Cold Weather Running

I wear cold-weather tights. They're made of magic and have replaced my previous double-pants. Also, I wear a fleece scarf loosely wrapped around my neck and in front of my face. If it gets too warm, I can just loosen it down.

Also, I switched to knee-high socks under my tights (so, I guess it is like wearing half-of a second layer of pants). And I have waterproof trail running shoes- a new addition this year- that are totally awesome! I can run in ankle-high powder without getting wet or cold!

Oh yeah- I also wear a highway-worker level carhartt High-Visibility hoodie as my top layer. I try to stay on sidewalks, but sometimes I'm in the streets. I like being as visible as possible especially this time of year.

Rock on cold weather runners! It was 27 degrees when my wife and I left the house for the New Years 5k and polar bear dive into Lake Washington on Tuesday. Loved every minute of it!

The only recommendation I would make, since you said you are running in the dark, is a flashing LED vest and headlamp. I almost got run over by a SUV a couple of months ago. Now I look like Clark Griswold's house when I run. Spoke to a guy at the gym last week that was recovering from being hit while running and had his leg dislocated and torn from the hip. Can't avoid everything, but we can definitely try.

Enjoy the cold and run on, my friend, run on!

I am with you on being visible. I wear a Brooks Nightlife running jacket that is fluorescent yellow with reflector strips on it. I have a flashing red LED blinker that I wear on the back of my bandana on my head, 2 Nathan brand reflector snap braclets around my ankles, and my iPhone lit up on my arm. I feel very visible when I run at night.

I just started running myself and am trying to adapt to the cold weather and the dark. Layers on both top and bottom seem to work best. I also wear my yellow reflective bike vest over the top of my jacket. It is light weight so doesn't add a lot of bulk. I have a headlamp that i wear to help make me more visible.

It's been 40 degrees in Texas & I am a wimp.....no outside running for me!! You guys are awesome!! Of course, I love to run in 90+ degree weather!!

Dayum I just as mfp "Carson" a similar question earlier today.....I have the exact type clothing as you..tights/thermal top/shorts/gloves/hats...........I have a neck warmer that I can pull over my mouth and nose as I run....gets warm quickly so Im constantly moving it up and downs..........

I have a neck warmer thingy, too. Love it for the really cold/windy days. I'm in Wisconsin as well and run in all sorts of weather. My best advice is dress like it's 20-30 degrees warmer than it actually is because that's what it will feel like when you get going and warmed up. And when it's really, really cold and really, really windy you can sometimes beg your spouse to drive you somewhere and drop you off so you can run home one direction with the wind at your back.

^^^^^
have done this more than once
Ontario Canada here lol -29 with windchill the other day even the canadian runners were looking at me weird lol

get yaktraks they are just wow my roads are icey from dec till april ( country they never plow well)
best investment I have made and I can use them for trail running when ground is hard but no snow yet

I'm a Wisconsin runner, too! I ran on the treadmill the other night & thought my four miles would never end! I personally love my Nike climate gear I picked up at the outlet store last year. I've got a number of other brand pieces given to me as gifts that do not compare at all. My goal is to find a hat & face cover that's not to big. I've got a small head (with big brains) and they either slip or gap on me. I also run on country roads in the dark and would love suggestions for the nights it's pitch black.

bump to read later

Thanks for all the tips you've already included here. I want to do c25k but have been waiting for the snow and ice in Colorado to melt off. Might try it with these ideas.

^^Me too. I hate bundling up, and I hate being cold. I feel like such a big baby now.

That is awesome! Do you find that there's a lot of condensation on your face, or does the fabric soak it up pretty well? I sometimes pull my scarf over my mouth when it gets too brisk, but the dampness of my breath is kind of annoying and I usually end up pulling it off again.

The other nice thing I found this morning is hand warmers!! They were forecasting -25C (-13F) and I was really nervous to go running because the last time I went out at that temperature my fingers hurt so much from the cold even inside two pairs of mittens. Then I found these little air-activated hand warmers in my drawer... and it was perfect! It ended up being a lot warmer than they predicted... only -18C I think, but the hand warmers were still nice! They're one-use only, but I'm thinking of DIYing some little fleecy ones filled with rice or oats that I can stick in the microwave before my run.

I live in South Texas and it's been cold (for us) the past week. When I ran on Friday it was only 43 degrees. For you that might be balmy, but for me, it's cold! I had three layers on, and finally warmed up after 5 miles. I can't imagine running in freezing weather, you have excellent dedication!

My cold weather cycling gear (gloves, arm warmers, no-chamois insulate tights, base layer t-neck, wind jacket) works really well for winter running. We'll see what I think when I get back today. It's windy here in SE WI today!!

i was just going to say that cyclists have solved this problem pretty decently. I was bike commuting for a month or two before I realized that I was solving all the same problems (except traction) in exactly the same ways. I run in my biking jacket bought it from a place that supplies bicycle cops their gear, so I am not only visible and ventilated, but I look like cars should respect me on the road - it's great, if a little stiff.

One thing to keep in mind, the saying "Cotton kills" is dead on. If you wear cotton, and it gets wet, you will get cold. There's a lot of cotton-poly blend out there marketed as "athletic wear" and it LOOKS warm, and it FEELS warm inside the house or while it's still dry, and if you go run in it, and sweat in it, you'll also freeze in it. I hate synthetics, and can't afford an all-wool wardrobe, but in winter I suck it up and leave my cozy cotton at home.

Anyone know if there are any good "weather app" out there that give the windspeed along with the the temps for the day? I am always asking Suri on my iPhone what the windspeed is. Wish it would just give a rough estimate of the windspeed on the app as well for the day. Wind is a huge factor in running.

Have you check weatherbugg? I know it has a lot of detail, but don't know if windspeed is included. Perhaps look for apps for boating weather conditions?

Wind is a huge factor in running.

The weather app I use is called Weather+ I think. I hate running in the wind, I'll take the freezing cold before a windy day any time!