Winter Running

slingerz

as we head into the depths of autumn/winter any tips or advice for running in the cold weather, what type of gear is useful would you stick to the shorts or get the skins out how about wearing hats or gloves etc.

any advice at all will be good, its my first year running in the winter times so i want to be prepared!

robinph

We are still a way off needing the extra layers, but a reflective top would be handy for the darker evenings already...depending on when you do your runs.

I'd never bother with anything more than just shorts on the bottom half, unless there is a lot of snow on the ground and running at night. Your legs shouldn't really be getting cold anyway as they are doing most of the work in keeping you moving. The first extra layer I'd put on would be just gloves and then a hat as well. Just a long sleeve top, such as you get from the finish line of DCM, and wearing that under a wind proof top will cover most weather conditions.

ThePiedPiper

I usually go with just a long sleeve tech top and a high viz vest if it's poor weather or gloomy. If it's one of those sunny but cold wintery days, I would still just wear a vest or T-shirt. I stick to the shorts even in the coldest of weather, but I know a lot of people would wear tights and shorts. When it was -10 a couple of winters ago, I went all out and wore a running vest, long sleeve top and a high viz vest with my shorts.

If temps are approaching 0-5 degrees, I'd be wearing gloves, I'd do without a hat unless it's well below zero.
These would be my choices though, my circulation is quite good, so I don't feel the cold much. Mrs RFR on the other hand would need multiple layers on a cold winter day as she can't stay warm and would end up injured.

spurscormac

I have some flashing light bands I got in aldi a couple of years ago - reminds me, I need to get some replacement batteries for them, lasted ages initially.
Wear them on my upper arms to ward off evil spirits (cyclists on the path).

Other than that, when it gets to the depths of winter, I'll be in my running tights, long sleeve compression top (just to prevent nipple burn) & a light jacket to keep the wind off.

I'll also have a light pair of Asics gloves & hat, which usually get pulled off halfway through the run & stuffed in a pocket, unless it's bitterly cold.

slingerz

thanks for the responses, what is your thoughts on the underarmour base layers when your running or would you think youd get too warm wearing one of those?

spurscormac

slingerz wrote: »

thanks for the responses, what is your thoughts on the underarmour base layers when your running or would you think youd get too warm wearing one of those?

I have a couple of them, find them great - but only the heat gear. I've had a look at the cold gear in the shops & can't imagine it doing anything but bake you during a run.
It might be fine for someone doing team sports, where you're not always on the move, but for running, the warm weather gear is enough in our winter.

robinph

I don't find that I'd need extra layers like that for running in. Well they might be required for about 1 week a year but most of the time I wouldn't need them.

I would have a few extra warm layers for sticking on after a cross country where there can be a lot of standing around going on before or after.

wrstan

+1 for the reflective top, it's an essential piece of kit imho.
The rest is mainly down to personal preferences. I know people who run with a beanie rt into summer, I can't wear a hat of any type even in the coldest weather.

huskerdu

Dont buy anything until you need it. You dont know how cold the winter will be or how much you will want to wear.

You have a choice of wrapping up warm and having the discard layers after you warm up, or HTFU and freeze for the first 5 minutes of the run.

Its your choice. No-one can tell you want you are going to be comfortable with.

I am very fond of my long running tights, other run in shorts all year round, My hands warm up very slowly, so I always wear gloves and take them off when I am warmed up.


I love running in winter. Highlight of my week.

rom

Heatons have thermal long sleeved vest that are perfect for a base layer. 12 euro each. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/petzl-tikka-xp-2-head-torch/ is more important than anything else as cars cause more than a cold when they hit you. Hi-Visors are not great. The cars lights must be hitting you. Not great if you cross at a junction or driveway at the wrong time. When the cars are flashin you to dim your light when they are dazzling you then you know you can be seen. I used those LED armbands and they are ok but a few close calls and you want to be lit up like a combine harvester for safety. Would love to get a red led that I could clip onto the back of my shorts like an ipod nano or something like that. I like being alive.

robinph

I've got a flashing light on the back of my reflective top, but I never really bother to turn it on. Most of my runs are on very well lit streets so another flashing light in the mix isn't going to make much difference. I have turned it on when running in the snow along country lanes, but that is more so that when I fall in a ditch someone is more likely to spot the light.

If I was out running on unlit streets then the head torch and rear flashing light would definitely be on.

rom

robinph wrote: »

I've got a flashing light on the back of my reflective top, but I never really bother to turn it on. Most of my runs are on very well lit streets so another flashing light in the mix isn't going to make much difference. I have turned it on when running in the snow along country lanes, but that is more so that when I fall in a ditch someone is more likely to spot the light.

If I was out running on unlit streets then the head torch and rear flashing light would definitely be on.

have you a link to that. would really like something that I put clip to the back of the petzel.

ecoli

Surprised that very few mention a hat. 90% of the heat you lose is from your head so this is the most important thing which should be addressed in cold weather after this my advice would be layers. You want to be able to regulate the temperature of your body incrementally as opposed to going from boiling to freezing.

robinph

That "90% of heat lost through your head" fact is a load of cobblers I think. That comes from a test something along the lines of lining up a bunch of soldiers in the snow and seeing who got hypothermia first. Unsurprisingly it was the ones that they didn't give hats to who froze.

