It’s been an awful winter for many of us. Snow in places that don’t usually get snow. And temperatures that haven’t been seen in 30 years (and I’ll be honest and tell you I wasn’t running in the cold when I was 13. Heck, I wasn’t running at all.) In fact, we have more snow on the ground (8 inches so far) and no school today, so my workout will either be on the treadmill or just from shoveling snow. But as soon as there is a relatively safe place to run, I’ll be out there again, dressed appropriately.
There are tons of “guides” out there for how to dress for this weather. Google it. You’ll find a whole bunch.
But I’m finding I have my own quirks that affect my clothing choices when I’m getting ready to run. It’s taken a lot of trial and error, but most of the time I dress right *for me* now.
Here are my quirks:
- My coldest body part is my butt and I can’t stand it when it’s cold. My solution? I wear a running skirt with compression shorts with my fleece lined tights. I pull the tights up between the shorts and the skirt. Three layers = happy bum!
- My warmest body parts are my hands. Unless it’s really windy or in the single digits, I very seldom make it through an entire run with my gloves on. Oddly, when I’m not running, my hands feel like ice cubes.
- I prefer a baseball cap style hat and a Bondi band to cover my ears to running with a running hat. Even on cold days, if I wear a fleece running hat, I end up with a wet ponytail.
- I’ve fallen in love with the smartwool socks, but I’m an idiot – I only bought “no show” socks. Who buys winter socks that don’t even cover their ankles?
- If it’s under 30 degrees, I always wear a tank top (tucked into my tights), a half zip, and my running jacket. On super cold days, my half zip is fleece. Thanks to the zippers, this layering has worked for me for temps from single digits to a cloudy 40 degree day.
- I prefer to be slightly overdressed and a little bit sweaty to being underdressed. If I have a jacket on, it holds the heat in and I don’t feel cold until I stop running (and I immediately jump in a hot shower.) If I’m underdressed, I often never warm up on the run and then I’m chilled for the entire rest of the day.
So, now you know my winter running quirks and what I wear to accommodate them. I’ll never be one of those runners who takes pride in wearing shorts until a certain date or down to a certain temp. I’m all about being comfortable on the run.
What about you? Am I the only one who wears weird combinations? Am I the only one who has romanticized 90* weather? I really could have done without this latest snow dump.
Me too. My butt gets cold so I always wear a skirt over my tights. And i tuck my shirt into my tights. So you’re not so strange.
If my chest is cold then the rest of me can’t get warm! When it’s cold my treadmill get a lot of use. You are stronger than I am. I am freezing today and I live in Florida 😉
LOL I’m a mess with the socks!! I’m still a Florida girl that doesn’t want the ankles covered…this is not tennis, this is not tennis…. I’m learning!
This was the first year for me foraying into winter running. I did a run on the weekend where it was pretty pretty cold, I dressed great, loads of layers but then when I was changing to go into the shower I was like “Holy geez my butt and outer thighs need more warm loving!” I was trying to think how I could add more just to that area as everything else was just fine, so thanks for the tip!
I totally do the tank top as base and tuck it in… preferably a long tank top because then it goes under my tights and covers my butt too…I’m with you on the cold bum!
No weird quirks here except that I am now a hater of running in the cold, so I stick to the treadmill 🙂 Was not like that last year, not sure what happened to me…clearly not a BAMR anymore.
I think part of why I avoid running in the cold is that my hands and feet get super cold and never warm up – I’ve tried carrying hand warmers and even put them in my shoes but they are still miserable.
I’ve got all kinds of crazy combinations depending on how low the temp – but of late I’ve been wimping out and retreating to the mill. I’m just so done with winter – someone’s going to have to remind me how bad this winter was when we’re melting this summer!
I’m all about being comfortable too but there are rules about public indecency here so I guess I’ll continue to only strip down to shorts instead of wearing shorts and a sports bra while it’s so hot.
Yep, have to admit makes me glad it really never gets too cold where I live or I don’t know if I would ever run. Sounds like you have it figured out perfectly for you. Thank you for your comment on my blog the other day! #Sitsblogging
If it’s over 30 I’m good with one of my heavier running tops and thick Nike tights. If its in the 20s I add a down vest. I always have to cover my ears and wear gloves.
LOL! I’m glad I’m not the only one whose butt gets cold! Coming from Phoenix, it has taken me some time to get used to Idaho winter weather. I am realizing that I have to buy real winter clothes to stay warm here. I finally went and purchased decent shoes and socks when my neighbor shook her head as I stepped out of the car in toe socks and sandals. I know, I know! But they were lug sole sandals and the only pair of shoes I owned that would keep me from sliding on the ice! Anyway…loved reading this post and it had some helpful advice for us cold weather novices. Thanks! Stopping by from #SITSBlogging.
I’m guilty. I wear no show socks all year – even in Vermont.
And how different that your butt gets cold and not your hands.
I would absolutely rather run in 90 degrees than 20. You won’t hear me complaining this summer!
My hands get super warm super fast, too. On Tuesday, though, the wind was so biting that I kept putting my gloves on, then taking them off again. Normally they just go in my pocket after about a mile, but that wasn’t happening on Tuesday!
My butt gets cold too!!! and my hands stay warm! I have been looking into the insulated running briefs for that purpose 🙂 Not that you probably wanted to know that.
For me, the coldest part of my body is my hands!!! I hate having cold hands. Anything under 30 degrees and I’m using those hand warmer things. My legs are usually fine, anything over about 15-20 degrees and I can do bare legs.