun at the end of the workout, it’s invigorating and energizing,” she said shortly after her workout.

Although a session may have to be cancelled in the event of more difficult conditions, such as icy conditions, Boily makes sure that she adapts her training sessions so that they are fun.

“I shortened my session and we only did cardio, so we were moving for 45 minutes instead of an hour,” she said, adding that she regularly makes sure that everyone in her group is doing well.

In her opinion, the most courageous part of the workout is getting out and about: “To be honest, we had a lot of fun, and I can’t tell you that we suffered this morning. When we moved, we felt great.”

Pierre Léveillé, who owns the Endurance running shop on rue Saint-Denis, agrees.

“The only thing you need is motivation, whether it’s to walk, run or go outside,” said the running enthusiast, who has been practising the sport for 50 years.

“In 16 years, we’ve trained people on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, and we’ve never cancelled a race,” he maintained.

Preparing well

“Everyone needs to go at their own pace,” said Boily.

The most important thing before any outdoor activity is to be well prepared, especially to have the right clothes. For outdoor training sessions, Boily prefers to wear several layers of clothing so as to have different options during the session.

For those who are a little more bothered by the cold air, it’s also possible to wear neck warmers, which allow you to breathe and avoid being in direct contact with the cold.

For runners, it’s advisable to adapt your running objectives and have a good foot break underneath you, especially if the surfaces are slippery, said Jonathan Gervais-Hupé, a physiotherapist at Synapse Physiothérapie in Montreal.

“If, for example, we had a race day where we were planning to run a certain time or a certain distance, it will be important to lower our expectations and goals by around 25-30 per cent because our body will be working harder to get used to these changes,” he explained.

He also mentioned that it’s better to run with your arms free to help with your balance and to warm up a little longer than you would in another season.

Barring any known health problems, there are no contraindications to running in cold weather, according to the physiotherapist.

“Running at 30 degrees is much more painful than running at -20,” said Léveillé.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 20, 2025.