It is so hard to run in the cold. It’s not bad at all once I get going, it is the “getting going” part that I have trouble with. I often find myself over-layering up. Feels fine (or less cold) when I am starting, but soon I am stripping layers off and tying them around my waist. This isn’t such a huge deal and the least of my problems with cold weather running. With a little planning on a layering strategy it becomes a piece of cake. Sometimes it is hard to know what layers should go where, but usually I find that layering my running jacket as the first to come off is a pretty good idea. The water-resistant material gives me a nice insulating layer that traps my body heat in pretty well. So when I am starting to warm up taking that off makes a refreshing difference. I also find my self occasionally layering my gloves. I use a liner material glove on the inside and a wind-resistant pair on the outside. Its actually not too often I do this and in Portland I find myself removing this pretty quickly (which is also refreshing!) Even taking off a single pair of gloves can have a positive effect on my runs. The again so can leaving them on!
My typical layering strategy for the top of my body is a running tech shirt as my base. I have a tight long sleeve shirt that works really well for a base layer. This I follow with a warmer/thicker shirt and sometimes even a second one if it is really cold out. Finally I add my jacket which (as I said already) really keeps in the body warmth. I usually tie removed layers around my waist, I have done this with more than one top on occasion, but usually I have one ties this way. This sometimes requiers an adjustment of my headphone cord (I like to keep it under a shirt to keep it out of the way) and ipod (I sometimes will have to slip it under the next layer). But I also find that I get lazy and just wrap the cord with my tied sleeves.
For my head I’ll wear a bandanna and a hat or sometimes a balaklava. The balaklava gets really hot, but I find that I can roll it up and get some air in on my neck and face which helps to regulate heat a bit. And you get the added benefit of looking like a super-hero!
For my lower I usually wear a pair of basic cotton tights over compression shorts then top this off with a pair of running shorts. I know I would benefit from paying a bit more for better tights, but I sweat so much in them I’d rather have multiple pairs of cotton ones (maybe I wouldn’t sweat so much if I had wicking tights…) I have to draw a gear line somewhere! I still like to wear ankle socks and often will have my ankles exposed to the cold, doesn’t seem to bother me much and I think it also helps to regulate my temp a bit. Some people like to wear the leg warmers (wait, am I still in the 80s?) which are actually compression leggings, but I pass on that.
I have thought about getting a pair of those slip-on snow cleats as well, but if there is snow on the ground I am usually indoors, so maybe I am better served saving my money. Still a pair would probably be good just for general walking on snow days. Hmmm.
I find myself keeping a real sharp eye out for ice in the winter too. Usually it is not too bad, I am going slow enough to avoid any sneaky black ice. But there are times, especially at the end of runs where I will space ut a bit and forget I need to be careful. Fortunately, these are few and far between.
