We run rain, shine, heat, snow, cold you name it we run on it. Recently it has been getting very cold out. I did my first long run in 24 degrees a few weeks ago and boy was it an experience.
At that temperature your water in your bottles freezes before you have time to drink it. I took out 2 6oz bottles on my belt and 20 oz of nuun in a handheld and after an hour the small bottles began to solidify. Luckily my nuun bottle was bigger and more insulated in this Amphipod handheld. I know next time I will have to put hot water in my bottles so they will not freeze before my long run is completed.
For clothing during the bitter cold runs I will only wear Under Armour Cold gear. I have tried many different types of options. But for me I stay with this because it is breathable, wicks away my sweat, and still keeps me warm. I swear by it. I admit it is pricey but once you run in it you will realize it is worth every pretty penny. The nice thing is it is very durable. I find it lasts forever through many long runs and many washings.
For gloves, these have become my favorite so far: Under Armour Extreme ColdGear Gloves. I bought these in hot pink with the matching top from their breast cancer awareness campaign and love them.
For me running in extreme cold requires a mask. I like these ones that give you plenty of protection.
Yes very ninja like ;) But trust me when it comes to cold weather running the least thing I am worried about is what I look like! I like having the option to cover my nose because it gets shiny red and cold. Also I find breathing the colder air through the mask warms it up a bit and helps me stay on pace.
The mask can also be pulled down for breathing breaks and post race pics of course ;)
For some extra warmth I pop some hand warmers into my gloves or socks too. They are cheap and really make a difference on those below 20 degree runs.
Also I have found that gel gets solid after awhile so I keep the gel I want to use next in my glove. The rest stay hooked onto my belt but the one on deck gets warm in my glove and it is much easier to eat on the run ;)
I would love to hear what works for you!
6 comments:
OMG! You don't leave any room for excuses! We don't often get temps below 20, but I will start to layer up when it gets close to 30. A hat, scarf or mask, and gloves are key! Plus a long hot shower afterwards.
Oh my god! It's a wonder people don't run the other way, as you look like you could be about to rob a bank!
I'm mightily impressed that you don't use the cold as an excuse to not exercise.
I suspect any excuse at all would 'do' me!
Up here in Alaska we have negative temps more or less frequently throughout the winter.
For past week we have been around -10F, and it gets pretty chilly for running.... however, I use the balaclava for runs longer than 5 miles. Gloves, yep, they are must. Especially after having severely frostbitten fingers after mountain climbing expeditions on the tallest mountains of this side of the world. For negative temps, I tape hand warmer packs around my fingers, one of each side.
And otherwise it is just about dressing layers, and preferring the jackets with ventilation zippers. I have found Smartwool's base layers the best for longer runs as well as Nordic skiing.
Thin layers work well for me. Even when it's really cold, 3 thin layers works well unless it's windy. Otherwise, I'll keep shorts on until it drops below 30.
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