3 tips for handling a headwind from the 2022 Around the Bay winner

The 2022 Around the Bay 30K in Hamilton, Ont. was characterized by cold temperatures, strong winds and even some snow — not exactly conditions for setting a new PB. Despite this, Kingston, Ont.’s Kevin Coffey ran an impressive race, crossing the finish line more than three minutes ahead of the field. We sat down with him to get his advice on how to deal with such blustery conditions in training and on race day so you can run with confidence the next time the wind picks up.

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“Hamilton during this year’s running of the Around the Bay was one of those windy days where runners ran into the headwind for the majority of the flat section of the course,” says Coffey. In many ways, he says this made the big, rolling hills in the Burlington section of the course feel easier to run than the flats, when you had to run straight into the wind, which was moving at 40 km/hour on race day.

Because he ran the majority of the race solo, Coffey had to deal with the brunt of that wind for almost all of the 1:40 he was out on the course. This, combined with his many years of experience as a competitive runner, makes him an expert at handling adverse weather conditions. Here are his top tips for dealing with strong winds during your next run or race:

Run behind a pack of runners or in the middle of the pack

The runners at the front of the pack will block the wind and make it easier for you to maintain your pace without using as much energy. Even if the pack slows a little, go with the pack (to a certain extent). It is better to be in the pack than to run at the same pace or slightly quicker without someone blocking the wind.

Of course, this won’t help you on a solo run, but if you’re doing a run or workout with some friends, you can take turns alternating who runs at the front of the group, so everyone in your pack has a chance to get some reprieve from the wind.

Effort does just as much as the numbers on your watch

Focus on keeping your form

A lot of us, myself included, start dropping our shoulders, slowing our stride rate and forgetting to keep a smooth stride when running into a headwind, which will impact your performance. It’s also important to stay relaxed because the tension in your body will drain your energy levels.