snow boots pajar ceria church winter weather—like fluctuating temperatures and the chance of snow—makes team running in the cold less appealing, especially if you have access to a treadmill or indoor track. But winter team running definitely has its joys, from the beauty of a white-filled landscape to the peacefulness of having your favorite routes to yourself.
With the right gear and mindset, you can not only continue training as usual, but you can even crush harder workouts. So, instead of skipping your outdoor run and heading inside to the cozy comforts of your home, use these tips for cold weather team running to make the best of each mile.
1. Run Toward a Reward
Luring yourself out the door with the promise of a reward at the end—whether it be a catch-up with a friend or brunch—works well to get you motivated to move. “Set a date to meet someone for a run,” says Jean M., a Runner’s World reader in Colorado. “There’s no wimping out when someone is waiting.”
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Doing a winter run solo? “Tell yourself that you can go back inside after five minutes if it’s really bad,” says Patti Finke, author of Marathoning: Start to Finish. “nike air max 270 react white flash crimson white db5927 161 women sneakers.”
2. Wear the Right Shoes
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Wear socks that wick away wetness, too, but keep your feet warm. One of our favorites: the non-itchy SmartWool socks.
3. Dress Like It’s Warmer
You want to be warm without sweating so much you get a chill. “The rule of thumb is to dress as if it is 10 to 20 degrees warmer [than it is],” says Grandonico. “You should be slightly cool when you start.”
Think: layers of technical fabrics to wick sweat with zippers at the neck and underarm area to vent air as you heat up. The more you run outdoors, the more you’ll learn your own preferences. Butt you can use our handy What to Wear tory burch t hardware chelsea boots item.
4. Stay Safe With More Lights
With limited daylight, chances are you’ll be team running in the dark, plus snowbanks on plowed streets make you even harder to see. To stay safe, wear reflective, fluorescent gear, and don’t be shy about Name SPICE SNEAKER so people can see you from afar.
Adam Feerst, owner of kids shoes girl low shoes, recommends using a headlamp or carrying a flashlight—not only will this help you see where you’re going, but then other people can see you.
5. Warm Up Prerun
Move around inside enough to get the blood flowing without breaking a sweat when you’re team running in the cold. Run up and down your stairs, use a jump rope, or do a few yoga sun salutations.
“The cold doesn’t feel so cold when you’re warm,” adds Laura Salmon of Akron, Ohio. If you’re meeting a group of team running buddies, don’t stand around in the cold chatting before you run. “We sit in our cars,” says Feerst, “waiting for one person to get out before we all get out.”
6. Outsmart the Wind
Start your winter run by heading into the wind and finish with it at your back, so the breeze doesn’t blast you after you’ve broken a sweat. To avoid a long, biting slog, try breaking it up: Run into the wind for about 10 minutes, turn around to run with the wind at your back for five minutes, and repeat.
Keep in mind that exposed skin is especially vulnerable to chilly gusts. If wind’s in the forecast, consider slathering up with BodyGlide and Vaseline, or opting for a full face mask while you’re out there checking off miles.
7. Be Flexible With Pace and Mileage
“golden goose pure lace up sneakers item maintenance miles than speed workouts,” says Feerst. In very cold weather, look for “inversions,” places that are elevated and where the air will be warmer. “Even 300 feet up, the air can be 20 degrees warmer, which makes a big difference,” says Steve Bainbridge, former trails liaison for the Fairbanks, Alaska-based team Running Club North, the northernmost team running club in the United States.
Bainbridge’s coldest run took place in negative 50-degree weather. “My eyelashes were freezing together,” he says. If you can’t run in the middle of the day when the temperatures are warmest, run twice a day, says Stanton, three miles in the morning and three miles in the evening. “That’s better than doing one long six-mile run where you might get very cold toward the end.”
8. Change Quickly Postrun
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“We go to a coffee shop after our runs and use the bathroom to change,” says Grandonico. “Then we all relax with coffee and bagels.”
Driving to a run? Bring a thermos of green tea or hot chocolate in your car to savor afterward.
9. