Sunday, January 6, 2013

Baby, It's Cold Outside: Running in cold weather

Before I get into the glorious details of cold weather running, there is something you should know about me:

I really don't like having wet clothes.  I never have.

Ick. Just, ick.

Any time the edge of my sleeve gets the least bit wet I go into near panic fix-it mode.


Perfectly, completely normal reaction.  Just ask anyone.

So, it stands to reason that I also don't like being sweaty. Yeah, I know, so why do I do all this running and biking?


I can usually work around it by wearing tank tops or sweat wicking short-sleeve tees.  Of course, when the mercury dips I have a Catch 22.  Do I go with:

A) short sleeves with a side of hypothermia?


Shivering tends to waste a lot of energy.

Or do I go with:

B) long (sweaty, sticky) sleeves but less shivering?


They're sweat-wicking but still stick!

Since I'm somewhat rational, I generally go for the layers.  Sometimes that means more than just a long sleeve shirt though.  During these winter months, that's really just the beginning.

Layer 1 (if you will):


Layer 2:


Layer 3:


Or, you know, "beanie".

And, when I'm desperate, Layer 4:


Once I'm finally ready to head out the door, I then have to deal with running with all that...stuff.

First, I have to contend with the feeling of the seams and material of the gloves between my fingers.


Then, at some multiple points during my run, I will need to readjust my hat.


I can usually start to ignore those annoyances once I notice my long sleeves.


All told, I think I'm lucky that I don't currently live where it snows all that often.



UPCOMING POSTS: I WILL BE RUNNING A LOT THIS YEAR (OR PLAN TO), SO LOOK FOR MORE OF THOSE POSTS.

*DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE 7 YEARS YOUNGER POST FOR THE WINNER!

77 comments:

  1. Usually I'm all about the "I can't put my arms down" and that's just to coax me out of the door in the morning. I hate being cold.

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    Replies
    1. I hate it too! But, I also hate being hot. I'm difficult.

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    2. My plus/minus temperature tolerances keep getting narrower and narrower as I get older.

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  2. Hahaha I love the snowsuit! And I hear you (in a non running way). I hate getting my shirt wet when I'm washing dishes, or the bottom of my pants/my socks wet when I come in from the rain

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    1. Oh yes, coming in from the rain is gross! Or, I used to always step in snow from the bottom of my boots-yuck.

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  3. I was waiting for the snowsuit picture LOL...you look like you did when you were younger (I was going to say little but...you know)Did you remember that after all that dressing that a pit stop was necessary? Too funny :)

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    1. It's always necessary when you have that many layers on :)

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  4. Can we say sensory issues? Haha :-)

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  5. Ha! Adorable pictures. Running wet is the worst!

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  6. Great job on your run! Living here in Canada, I usually look more like your last picture when I run :)

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    1. Thanks! Yes, funny how I never run much when I lived there ;)

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  7. Awesome job with the run!

    Cold weather...it was -27 here the other day! (I live in Canada). I hate when your scarf or neckwarmer gets wet and crunchy!

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    1. Thank you :) You live right by my hometown, so I know the weather of which you speak! That does suck!

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  8. Love the snowsuit. I may only run a bath though.

    What about breathing -30 (celsius) air? I heard about these breathing tubes that wrap around your body so the air has a chance to warm up before it hits your lungs. Image running with all that gear?

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    1. Oh yes, a bath is good. Breathing -30 air is no fun, especially when you're wearing a scarf, then get on the bus or metro and then the ice melts and you're breathing through a wet, woolly mess. (Remembering my student days.) I can't imagine running with a breathing tube!

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  9. I so hated how outdoor run-pants bunch in the ... middle... THAT was the part that made me most want NOT to run outside. Sadly, in our area... running in the cold (-30 Celsius) is not uncommon... SIGH! I did my 18-mile run one of those days. Ended up in the Walmart bathroom using a hand-dryer to warm up/thaw out. True story!

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    Replies
    1. Oh eww. I would have a hard time adjusting to true winter weather running. You're hard core!

