Cold weather running

Josh said:

What kind of clothing would you recommend for cold weather running? I won't be running more then
three miles (25-30 mins time) and the temperature usually hovers around 15-25 degrees Fahrenheit.
(this will also be in the morning)

synthetic pants or tights, long-sleeve synthetic top and maybe a windshell, probably light mittens,
might need a hat or earband until you warm up, then peel it off, although 30 min is pretty short. If
it's before sunup, it may feel cooler than if you've got sun beating down on you. If you tend to
feel cold, then a short-sleeve t or a vest might be helpful at cooler end of those temps. Synthetic
or wool socks. Big thing is to avoid cotton, esp. for base layers.

Dot hatless and mittenless in Alaska this evening

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Quoted message said:

might need a hat or earband until you warm up, then peel it off,

Would you recommend the same for 0-5 F?

Quoted message said:

hatless and mittenless in Alaska this evening

🙂)

cheers,
--
Red_74
linx.byred 74Open ↗

"Red_74" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

might need a hat or earband until you warm up, then peel it off,

Would you recommend the same for 0-5 F?

I would, and do. Also, my earband is a fleecy wraparound band (called 180 degrees?) which has a
gentle inner . . . spring to hold from the back (without having to wrap completly around the
forehead). When you get warm, wrap it around your upper arm (pops on very easily).

But this is unnecessary for me right now! 53 degrees F predicted tomorrow, saw a few daffodil
shoots pushing up in the park the other day. It'll get colder again though before spring is really
here. Maybe 🙂

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hatless and mittenless in Alaska this evening

🙂)

cheers,

Red_74 said:

Quoted message said:

might need a hat or earband until you warm up, then peel it off,

Would you recommend the same for 0-5 F?

At 0-5F, for me, I most likely would start with a hat or balaclava, maybe with neoprene earband
under it, then peel when/if warm. When running in bright sun during day, I'd be more likely to use
less than when running in dark since solar radiation can really warm a person up when working hard,
whether it be running, xc sking, or snowshoe running. I'm also more likely to wear more when running
along road than on tree-lined trail, because of breeze. Also, we have winds that can come up pretty
quickly (calm to 30-40mph in less than 1 hr) so that's *always* in my mind when heading out.

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Quoted message said:

Also, my earband is a fleecy wraparound band (called 180 degrees?) which has a gentle inner . . .
spring to hold from the back (without having to wrap completly around the forehead). When you get
warm, wrap it around your upper arm (pops on very easily).

Sounds like a good idea.

--
Red_74
linx.byred 74Open ↗

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 15:08:06 GMT, "Red_74" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Also, my earband is a fleecy wraparound band (called 180 degrees?) which has a gentle inner . .
. spring to hold from the back (without having to wrap completly around the forehead). When you
get warm, wrap it around your upper arm (pops on very easily).

Sounds like a good idea.

This is the funniest/stupidest thread I've *ever* read on rec.running.

Congratulations to all contributors!

Dot <dot.h@#att.net> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Josh said:

What kind of clothing would you recommend for cold weather running? I won't be running more then
three miles (25-30 mins time) and the temperature usually hovers around 15-25 degrees
Fahrenheit. (this will also be in the morning)

synthetic pants or tights, long-sleeve synthetic top and maybe a windshell, probably light
mittens, might need a hat or earband until you warm up, then peel it off, although 30 min is
pretty short. If it's before sunup, it may feel cooler than if you've got sun beating down on you.
If you tend to feel cold, then a short-sleeve t or a vest might be helpful at cooler end of those
temps. Synthetic or wool socks. Big thing is to avoid cotton, esp. for base layers.

Dot hatless and mittenless in Alaska this evening

Dot, you didn't think I'd let the cotton comment go by did you? 8^)

Actually, now that I've tried (an admittedly low end) synthetic clothing, I do find they have
advantages over natural fibers like cotton. Synthetics are great. But don't feel like you have to go
out and spend lots of money in order to run in the cold. If you don't already have those clothes,
the real key to cold weather dressing is layering. Then you can take outer layers off, unzip, or
roll up sleeves as you get warm. And the reverse as things get cooler.

I've used multiple layers of all cotton in those temps and been very comfortable. Long sleeve tee
shirts, with an outer layer of either a sweatshirt, long sweatpants and shorts, gloves, sweatband
(over the ears) and long scarf. Or an outer layer of a cotton lined running suit (less snow sticks
to the synthetic outer layer). Below 20 I try to have three layers on top (body and arms) and 2-3
layers on the bottom (hips and legs).

In very windy conditions I've also worn sky goggles. But I found they fog up unless there is enough
air circulation (wind).

If you are going to buy synthetic clothes, start with something like coolmax socks. They are good
for both winter and summer.

Another idea, if you are really unsure of your cold weather clothing, is to plan your route so that
you have bailout points. My typical runs go near several friends' homes so that if I felt unable to
safely finish, I can stop by and call home for a ride. IOW, always leave yourself a safe way home.

FOr short runs, like Dot said, this isn't critical. You need to dress warm but not overdress. If you
can feel the cold as you step out the door, you are likely dressed well enough. If you now feel cold
after 10minutes running, them you may have underdressed.

Experiment. you'll find what works for you. Ed

Ed prochak said:

Dot, you didn't think I'd let the cotton comment go by did you? 8^)

Actually, now that I've tried (an admittedly low end) synthetic clothing, I do find they have
advantages over natural fibers like cotton. Synthetics are great. But don't feel like you have to
go out and spend lots of money in order to run in the cold.

Right. I don't equate synthetics with expensve, necessarily. Except for my Sporthills and some
powerdry tights, top, and shell, most of my clothing gear is Duofold from Campmor = cheap. I could
go for a run with all synthetic clothes where no single item cost more than $15 (most < $10) -
except for my shell, which was about $40. Until 2.5 years ago when I started running longer and
the airlines lost my luggage with my beloved breathable windshell (*never* had sweat accumulate in
it), I wore cotton for running (never skiing) even in subzero F, but I was only out for 20-30 min
on roads. I've gotten wet too many times in cotton jeans in the field to even think about going
for an extended run in cotton these days. And power dry layers are so much more comfortable than
Wal-Mart sweats 🙂

If you don't

Quoted message said:

already have those clothes, the real key to cold weather dressing is layering. Then you can take
outer layers off, unzip, or roll up sleeves as you get warm. And the reverse as things get cooler.

And this is a major benefit of layering. I'm somewhat mystified by some newer gear where they
combine the layers in one garment.

Quoted message said:

If you are going to buy synthetic clothes, start with something like coolmax socks. They are good
for both winter and summer.

Now, you didn't think I'd let you get away with this coolmax comment did you? 😉 I ended up
switching from coolmax to several other synthetics - because of cold feet in winter, wet summer
weather, blisters in summer with coolmax.

Quoted message said:

Experiment. you'll find what works for you.

yep!

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope