Winter Running

It looks like the cold weather is returning. So, what do you wear on these cold runs to keep you dry and warm?

First let’s start with things to avoid:

• Overdressing – too much is as bad as too little. You should be a little chilly at the beginning of your run as you will quickly warm-up as you continue to run.
• Cotton – Cotton gets heavy and wet as it absorbs sweat, once you stop running you will get cold very quickly from being wet! Staying dry is critical to keeping warm.
• Heavy Sweat Pants – Sweat pants are bulky, not efficient at keeping you dry and warm, plus they can even affect your running form.
• Doubling up on Socks – Wearing two thick pairs of socks can impede your circulation and can cause blisters.

Here are some tried and true suggestions to keeping warm:

• Wear wicking fabrics – modern running clothes have special micro fibers to pull sweat away from your body to the surrounding air. Moisture and excess heat is vented out from your skin.
• Wear Running Tights – tights are light and easy to run in, never bulky like sweat pants. Our legs generate a lot of heat so one layer is generally enough. Lycra-Spandex tights are warm enough for most weather. For more extreme cold, heavier tights have thermal properties and wind resistance are effective.
• Dress in Layers – Dressing in layers traps body heat and helps you regulate your temperature. You can start with an inner wicking layer, a middle layer can be a thermal half zip top, and then your outer layer is generally a wind and water resistant lightweight jacket. Water proof fabrics are helpful for more extreme conditions
• Protect Extremities – we all know we lose most of our heat through our head, wearing a headband or hat helps hold that warmth in. Lightweight wicking gloves and mittens for when it’s really cold are critical.
• Happy Feet – keep your feet warm with one layer of wicking socks made of acrylic, polypropylene, or wool. You can look for socks specifically labeled as cold weather running socks.
• Chap Stick – protect those lips with a thick coat of Chap Stick. Lips will quickly get dry and crack in cold weather. You can also use a layer of Vaseline on lips and exposed skin as well.
• Sunglasses – if there’s snow on the ground and the sun is shining, sunglasses will protect your eyes from the reflected sunlight. Sunglasses are helpful even to just protect your eyes from the wind.

If you have any doubts how to be prepared for winter running, go to The Running Depot and let their staff advise you on versatile and key pieces that will serve you well for years to come. The Running Depot is fully stocked with winter apparel and accessories. They have plenty of reflective gear, Brooks Night Life Jackets, technical running hats, head bands, gloves, long sleeves, zips, jackets, tights and pants.