I woke up to a fresh
blanket of snow covering the yard this morning. I guess it’s finally time to
come to terms with the fact that winter is here and which also means that it is
time to prep for cold weather running.
I will be the first to
admit, it is only mid-November and I have already turned into a bit of a wimp
when it comes to running outside in these brisk temperatures that have recently
hit Michigan. I had all intentions of going for a run on Sunday afternoon, but every
time I glanced outside and saw a snowflake or two fall gently past my window, I
reconsidered my plans. Before I knew it, the sun had set, which left me doing a
circa 1997 Pilates workout on my living room floor while constantly being
crawled on by two curious cats and a pesty golden retriever.
Because traditional work
hours in combination with a lack of daylight prohibit me from running solo outdoors
on a work day, I was pretty bummed that I missed one of my few weekly
opportunities for some fresh air. So I’ve decided to put together a guide to
winter running in hopes of inspiring others, along with myself, to hit the
pavement before the true Polar Vortex months of winter move in.
Don’t assess the weather
conditions by looking out your window. During my inner battle on Sunday of “go
run vs. stay inside”, I was constantly looking out the window. If I am snuggled
up on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, and flanked by furry animals, then of
course it is going to look miserable outside. All snowy gray sky weather looks
worse from inside. My husband was busy doing yard work all day, so when I went
outside to check on him, I immediately noticed that the temperature was not exactly the arctic tundra that I had convinced myself it was from the warmth of
my sofa.
There is no temperature
problem that proper layering can’t fix. For the past two years, I have
participated in a January run challenge that required me to log lots of miles
outside. My usual absolutely-will-not-run-outside-regardless-of-tempting-me-with-post-run-breakfast temperature degree cut-off is 7 degrees. I’ve had lots
of 7 degree, icicles on my eye lashes, type of runs so here is a snapshot of my
typical layering structure for 7-35ish degrees. When it comes to layering, slim-fitting and wicking clothing items are essential to keep in the warmth and quickly dry the sweat that magically appears in frigid temps. Save the cotton t-shirt for the post-run nap that you totally earned. (If you want a break down of the items in this picture, most of them are listed and linked below.)
If you want to feel like you
have super hero powers, then purchase a pair of Yaktrax. When the
sidewalks, roads, or trails are snowy or icy, then Yaktrax are an absolute must
for me. They are like snow tires for your shoes and will help you confidently
run on a majority of winter’s slippery surfaces.
And most importantly- now
is the essential time to find a running buddy to join you for these polar bear
miles. The odds of crawling out of my flannel sheets on a cold morning to go for
a solo run on icy-mushy sidewalks are slim. However- the best way to conquer
low temps, winter winds, and still get some miles under your belt is to throw
in the offer of girl talk, snow packed trails, and post-run breakfast.
I hope these tips will help encourage and inspire you (and let's be honest- myself) to avoid the temptation to hibernate during these long, winter months. So start layering, grab your running shoes, and embrace the season!
-Steph
No comments:
Post a Comment