Cold weather running

geeberfever
geeberfever Posts: 19 Member
edited November 3 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello all!

Does anyone have any good tips for a newbie cold weather runner?!! I'd love any advice on specific gear or whatever helps you!
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Replies

  • emilyc85
    emilyc85 Posts: 450 Member
    I am bumping this because I have toyed with the idea of running more recently but it is FREEZING where I am :p

    Good luck to everyone in your continued fitness goals!
  • KristiRTT
    KristiRTT Posts: 346 Member
    Layers, and more layers!! Today I ran 9 miles in temps of 12! I had on long running tights, and longsleeve tech shirt, a fleece sweatshirt and a wind vest, gloves and a hat and I was toasty warm after the first mile!! Dress as though it is 30 degrees warmer than it is. And don't go out and spend a lot of money on cold weather gear, just use stuff you have already and experiment to see how your feel! Cold weather running does not need to be scary!
  • Saree1902
    Saree1902 Posts: 611 Member
    I quite like winter running...once I get warmed up!

    I tend to wear running tights and a long sleeved lined top. (Start fitness do a good one if you're in the UK) thumb holes are good as you can keep your hands warm without overheating in gloves. I tend to wear a huge stretchy headband/bandana rather than a hat since I have yet to find a hat that doesn't ride up! Plus I like to cover my ears.

    As far as ice is concerned...I like to avoid it! I'm not really blessed with grace and coordination so I have yet to try ice grips for running - I tend to hit the treadmill if it looks skiddy.

    And lots of tissues! My nose is like a tap in the cold weather!
  • cstonewoman
    cstonewoman Posts: 3
    Completely agree with KristiRTT. I hate the gym and therefore try to run more when it's cold. I wear an ear band to keep my ears warm as well. If it's super windy, there isn't much you can do to keep from it smacking your face. When it's super windy, I just suck it up and go to the gym, even though I get so bored. I wear the long spandex-y type pants. I often wear a sweatshirt that I can take off mid run and tie it around my waist is i get too hot. Best of luck!!
  • wolfgate
    wolfgate Posts: 321 Member
    Layers is the way to go.

    If you feel cold at the start, that's fine. You should be comfortable once you warm up. If you're still too cold 15 minutes in, wear more next time. Too warm, wear less.
  • Daniloveshockey94
    Daniloveshockey94 Posts: 348 Member
    Bumping for tips!
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    it's 66 here today so I suggest running tights and a hoodie
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    Invest in good clothes for running in cold weather.

    I have some well fitted fleece-lined running pants, warm socks, good shoes and a fleece lined zip-up running shirt (has holes in the sleeves for your thumbs so the sleeves don't ride up). In the bitter cold (the other day I ran 6.5 miles in 18 degree weather), gloves are very important. Once my hands start to feel freezing, it makes the run much more miserable-a simple pair of fleece gloves to keep your fingers toasty makes all the difference. A hat is also good. I just have an under armor pink hat to keep my ears warm. Underneath the sweatshirt, sometimes I wear thermal shirts if it's extra cold...a scarf or turtle-fur neck warmer can help too.

    Stretching beforehand to keep your muscles relaxed and prevent them from tensing up in the cold is also important. Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate.

    Best of luck!
  • emilyc85
    emilyc85 Posts: 450 Member
    I may sound dumb, but do you guys carry water when you are running? If so, how? I have a large nalgene and it gets heavy :p
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    I may sound dumb, but do you guys carry water when you are running? If so, how? I have a large nalgene and it gets heavy :p

    I don't unless I'm at the gym. I drink water before I run and then again after.
  • geeberfever
    geeberfever Posts: 19 Member
    Wow! Thanks for the tips! I've been wearing compression tights and a cotton shirt w a fleece zip up and a headband thus far and it's been alright! Oh and gloves!!!!!!

    As for water, I don't bring any! But, I don't run further than like 3 miles so I can wait until I get home...
  • GBPack93
    GBPack93 Posts: 76 Member
    A lot of runners have "problem" body parts that are affected worse than others. For me it is the hands so I wear two pairs of gloves when I run. Some other great gear is a balaclava for your face and compression socks to avoid blisters when wet/slushy.
  • mitchyinge
    mitchyinge Posts: 196
    I may sound dumb, but do you guys carry water when you are running? If so, how? I have a large nalgene and it gets heavy :p

    I do if I'm out for a couple of hours or more, I've got a camelbak thing that carries over 3 pints of water which is lots lots more than even I can drink on the move and I drink a lot more than the average person for various reasons. I've also got a little bottle that slips over my hand so it doesn't have to be held but I find anything in or on my hands very annoying after a while. If you spend the rest of your time drinking plenty of water, making a special effort the night before and morning of a longer run, you might find you don't really need to drink while you are running.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    All great advice. LAYERS! I find that, in addition to my body, my lungs "get cold". For me, transitioning them to warm them up helps. So when the weather dips below about 25f I wear a bandana around my neck, and start my run with it pulled up. As I get warmer I start breathing through my nose some, and about 5 minutes in I'm able to move the bandana down and go about my run.
  • _TastySnoBalls_
    _TastySnoBalls_ Posts: 1,298 Member
    it's 66 here today so I suggest running tights and a hoodie

    lol..this is shorts and a tee running weather
  • gduncan229
    gduncan229 Posts: 11
    I did my first cold weather run this morning. Was 20 out this morning. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but yes definitely layers. Even layers where you don't think you need layers. I didn't layer up as much on the legs figuring the amount of movement would keep them warm. I was wrong.

