Cold weather runners

Hey folks...
Winter running is par for the course if you live in Ontario!! I trained for the Boston marathon in the icy months of January and February often running in temperatures as low as -30 (-22 farenheit)!! You do get used to it but there are a couple key components!

1. DO NOT wear cotton based clothing. Opt for the dry wicking material that takes the moisture away from your skin - cotton freezes and will make you extremely cold should you need walk breaks
2. invest in Yaktracs - or something similar. They come with either screws or chain like bottoms
http://www.elitefeet.com/yaktrax-get-your-grip-on
3. Wear something on your head...again, NO COTTON (just remember, cotton is wrotten!) Thermastat or other technical-fiber hats are available at specialty running stores - THESE are fantastic
3. Pants....Classic tights are generally a polyester and Lycra blend. Looser running pants (also stretchy, but not as form-fitting as tights) are another option here. In extreme cold, tights under pants is a good layering strategy.
4. Jacket - usually a polyester blend, serves to keep you warm, keep off wind, rain, and snow, and manage your perspiration
5. Gloves - To keep your hands warm on a cold day. Mittens keep your hands warmer when temperatures drop below 30. When in doubt, better to take your gloves with you. They're easy to tuck in your shorts or tights.
6. Cell phone...I never run in cold weather without my cell phone if the distance is further than 10km.

You do need to make an initial investment but your winter running clothes will last forever!! Always bring water with you (longer than 15km runs) as you may not feel thirsty in the cold but you still need to hydrate.

As a final note....I HATE THE WINTER but i love running with my other crazy friends in the ice and snow and having people in their cars looking at us like we are complete lunatics. Try it with friends, make a date for coffee and a good breaky afterwards and soon these will be your favorite runs. I am blessed to run with a big group of folks here in Toronto area and we have a blast with our winter running!!

GO FOR IT!!!

The only thing that kept me from running in the winters was if there was ice or snow pack all over (not that you couldn't with cleats I guess). But now that I live in Houston, TX that's never an issue. :sad: The cold is pretty easy to overcome. Some practical points to battle the cold but still pack light are:

- You really will produce a lot of body heat so to start out a little chilly is ok.
- I dress in layers with the first layer being long-sleeved UA or other wick-away stuff up to the neck (that way you don't have to add a scarf)
- lower body should be loose-fitting and with a 'hard' shell outer lining (no wind gets thru it)
- for my outer layer top I like to use a very long-sleeved hoodie. That way I can pull the hoodie on when needed but flip it off once I'm warmed up. It also helps keep my earphones in. Also I can tuck my hands in the loose long sleeves when cold, but let em out when they're warm. No need to carry extra gloves & take em off half way thru.
- I second the chapstick thing too

All in all though, I really find that my body heat really puts out. So I've learned that even if I start out a little chilly, I'll get quite warm once I'm into it so I like being able to adjust on the run without having to hassle with little extras.

Natural- I think you will be ok with a short run, but as soon as you are done stretch inside in the warmth, so you don't cool don't and get cold.

40-50 degrees long sleeved tech shirt and shorts
30-40 degrees long sleeved tech shirt/tights maybe a headband/gloves
20-30 degrees add a lightweight jacket to above
10-20 degrees consider an extra pair of pants and lined jacket
0-10 degrees extra hat, sweat pants, hooded sweat shirt with the hood up, thick snow gloves, something to protect the neck

and whoever said chapstick-YES!!