 |
| Just a girl and her cleats on an icy day. |
When I tell people I’m training for the Boston marathon, a
common comment has been, “oh no, you’re going to have to train during the
winter in New England.” Yes, this is true. But, I did train for the Vermont City Marathon last winter, and I found I actually prefer running in the cold compared to the humid heat of a New England summer. Although
I run all summer too, I’m just not a hot weather runner – my performance is
much better in the cold.
That being said, there is one thing that’s an added
challenge in the winter: it just takes more gear. Luckily for
me, I love running gear. Purchasing extra gear for winter running was actually
pretty fun for me. Maybe not as fun for my bank account, but luckily it doesn’t
have as many feelings as I do. 😊 I have created the below outline for how I gear up for winter weather. I
thought this might be helpful for those of you taking the plunge into winter
running. I have linked the typical products I wear on the run, just as
examples. I've also included lots of pictures from my Instagram of me on cold runs because, apparently I take a lot of running selfies...#sorrynotsorry.
The general rule of thumb is that you should dress as if it
was 15 to 20 degrees warmer than it actually is. You should feel a little
chilly before you start running. You can’t go out for a winter run feeling all
cozy and bundled up, because you’ll quickly overheat and that could be
dangerous. If you’re a person who doesn’t get very hot and sweaty while
running, you may want to dress a little warmer. If you’re like my husband and
you’re basically a bear-man who shovels snow in shorts, you don’t need to wear
as much. But keep in mind, how much a person heats up while exercising isn’t
always dependent upon body type. I’m one of those people who is constantly freezing in
the winter. I’m small, and honestly don’t have a lot of body fat. I wear a lot
of clothes and am generally pretty miserable in the winter. But once I start
running, I get really warm really fast. I tend to underdress when I run, so that I
don’t I end up really uncomfortable. I also dress in layers and buy gear that
can easily be carried once removed.
As I said, I’ve linked some of my favorite products below.
Note that these are my unbiased opinions. I haven’t been paid by any of these
brands. In general, my favorite brands for cold weather are Lululemon
(my favorite brand for all running), Athleta, Nike, and Icebreaker.
40-50 degrees Fahrenheit:
This is my favorite running weather. For this type of weather I typically wear capri
running pants, or light
long pants, a sleeveless
running tank, covered with a light longsleeved
tech top. I may wear my gloves,
which convert to warmer mittens if I need them. I often take them off
after a few miles and attach to my hydration pack. I will sometimes wear an ear warmer depending on the wind chill.
 |
| Out for a quick 10K in November 2017 |
32-40 degrees Fahrenheit: In all temperature zones, but particularly 40 degrees and lower, it’s important to consider wind chill rates and any precipitation. In general, in this weather I wear long pants, a sleeveless running tank, and either two long sleeved tech tops, or this long sleeved cold weather tech top. I’ll always wear my gloves, and my favorite cold weather hat.
 |
| A little snow ain't no thang - December 2017. |
 |
| Neither is a lot of snow - February 2018. |
20-32 degrees
Fahrenheit: Brrrr…it’s officially cold out there. If it’s closer to 20
degrees, I bring out my fleece lined pants. I only use these in really cold
temperatures, because they’re too warm otherwise. I highly recommend these
from Athleta. On my top half, I wear a sleeveless tank, a long sleeved tech top, and my
Nike
long sleeved cold weather top. I also depend on my Nike
Aeroloft Flash Running Vest. This product is truly amazing and I can’t
recommend it enough. I have no idea how something so thin and light can keep me
so warm. It also packs up into a small pocket that becomes a wristlet if you
want to take it off mid-run. It's also reflective which is useful in the often dark winter months. I always wear my gloves and Icebreaker hat. I may
also add an ear warmer. If it’s closer to 20 degrees, or if the wind chill is
significant, I’ll wear my Icebreaker
Flexi Chute with my hat. This keeps my face and neck warm. The fabric does
get damp with my breath, which then typically freezes over and I turn into Jon
Snow north of the wall. But there are worse things I suppose…
I was in Denver this past weekend and went out for an early
morning run in 25 degree weather, and it didn’t feel nearly as cold as similar
temps in Boston. As there was no moisture in the air, it was more comfortable.
It was also very nice that although the temperature was below freezing, there
was no ice on the roads!
 |
| Geared up and ready to go last weekend in Denver. 25 degrees - picture taken before putting on my gloves. |
Below 20 degrees
Fahrenheit: Really cold out there. I will wear all of the things above, and
I may layer another long sleeved tech shirt. For temperatures below freezing, I
may also wear my rubber
running cleats to stay safe on ice. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of
long runs in temperatures below freezing is preventing my water supply from
freezing. I always carry water when I run, and for long runs I sometimes even
hide water along my route to replenish my stores. In very cold temperatures
last winter, the bottles in my hydration belt froze shut, and I returned home from
my 15 mile run very dehydrated. The best option is to plan to stop at a store
to purchase water, or a friend’s house. This winter I’m glad to have the option
for long runs with my charity team, with staffed water stations. Problem
solved.
 |
| Pretty much as serious as it gets - 10 degrees in downtown Boston January 2018. |
 |
| That day my water bottle froze...my face tells it all. |
I hope this is helpful. In general I encourage you to not be
afraid to get out there and run in the cold weather – you’ll likely be
surprised by how much you like it! Remember that the hardest part is getting out
there and getting started!
Comment below about your favorite winter running gear!
 |
| Sorry I couldn't resist... |
