Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: jszat on 2006-11-15 10:25 AM

I changed my mind about a complex forumula to calculate something fancy cuz I didnt think folks would want to plug in all the variables to come up with the Suck Coefficient, so how about this- a simple point system based on the following.  Any suggestions or tweaks would be welcome:

 Temperature

30-35 .5 point

25-29 1 points

15-24 3 points

1-14 5 points

0 and below 8 points

 

Precip

drizzle/light snow 1 point

heavy rain/snow 3 points

 

Wind factor

light winds (under 10 mph)  1 point

11-19 mph- 2 points

20+- 4 points

 

Based on whatever weather source you would like to use, determine as much of this as possible.  Subjectivity is fine on the rain thing as this is meant to be a motivational, get out there kind of thing.  The score will be tallied as your total minutes x Suck Multiplier, so if Little Timmy is on a 45 minute run in 26 degree temps with light drizzle and 14 mph winds, his workout Suck-o-meter score would be 45 X (1+1+2)= 180.  I think we all agree that biking in cold sucks worse, so perhaps we could add another .5 or full point to bike workouts.  Is this too complex?  Thoughts?  As suggested we could all post pics from epic crummy weather workouts and maybe highlight the Buttercup all star of the week highlighting very Sucky workouts (and you know they have already been creeping up on us!)

 

 

 

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Hills: Its whats for dinner!

Turbo Donkey Racing- You either donkey or you aint!

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: rooneye on 2006-11-15 12:47 PM

Sounds like a good way of doing it to me. I'm in!

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: ScottoNM on 2006-11-15 1:04 PM

I'm in for the challenge

I like this point system - simple but includes enough variables to make it interesting.

So to work through another example, my run today:

50 minutes
19F
No precip
Light wind

= 50 * (3+0+1) = 200

 

 

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: ScottoNM on 2006-11-15 1:07 PM

Upon further thought, how about a tweak on the wind system:

light (0-10mph) - 0 points (rather than 1)

11-19 mph- 2 points

20+- 4 points

This would make "light wind" correspond with "no precip" in that they both add zero to the suck factor.

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: hangloose on 2006-11-15 1:24 PM

I like it too, and agree that light winds sound good at 0 points.  Also, biking in the cold/wind/snow is brutal.  Way harder than running, in my opinion, especially when you factor in many of us take our bike off the trainer and have to set it up to ride outside.  It should be a full point added to the Suck multiplier, IMO.

p.s. did we start this already?  My ride last Sat would be worth 720 points.

 

 

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"Just because I bounce ideas off you doesn't mean I want your opinion." - my wife.

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: jszat on 2006-11-15 1:25 PM

Or what about 5-10 is one point (or .5 maybe?)  A steady 7 or 8 mph in your face kinda sucks a bit IMO, but I can agree with the 0-4 being worthless.

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Hills: Its whats for dinner!

Turbo Donkey Racing- You either donkey or you aint!

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: ScottoNM on 2006-11-15 1:52 PM

That's fine by me. I agree with Hangloose that biking should get an additional bump, 1 point would work.

-Scott

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: jszat on 2006-11-15 2:09 PM

I will come up with a spreadsheet to track this and I suppose we could go back a week just to practice.  Maybe what we do is have folks post their daily sucky workout if any and then have weekly total.  We also need a thread for epic workouts and pics, or just post with info from that week.  I have no prob doing this all winter but might ask to pass on the sheet after a few months.
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Hills: Its whats for dinner!

Turbo Donkey Racing- You either donkey or you aint!

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: morey1 on 2006-11-15 3:37 PM

I'm in!  One question, where does one get the wind speed for the workout?  I looked at weather.com for this morning's workout, and I'm seeing anywhere from 13-17 mph now, and no real historical data.

But, for practice...

34 degrees (.5)
Fog=no precip (0)
13 wind (2)

2.5 * 113 = 282.5

Today, biking would be 3.5 * (# of minutes rode) correct?  Whatever, but I'd accept double points for biking.  Biking is really tough in cold weather.