I'd still wear a hat to keep my ears warm in the cold though, also the lack of hair warrants use of a hat.

opus

robinph wrote: »

I've got a flashing light on the back of my reflective top, but I never really bother to turn it on. Most of my runs are on very well lit streets so another flashing light in the mix isn't going to make much difference. I have turned it on when running in the snow along country lanes, but that is more so that when I fall in a ditch someone is more likely to spot the light.

If I was out running on unlit streets then the head torch and rear flashing light would definitely be on.

I use the head torch that was recommended on one of the MarathonTalk podcasts, the Gamma from Alpkit. Grand light at the front plus flashing led at the back, a mere £15 from their website.

The Rook

robinph wrote: »

That "90% of heat lost through your head" fact is a load of cobblers I think.

Yep, you're spot on, 90% of your body heat is lost through wherever is exposed to the cold, if you're all covered up and only have your hands exposed then 90% of your heat is lost through your hands!

robinph

rom wrote: »

have you a link to that. would really like something that I put clip to the back of the petzel.

It's a RonHill top I have and it has a flashing light velcroed to the middle of the back of it so doesn't attach to the Petzel.

rom

maybe this thread should be in the gear sub-forum
I think one of the Adventure Lights Guardian lights is perfect for me but they are charging me like 12 pounds to ship it which is a joke tbh. It only costs that and is 38 grams in weight.

rom

So I got one of these http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A-alWgTATk
from rvops.co.uk

Dortilolma

Just reviving this - today was the first day I have actually felt cold.

Last winter my running completely stopped because I just couldn't face it. If people have advice as to how to keep it up (for a relative n00b in the running world) it would be greatly appreciated.

robinph

It feels cold at the moment, but it's not. It's just that it's been warm for a while so we forgot what temperatures we were happily running in a few months back. Although in saying that I did buy myself a new running jacket at the weekend that looked like it was a bit warmer than my existing single layer windproof tops.

A reflective top will be a good investment, you'll want a thin one though. If it's really cold then just put on more technical tops underneath it when required. Thin running hat and gloves will also be a good if you find the extremities get cold. But other than dressing in bright colours when running in the evening, the cold shouldn't be too much of an issue for a while yet.

Peterx

Having a stew or soup pre cooked on the hob is very good for winter running. Back back in mildly frozen, switch on the heat and by the time you are out of the shower good wholesome warming food is ready to eat.

Making arrangements to meet other people is also VERY beneficial for winter running:)

Mad Benny

I bought a couple of base layers, long sleeve running tops, pants and gloves in ALDI. The zip went in the pants near the ankle but they did the job really well.

I can't remember when they were in offer in ALDI. Pretty sure it was in the Autumn. LIDL was selling the flashing light arm bands at the end of last Month. I'm sure ALDI will do the same.

huskerdu

Dortilolma wrote: »

Just reviving this - today was the first day I have actually felt cold.

Last winter my running completely stopped because I just couldn't face it. If people have advice as to how to keep it up (for a relative n00b in the running world) it would be greatly appreciated.

The simple answer is to have a plan and decide to stick to it. Decide that the weather is never an excuse to cancel a run. Once you have been doing it for a while, it becomes second nature.

We are all freezing at the moment, as the unseasonable summer has made us all soft. We'll be over it in a month or two.

Make sure that you have suitable running gear for winter. Some people run in shorts all year round, I am not one of them.

I love having long sleeves, long running shorts and a hat.

You will get used to the fact that you are cold for the first 10 minutes. You warm up very fast.

You may even find that you dress up too much and you are far too warm after 10 minutes.

Running in winter is great, you might just get to love it.

robinph

huskerdu wrote: »

Running in winter is great, you might just get to love it.

The only tough bit is getting out the door.

After that it's all good. Have the footpaths to yourself, cooler air, nice breeze, refreshing rain showers, car drivers helpfully splashing you with water from puddles as they drive by etc.

And you know everyone else is looking on at you with jealousy as they drive by because they are not as tough as you.

Dortilolma

I used to get the cold burning sensation in my throat when I ran in winter - does anyone else get that? If so any suggestions as to how to minimize it?

slingerz

Dortilolma wrote: »

I used to get the cold burning sensation in my throat when I ran in winter - does anyone else get that? If so any suggestions as to how to minimize it?

thats just the cold air your breathing in. i'd suggest not breathing but that might not work out too well for you.

there is something about running in winter when its cold and dark early that is nice but by the time next April comes around all the thoughts will be around getting down to the vest and shorts as it grand an warm.

think we'd all agree that we would quiet happily accept a cold winter if it meant we got the summer we just had each year!

for me running in the cold, the base layers are vital. them and gloves are essential to me. need a hat to cover my ears too as ear muffs are a step too far! got a running pants this year having never worn one before i just think for the cold winter nights its more likely to get me on the road rather than on the treadmill.