Winter Running Survival Guide
I hate being cold. It is truly awful, and it makes running in the winter an extreme challenge for me. I have always heard that you should start your run cool/cold to avoid overheating later as your warm-up, but that first .5 mile feels like pure torture. There are times where I can’t even make it out the door because of the thought of being cold, even if its only for 5-10 minutes.
When the temperature dipped into the mid 20s a couple of months ago, my appreciation for real cold-weather runners grew exponentially. I am the kind of person who balks at going outside when it’s less than 50, so learning to run on icy sidewalks was completely baffling to me (but good news, I didn’t fall). I finally learned what I meant to be chilly at the start, and thank yourself later. Here is what got me through:
1. I LOVE Runner’s World’s What to Wear Tool. Hot, cold – doesn’t matter. I use it any time I can’t make a decision on what to wear on a run (nearly every day). It’s made a huge difference between me over-dressing or stressing about being too cold. I just have to plug in a few variables and it gives me all of the answers I need. If only they made a similar tool for major life decisions.
2. Fleece headband/ear cover. Super cute, my fleecy monstrosity has made my ears toasty and makes it easier to regulate my temperature on a cold or windy run. The best part, when I get too hot I can wrap it around my wrist or toss it in a pocket.
3. I have embraced the rain. Some runs feel a bit like you are crying (can’t see because your eyes are blurry, water dripping off your face), but I’ve decided I kind of like the cooling aspect of the rain, especially when my raincoat is getting a bit too warm. It’s also wonderfully peaceful. With no one else out running, or really out at all, it’s easy to fall into my own rhythm and enjoy a great run. Check out my previous post on how I handle (or avoid) getting soaked.
4. Warm tights are my new best friend. After the skin on my legs burned during an entire run in sub freezing weather and afterward when I got into the shower, I decided it was time to invest in some winter running tights. Best. Decision. Ever. They are worth every penny.
5. I love zippers. Shirts that zip down to let in more air are an excellent solution to my chronic over-dressing to avoid the dreaded cold problem.
6. Did someone say ‘cuffin’? I know it’s a ridiculous term coined by Lululemon, but built-in mittens are great. I can flip them on and off constantly while running, and I never have to worry about losing them.
7. Hot showers and other rewards are crucial. Did you get soaked today? Did you go for a run when most people didn’t leave their house at all? Were you running before the sun even came up? Then you deserve a cookie (or whatever else you want to reward yourself with). In fact, I deserve a cookie for even thinking about running.