    But on this note any suggestion for things to help with breathing the cold air? While it wasn't a huge issue this morning I can see if it gets much colder that I will start having trouble with the air.
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    Layers and tissues like others said. :smile: I went this morning when it was 26 degrees! I actually wore capri leggings and a hoodie. Mid 20's is about my limit for not wearing long pants.
  • nathalier71
    nathalier71 Posts: 570 Member
    I'm also new to winter running - I got myself some winter running pants (didn't like the tights - they just fit funny), some long underwear - the wicking material type (walmart has them at a good price), a shell (windbreaker type jacket). I wear 2 shirts, my shell, my longjohns and my shell - hat and mitts of course and I'm warm - sometimes even hot. It's -21 with the windchill factor.

    Layering I'm finding is the key.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I did my first cold weather run this morning. Was 20 out this morning. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but yes definitely layers. Even layers where you don't think you need layers. I didn't layer up as much on the legs figuring the amount of movement would keep them warm. I was wrong.

    But on this note any suggestion for things to help with breathing the cold air? While it wasn't a huge issue this morning I can see if it gets much colder that I will start having trouble with the air.
    I just posted what works for me. Hope you find what works for you.
  • _TastySnoBalls_
    _TastySnoBalls_ Posts: 1,298 Member
    I did my first cold weather run this morning. Was 20 out this morning. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but yes definitely layers. Even layers where you don't think you need layers. I didn't layer up as much on the legs figuring the amount of movement would keep them warm. I was wrong.

    But on this note any suggestion for things to help with breathing the cold air? While it wasn't a huge issue this morning I can see if it gets much colder that I will start having trouble with the air.

    i bought a fleece neck warmer thingie (not sure if neck warmer is the correct term) and i just pull it over my nose when the cold air breathing gets tough
  • AbsyPernet
    AbsyPernet Posts: 145
    I'm new to running and this is my first winter, thank you guys for all the tips. Tissues are important , nose drips like a tap:laugh: I wear layers, hat and gloves. It was 4 degrees C (39 F) this morning , the sun was shinning , wind was bitter though!

    Thanks a lot:flowerforyou:
  • miss_glamorous
    miss_glamorous Posts: 34
    gloves are a must!!

    and something to cover your ears. even if you don't listen to music, wear some earphones anyway. wind chill in the ear is not fun!!
  • PinkNinjaLaura
    PinkNinjaLaura Posts: 3,202 Member
    Again layers. A few light layers. Last weekend it was 12 degrees (F) with a 2 degree windchill and I had 3 light layers on the top (light fleece quarter-zip, light tech quarter-zip, light full-zip sweatshirt), with both medium & light tights on the bottom (and cotton shorts over them for pockets) and was very comfortable once I got going. The medium tights are Reebok that I got on sale and everything else I bought at Target or Walmart. I had on light running gloves, a light dri-weave hat & the sweatshirt had a hood. The zippers on the tops are nice because at some point I did get warm enough that I needed to unzip enough to get some extra air in, but then on my cooldown walk I zippered back up.

    Also depending on how cold it really is where you are (cold is relative), if you're out in a cold wind & don't want to cover your face put Vaseline on exposed surfaces to protect from windburn.
  • PinkNinjaLaura
    PinkNinjaLaura Posts: 3,202 Member
    I may sound dumb, but do you guys carry water when you are running? If so, how? I have a large nalgene and it gets heavy :p

    Today is the first day that I did, and it was an 8 mile run (and I'm slow so I was out running for a long time). Otherwise I chew gum while I run just to keep from getting dry mouth.
  • patrickfish7
    patrickfish7 Posts: 190 Member
    As we dont get it as cold as you Americans, it only gets down to about 30 F currently, maybe down to 15 F at worst. But always the same - base layer, mock and tights. I used two sprints to warm up and the rest is taken care of. Maybe also a windproof jacket if its a bit of a wind chill.
  • PinkNinjaLaura
    PinkNinjaLaura Posts: 3,202 Member
    gloves are a must!!

    and something to cover your ears. even if you don't listen to music, wear some earphones anyway. wind chill in the ear is not fun!!

    One suggestion for gloves, make sure you wear lightweight ones. If you wear ones that are too warm & you pull them off after your hands have started to sweat, the cold air is going to be brutal on them. My hands, like the rest of me, are a little too cold until I've warmed up.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    it's 66 here today so I suggest running tights and a hoodie

    lol..this is shorts and a tee running weather
    Shorts & tee for anything above 30.
  • nuttyduffy
    nuttyduffy Posts: 255 Member
    I agree - layers, layers, layers

    I usually wear either long or 3/4 pants long sleeve top, lightweight jacket and gloves, light ones cos my hands get too hot otherwise!

    I do cross country and am now considering getting some spikes so that I'm at not slipping all over the place in the mud lol It's good fun though :tongue:
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    it's 66 here today so I suggest running tights and a hoodie

    lol..this is shorts and a tee running weather
    Shorts & tee for anything above 30.

    30? It gets that cold?
  • lucyloutoo
    lucyloutoo Posts: 522 Member
    I have headphone issues..they're always uncomfortable...so I bought a woollen hat with built in headphones.
    Keeps me proper toasty. :)
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