With wind chills down as low as -43, the Estevan Road Runners running club was able to push on no matter what. No matter what, the women in the group have made it their goal to make sure that they get out for some physical activity together as a group every Sunday, and an extra run on Family Day, to stay active and social.

Tamara Stephany is one of the runners, and says that such a small thing as going for a run or walk once a week as part of a community has been a benefit during both the cold weather and the isolation the pandemic has created.

"It's very, very important for our mental and physical health to get outside and to be together. The best thing about running outside is that it's easy to maintain social distancing and follow covid protocols were just the natural way that the group is, we have walkers and runners and so it's really easy to stay socially distanced and still get that camaraderie and the fresh air and sunshine."

The Road Runners are a fairly informal group that get their runs together on Facebook through their group, and they continue to do so through cold or warm weather. Having that supportive group around each other has been a big factor in making sure that they keep to their goals by challenging each other to stay with it.

"It keeps us motivated and accountable and through the cold snap, even though we might not want to go or think we might not want to go, it's been great to get out with a few friends and enjoy some outdoor time. The fresh air and sunshine are always good for everybody, even when it's cold."

Although we won't see the same deep-freeze temperatures like the start of the month, there is still expected to be a fair amount of wind and subzero temperatures in the mornings, so if you're looking to get out in the early morning hours, Stephany has some tips that she used during the morning runs. If this isn't enough though, Stephany says they go into much more detail on their Facebook page.

"I found that with the right gear that you can really get down to some cold temperatures and feel comfortable. It's surprising how comfortable you can get out there, but that's one thing that the group is great for. We've shared a lot of knowledge on cold-weather gear right from shoes and socks to headwear and mitts and gloves, so the group is a great resource for me."