(An extra disclaimer before this post: Running in winter conditions can be risky for many reasons. Consult with a medical professional before doing so.)<\/p>\n
For running tights\/pants, if you get cold easily you may want a thicker pair of tights or a pair of running pants. If you run warm, you\u2019ll want to go thinner. Since we have lower humidity in Colorado I\u2019m able to use shorts down to the thirties, though I\u2019ll often use tights even in the forties. In the high teens\/low twenties, I\u2019ll use tights and anything below that, I\u2019ve got a heavier pair of paints. Once the temperatures go sub-zero, I\u2019m wearing a pair of thin tights with a thicker pair of running pants on top. It inhibits motion but like the bandanna\/gaiter combo I mentioned in my previous post<\/a>, it protects my legs. When it gets that cold, your workouts are more functional and you\u2019re highly unlikely to run your best times so the limited motion is just a nuisance, not a problem. The function is more to keep you in shape and prepared for crummy race weather. If you\u2019re just starting out, I\u2019d go with a pair of tights and if they\u2019re not enough, toss a pair of track or sweat pants over them.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve never noticed a big difference among sock types for winter running in terms of cut (hidden, crew, etc.) and Balega<\/a> and Feetures<\/a> are still my go-to brands. If it\u2019s under ten degrees, I will definitely wear thicker socks for warmth that are also crew-style so that my skin doesn\u2019t get exposed by having my tights\/pants creep up above a low-cut sock line. Otherwise, as long as my feet are moving and I\u2019m not stepping in creeks or puddles, my feet are fine. Whether I wear thin or thick socks usually depends more on the distance I\u2019m running (thick socks for long distances to get cushion) or whether I\u2019m racing (lighter-weight thin socks). If you\u2019ve invested in good running socks for the summer, you can use them for the winter. But, I would get a pair of crew socks for those extra cold days. If you think your feet are prone to being cold, thicker socks may be better for you even in the twenty to thirty degree range and regardless of your sock type, avoid getting your feet wet during the winter. It\u2019s miserable.<\/p>\n Eye protection. The one thing I\u2019ve not figured out with winter running is how to combine sunglasses with a neck gaiter. When you do, your breath goes straight onto the lenses and fogs them up. On a day where you need both, you either need to sacrifice one (and I\u2019d say leave the sunglasses behind; there are ways to deal with bright glare) or you need to switch between the two, which I typically do. I\u2019ve realized you could probably use a pair of ski goggles but there are only a few days per year where this would be necessary and I just keep my runs shorter those days. Also, ski goggles will be expensive (not to mention they\u2019ll look absurd) and unless you were using them regularly, are probably not worth it. If it is bitter cold and your eyes are uncovered, it\u2019s smart to put your hands over them every now and then. I\u2019ve had my eyes water and then had that moisture freeze. It\u2019s not pleasant. If you cover your eyes with your hands every few minutes\/rub them gently, that should do the trick.<\/p>\n Traction gear. I bought a pair of YakTrax<\/a> a few years ago and they are wonderful. I\u2019m still very careful when I\u2019m using them on slick surfaces and I don\u2019t take off like I\u2019m racing a 5K. However, compared to what it\u2019s like when you\u2019re running on slick surfaces in just shoes, the difference is night and day. There are heavy-duty styles of traction gear but the YakTrax seem like the best design if you\u2019re mostly running sidewalks and some trails. Anything heavier is more designed for mountain trail running. They\u2019re fine for those surfaces but for your average sidewalk\/suburban trail, it would be like using a sledgehammer to drive a roofing nail. It\u2019s just overkill. YakTrax may seem like the most unnecessary winter gear but consider this. Mine were around $35 and I bought them three years ago. I\u2019ve probably worn them 7-10 times per year (the snow often melts quickly where we are) so if I\u2019ve used them 25 times, I\u2019ve paid $1.40 per use and that cost per use will go down. Consider that against falling and breaking a bone.<\/p>\n Last but not least, long sleeve shirts, pullovers, and jackets. If you\u2019re on a budget, a light to medium weight pullover will go a long way, especially if you can layer underneath or use a vest over it for especially cold mornings. However, having all three of these items gives you many good options for all kinds of winter weather. It\u2019s not often that I need my heavier running jacket or thermal pullover, but when I do, the run is relatively comfortable and unless it\u2019s sub-zero outside, I can often get away with one layer underneath, as opposed to three or four layers if I just had a light pullover.<\/p>\n One other item in the pullover\/jacket category is compression sleeves. These are not only perfect for those mornings where it\u2019s borderline on whether you need sleeves, they\u2019re also ideal if there\u2019s light, cool precipitation. One area where I\u2019ve also found them useful is if it\u2019s warm but the wind is up. They\u2019ll offer protection for your skin from the wind and from any minor dirt blowing around. But, they\u2019re light enough that they don\u2019t overheat me, even if it\u2019s in the seventies.<\/p>\n While buying gear from a running store will almost guarantee that the material will be high-quality and last you a long time, I also bought a pair of running tights at Target for $20. They\u2019re not quite as good as my other ones, but if I need to travel with a pair or leave them at work for a couple of days they\u2019re great, since I don\u2019t really worry about what\u2019s going to happen to them. And, they could be a great intro pair for someone who\u2019s just getting into winter running.<\/p>\n Related to my cost-per-use number above, if you take care of your running gear, it can last a long time. I bought my running pants in 2005 for $60. Even if I only use them 20 times per year, that\u2019s 260 uses which means my per-use cost is around $.23. Since many gear specialists would cringe at the thought of someone using a pair of pants that long, I\u2019ll take a more contemporary price of $120 and say the person uses them for five years and wears them 30 times per year. The per-use cost is $.80. That\u2019s still not bad for the sake of comfort and protecting your skin. Is there initial expense to running gear? Yes. But take good care of it and it\u2019ll last you a long time and per-use, it\u2019s well worth it.<\/p>\n Running food review of the week:\u00a0<\/span>(note–gels, bars, chews, and other items affect everyone differently. Try them on a short run before using them for a key training run or race):\u00a0<\/span>Gatorade Fruit Punch Energy Chews<\/a>. These taste pretty good. I was skeptical, thinking that Gatorade was just trying to get into the energy food game but I used these on an empty stomach and felt good on a run that included a fair amount of wind. Also, a friend of mine who veers more towards natural energy foods and beverages (ie, not Gatorade) likes them too, so consider this two endorsements for this product.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (An extra disclaimer before this post: Running in winter conditions can be risky for many reasons. Consult with a medical professional before doing so.) For running tights\/pants, if you get cold easily you may want a thicker pair of tights or a pair of running pants. If you run warm, you\u2019ll want to go thinner. … <\/p>\n