WINTER RUNNING
Winter bring several challenges for runners, such as running in the cold and in the dark. Here are some tips to stay comfortable and safe.
While we in Athens don’t have it as bad as our neighbors to the north, it can still drop below freezing here, and daylight is shorter. Moderating temperature during a run is a challenge since we generate heat as we run. So clothing that feels comfortable when we start may cause us to overheat a few miles in. The advice “be bold, start cold” can be wise.
Often our legs and core stay warm when we run, but our extremeties (fingers, toes, ears) get chilled. So we may find a combination of shorts and t-shirt, plus a beanie and gloves, to work best. Or a lightweight long sleeve shirt that can be shed after a few miles and tied around the waist.
Here is a Runner’s World article on cold weather tips:
https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a20825038/10-tips-to-make-winter-running-less-miserable/
Hear from Ed Eyestone, coach of the the BYU cross country team, on how they used olive oil as insulation to stay warm and win the NCAA championship!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lqy6dq0Ojk
With daylight is short supply during winter, we often find ourselves running in the dark, and we need to stay visible. Bright clothing, reflective vests, and lights all help us be seen by motorists. Here is helpful article from Fleet Feet:
Stay warm and safe this winter!