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Ugh. It's November and I'm already over the cold. Which is weird, because I used to LOVE running in cold weather. The air just felt fresher to me. The sting of it going in my lungs felt clean and refreshing. I do still love fall running, but I'm over the cold. And it's barely started.
Buttt, I still run in cold weather. I will admit to having a treadmill and using that whenever I just don't feel up for it. But I get bored doing all of my runs on the treadmill, I need some of that outdoor energy.
I was recently asked to share my winter running gear and tips, and so here I am, sharing the wealth of knowledge with you all.
Full disclosure, I do not run outside in ice, deep snow or under 25 degree F weather. So if you need those tips, I can point you in another direction.
So, (cracks knuckles) here we go...
Tip #1: Layer
The thing about running in the winter is that you need to find that balance between staying warm but also not over-heating. I find that I need to dress for about 10 degrees warmer than what the temp says. Unless it's windy, because that's a different ballgame. But it's easier to wear a few layers and take something off if you are getting warm, than it is to warm up if you really don't have enough on.
Tip #2: Gloves
My hands, especially my fingertips get cold first and are the hardest to turn around once they are cold. When you are running your blood is shunting to all those muscles and organs that it needs to run. This means not as much going to your fingers. So once the temps get close to 40 I usually add some gloves. Sometimes even before I switch from shorts to pants. When my fingertips get super cold I ball my hands up in the middle of my glove.
Tip #3: Visibility
If you're like me it's hard to find time to run in daylight when the daylight hours are so short. So here is your friendly little reminder to wear either reflective clothing, a light-up vest, or both.
Tip #4: Sunscreen
Unfortunately you can still get a sunburn in the winter. So if you will be out for a long run, it's still a good plan to apply sunscreen on your face.
Tips #5: Sweat-wicking
You will still get sweaty. Or at least you should. So I would still consider wearing performance shirts/ sweat wicking layers underneath. Because otherwise all that sweat will be sitting against your skin keeping you extra cold.
Amount of clothing/layering will be a little different for everyone, so it may take some experimenting. For me if it is in the 40's I will likely have on shorts and either a long sleeve or short sleeve (if closer to 50). In the 30's I'll do pants and a thinner shirt with a vest, or a thicker shirt. If closer to 30 or below I will wear a thinner long sleeve shirt and a thicker long sleeve something over it.
Okay now for the fun part...shopping
Gear:
I'll admit a lot of my winter gear is super old. So I am either linking the exact item, or the closest that I could find. (some of these are affiliate links, but not all)
Head: I don't always cover my ears because I like to hear my surroundings, but sometimes it is cold enough that I need to. My favorite is something like this Ear cover headband, although this one has a ponytail spot which is kinda cool.
Under layer: I'll admit I don't have anything fancy or special here. I usually use a regular long sleeve performance shirt. A lot of times a thinner race shirt or something like that. Although this shirt seems to be popular as an under layer.
Overlayers:
I LOVE my vest. I wear it all the time, not just for running. But I also love that it is thin enough to be light and perfect for running and add the warmth I need. My favorite is the Lululemon Down for it all vest. Here is the Vest on Amazon, but there are more color options on the Lululemon site
Thin jacket. I think this is the one that I have, although I'm not positive, but it is at least similar. I love that it is lightweight and not super thick which makes it easier to run in. I add it when it's windy or if I need a little extra cover because the air has that winter bite to it. I also wear this not running as well.
Hands: These are my usual go-to Gloves (at least I think). I have had them for years and they do a good job of keeping my hands warm. However my extra little tip is that if it's not super freezing I have worn my kids gloves before (you know those cheap ones) and that has done the trick just fine.
Pants: These are my favorite cold weather running pants. I loveeee the cozy inside. And I love that again, they are thin enough that it doesn't feel bulky or awkward to run in them. The amount of runs that these pants have lasted through is impressive.
That's what I've got folks. If you have other specific questions, always feel free to reach out to me directly! And if you want some help with winter training, you've come to the right place. Go ahead and book a free consult call.
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