Favourite winter wear for Bank Holiday Monday

tdlynch

Having spent the last 3 months not worrying too much about the weather, I was frozen to death yesterday in the Phoenix Park by ice-cold driving rain.

As a marathon newbie, this came as something of a shock. Spending 3-4 hours in those sorts of conditions is not my idea of fun.

Last Sunday's long run up to Howth and back around the coast was simply breathtaking - the sun low in the sky, the waters of Dublin Bay like a mirror and the perfect temperature for running in shorts and t-shirt.

Billy Connolly once said there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. With this in mind, can some of the more experienced in the group list their favourite winter wear?

Should I be getting a pair of those running tights, clearly designed without men's bits in mind?

Do people prefer a fleeze top to a rain jacket?

What about hats and gloves?

In particular, I'm interested in what to wear on race day. I guess a plastic bag at the start is useful for keeping warm, but what clothing should I be wearing on the 27th to strike the balance between warm enough to be comfortable and cool enough without overheating?

ekevosu

was going to ask the exact same question after a few very cold runs. Will the marathon run itself be enough to get the heat going?

hunnymonster

In Dublin, I've always run in a singlet and shorts. A a virgin marathoner I wore a running jacket and gloves. I ditched the gloves at the first aid station and ran with the jacket tied around my waist. Pennies do fleecy gloves for €10 and if I'm not sure I'll need them for a race, I tend to wear these ones as they can be ditched. Most people (if I remember correctly) are in shorts and tee but it's not at all unusual to see base layers and leggings

Peckham

Likewise I've run all my races (regardless of conditions) in shorts and singlet/short-sleeved tshirt. I train in tights and/or long-sleeved t-shirts when the weather requires it, but never race in these.

The only nod to the weather I'll give is at the start line, when I will sometimes wear a wolly hat and/or cheap fleece, which I'll chuck to the side of the road before the gun. Had a rather fetching baby-blue over-sized fleece at the start last year that I picked up in TKMaxx for a fiver.

(Mental note to self - must make trip to Penneys and pick up cheap disposable fleece/similar, hat and gloves should they be required for hanging around at the start of the marathon).

tdlynch

Brilliant, thanks Honeymonster and Peckham.

Would much rather wear shorts (feel like I'm running faster in them), but wasn't sure if the legs would be warm enough.

A disposable fleeze sounds like the answer - will be joining that queue down in Pennys.

Izoard

Ummm...maybe I'm running slower (3:30 - 4:00 hours is my usual...) than the other contributors, but I have to say, base layers are the business!

I'm not much of a sweater and it takes me ages to get my core "warm", so
I'd always wear one on top and if it is anyway cold, I'd get the running tights out...

Whatever else, stay away from the cotton t-shirts:D