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  10. Too cute and I love the hat! I am a rare bird that would rather run in the freezing weather vs heat! My fingers are always frozen but usually I warm up quickly!
    Happy you are going to be running more this year ;)

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    Replies
    1. Cold is better than hot, I will agree. Maybe you'll get to see the hat in person if the weather stays like this!

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  11. Aaaaand that's why gyms and treadmills became popular. I'm with you, I hate the wetness But also the cold. I like the insulated vests so that my torso at least is warm. If only they invented something that allowed you to breath in warm air while running without smothering yourself.

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    Replies
    1. That's exactly why. Yes, can you please invent something? I'm willing to shill it on here!

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  12. I am not a fan of cold weather running at all... we spent the last 6 years in upstate NY and I used the treadmill a lot, but currently in TX I am loving that 40 is about as cold as it gets. :)

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    1. I am learning to use the treadmill more, and if I sucked it up I could probably run outside more often :)

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  13. I HATE cold weather (that's why I live in FL but sometimes the sunshine forgets to make it warm) and I HATE having to bundle to keep warm. I looked like a crazy bag lady with all my layers the other day when I went out for my first cold weather run and it was only 40 degrees. I'm so thankful it doesn't snow here. I wouldn't survive.

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    1. I am fine with bundling up as long as I'm at home. Otherwise it's too cumbersome. I should move to Florida :)

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  14. I can totally relate to the 'wet' thing... Danny is the worst for leaving puddles when he gets out of the shower and I am forever getting soggy socks! I've been known to change my socks twice before even leaving for work because of it.

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  15. Be very glad you don't live in Spokane right now. Looks like we just got 6 inches of fresh snow over night AND it is still snowing. Not the best way to start a Monday! I also had the opportunity to ice skate for 13.1 miles on Saturday. Not.Fun.At.All.

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    Replies
    1. Well if we got 6 inches of snow here the city would shut down! Did you skate 13.1 miles in a straight line or in circles in a rink? Either way that would be exhausting!

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  16. I'm a little nuts, but I love cold weather running. I love layering up, my special running gloves, and my dry-fit headband. I especially love running while it's snowing, or just after a big snow. Like I said, I'm a little nuts, but it makes me feel fierce.

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  17. short sleeves with a side of hypothermia?

    That line made me choke on my drink.

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    Replies
    1. Yay! (Is it bad I like making people choke? Hope you're ok now :D )

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  18. HAAA!! Your blog is awesome!! Trying to dress for cold weather training is soooo freaking hard, you are one layer from turning into a popsicle or passing out from being overheated.

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    1. I agree 100% with everything you said :)

      (Thanks!)

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  19. Your cartoons are always so awesome! Sweat is what I hate about living somewhere humid (I miss CA!). I don't mind so much if I'm working out but sweating when you are doing every day tasks outside is gross.

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    1. Thanks Stacie! Sweating while not "exercising" is definitely more gross.

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  20. Ha! You look like Randy (Ralphie's little brother) from A Christmas Story! Love it!

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    1. Oh good! That's who I'm supposed to look like :D

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  21. i hate being cold more!! and i don't even notice the wet while i'm running, only when i stop. maybe short sleeves with long gloves?? heehee

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  22. I love winter running, but the gear is kind of intense. My fingers are never warm enough. As always, great post that makes me laugh and shutter with envy at your talent.

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    1. Yes, it's nice to have it not be a million degrees out, but I'm often spoiled by temperate, perfect running weather here. Thanks so much for the sweet comment too!

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  23. Ha! This is just one of the reasons why I run on the treadmill and not outside. The other being that I have to pee all the time.

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  24. I can so identify with this post -- as I sit here after my run with short-sleeve and long-sleeve top still on. It was in the 50s this morning so I went with shorts. I love your drawings. Her face is the perfect expression of icky. I don't mind wet if it is warm but cold. UGH. I can hardly stand to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer.

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    1. Hello, kindred spirit :) I hear ya on the laundry. More ickiness.