I love this concept...should help gettin' me outta bed if I can brag a bit about it here.

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"Some day you are not going to be able to do this anymore. Today is NOT that day" Quote from Runners World in Schmize's blog.

Donkeys dream BIG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmmsr7PAhWU

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: Daremo on 2006-11-15 3:46 PM

Ok, even though you eskimos up there get more points based on the temps, I'll give it a shot.
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Rick

Blunt, matter of fact and opinionated. Deal with it.

'10 races (registered) - Columbia Tri, South Carroll Sprint

Proud to be a '10 Gu Ambassador

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: hangloose on 2006-11-15 3:58 PM

You know, Rick, we can all calculate on the same numbers but there's no reason titles can't be handed out on a regional basis.  King of Crummy Weather Mid-Atlantic/Eastern Seaboard.  You're right that there's no way you could earn as many points, you just won't have the opportunity.  But you can dominate your regional competition. 

And we don't have to go back.  Now that you've got a formula how about starting it up  today?  Midpoint of the month. (he said stupidly forgetting that he ran and swam at the gym this morning)

 

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"Just because I bounce ideas off you doesn't mean I want your opinion." - my wife.

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: hangloose on 2006-11-15 4:00 PM

Oh, and to clarify, a workout in above 35 degrees with no wind or rain/snow still earns the points for the minutes, there's just no multiplier, right?  If not, then we just wiped out anyone who doesn't live north of Indianapolis.

 

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"Just because I bounce ideas off you doesn't mean I want your opinion." - my wife.

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: ellasdad on 2006-11-15 7:20 PM

i'm in but what kinda suck factor do you get for open water swims in the snow? woo ha!

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: ScottoNM on 2006-11-15 7:29 PM

I would say that depends on the water temp. If it's a hot spring at 80F, then that's one thing.

But my impression is that's not what you are planning...

-Scott

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: jmwebs on 2006-11-15 7:43 PM

I'm in. I might as well get some credit for training in crap weather. Now I just have to get healthy enough to get running again.
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one little victory - celebrate each moment as it turns into the next. Neil Peart

Celebrate each Donkey as they do their best. Me

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: willow on 2006-11-15 7:52 PM

I'm in...I may be at an unfair advantage as Livingston, Montana is truly one of the windiest places on earth.

Some days you can't let the kindergarteners out for recess...and I am not kidding. That made the paper last year. White caps on the toilet water type of wind....

20+ is a daily breeze all winter long...you can see the shredded prayer flags in my avatar.

Edited by willow 2006-11-15 7:54 PM

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Enjoy the little things for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: jszat on 2006-11-16 7:52 AM

Well, technically you have a multiplier of 0 and that times anything is nada.  You still get your regular log points, but sounds like a far from crummy workout day so should not be logged as a crummy weather workout?  You do still have a 1 point multiplier if it is a bike ride, but since that would apply at an temp based on the less than bulletproof point system, lets call the cutoff for the bike (as to what is crummy).....40? or 45 degree min?

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Hills: Its whats for dinner!

Turbo Donkey Racing- You either donkey or you aint!

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: jszat on 2006-11-16 7:53 AM

I will let you make up the multiplier on that one!   Kind of makes me want to take a stab at Polar Bearing on New Years Day though.  I think a 6 or so sounds decent?

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Hills: Its whats for dinner!

Turbo Donkey Racing- You either donkey or you aint!

RE: Crummy weather challenge point system
BY: sparco on 2006-11-16 8:15 AM

I'm in.  Hopefully this motivates me to still get out and run in sub zero weather...

We're only tracking outdoor workouts, correct?...or will we also track indoor workouts (swim, core, weights) on the spreadsheet as well?

Edited by sparco 2006-11-16 8:22 AM

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'Canada: North America's Penalty Box'--marmadaddy

'You mean like...climates where...there aren't any events that start with the word "FROZEN"? Just clarifying.'--mila

'Tri or tri not. There is no du.'--Matchman