Running in the Cold
December 6, 2009
In case you haven't noticed, it's December and it's cold. Some runners (like Coach Miller) have retreated to the warmth of a treadmill, but a treadmill is not nearly as much fun as running outside. For those of you who love the great outdoors here are some tips for running in the cold.
A good tip for cold weather is to dress like it is 20 degrees warmer than it actually is. This is because you will warm up quickly after you start running. You can wear whatever type of fabric you are comfortable with, but a technical fabric is best for the first layer since it will keep sweat off your body. You should always wear a hat and gloves when it is in the 30s or colder. A hat will help prevent heat from leaving your head and gloves will stop heat loss from another major source of heat loss. You can wear shorts when it's in the 30s, but you should wear sweats or, even better, tights when it is colder.
It's best if you can warm up before you go outside and run. Running some stairs inside first can do the trick. You should also make sure you change quickly after you run into some dry, warm clothes. A warm drink after the run such as hot chocolate is great as well.
Finally, the worst scourge of winter running is the wind. The cold is generally bearable without wind, but with the wind the going can be rough. Use a product such as BodyGlide or Vaseline on your face to prevent frostbite and try running into the wind on the way out so it is at your back on the return run.
I hope some of you get some use out of these tips. They should help if you are planning on running the Reindeer Run 5K on December 20.
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