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  25. Oh, I can't stand wet clothes, either! Or wet hair. Drives me crazy!

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    1. My hair takes forever to dry, so I have gotten used to that...as long as I'm not going to bed with it.

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  26. I don't mind being sweaty. I hugely mind being sweaty when wearing anything other than a sleeveless tank (preferably wicking material) and workout pants. I see people working out in big heavy cotton t-shirts and I don't know how they do it.

    Then again, I sweat A LOT. I march in place for 10 seconds and my body goes nuts: "Oh, I know what we're doing. We're working out! Heart rate up to 200! Buckets of sweat at the ready!"

    I'm impressed you work out outside - all that layering would drive me nuts. It's bad enough I have to wear three bras to hold these babies down.

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    1. I started reading your comment and was thinking about how much we have in common. Then I got to the part about how you have to wear 3 bras. If I did that I would triple my bust size!

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  27. Aaaaand that's why I stop running in the winter. That.

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    1. Yeah. It's kind of sucky. I ran on the treadmill tonight, but that was also very sucky. It was too hot.

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  28. Ick! This post just made me grateful for our hot weather. The pic with the beanie (yes, I'm saying beanie) in your eyes is classic. Happy cold running!

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  29. This was hilarious yet informative. It's super rainy over so I can't avoid the wet but I've got to have some kind of layering / warmth situation happening or by the time I'm in cool down mode I start shivering like a drowned rat.

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    1. Thanks Larks! I'm very familiar with the drowned rat feeling; it's never fun!

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  30. I have never run outside when it's that cold. Now I'm thankful for that!

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    Replies
    1. Some people love it, but they don't have my 'issues' :)

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  31. It gets pretty cold in Chicago, and yet I still see people huffing and puffing along the lake. Sometimes I think they're crazy, but I admire them at the same time. I also worry that they might get sick.

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    1. You are very sweet to worry about them! I suppose they could get sick, but it must be worth the risk!

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  32. Don't move to Canada. Over here, Mother Nature likes to toy with us. The weather will be +4 or even +10 and then suddenly BOOM, -20 with wind and snow.

    Lovely place.

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    1. I know. I'm from there. Funny how I never liked running when I was growing up. Could have been the snowbanks that were taller than me that deterred me.

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  33. I hate being cold! Hate, hate HATE it! I'm in Texas and until the last few weeks we have had zero cold weather. But now, it's chilly (for us) and I have no cold weather gear and thus no cold weather running. So I stay inside and sit on the couch and *think* about running.

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    1. We have had below freezing weather these past few days and it's a little too slippery to run outside. *Thinking* about running could be considered *visualizing*...right?

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  34. I moved to SoCal from Northern VA. this June and I have not worn anything heavier than knickers and arm warmers. I am one of those nutcase's that loves running in the cold! I know I'm strange. I love the pictures you have created for this post ... did you draw them? So creative! Thank you so much for rallying your posse and running the Kyle's Krusade Virtual races, it mean so much to this family, thank you for generosity and kind spirit!

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    1. I should embrace the cold a bit better, but I've never liked being anything more than 'just right'; not too hot, not too cold. Just call me Goldilocks. I did draw the pictures; that's my 'thing' ;)

      I am so happy that we are able to run Kyle's race. So far there are 3 of us running together, and one other who will be running but might be on her own. I reached out to the local blogger/runners I've met and put the link to your post on fb page. Hopefully we can do some good :D

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  35. Awww no one even knows what a toque is here. And I LOVED the "Run Happy" combined with that less than happy face.

    The last picture reminded me of how my Mother dressed us up to pack us off on our walk to school every day in Ontario.

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    1. That's why I spelled it phonetically :) I just finished a run and wore my "Run Happy" hat...I was happy today though!

      My mom was so happy to see that last picture--it was reminiscent of days past.

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  36. The snow suit really took me back to those days of youth - all bundled up like the Stay Puff marshmallow man, gagged by a scarf. Good times!

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    1. Yes absolutely. I don't know how we ever managed.

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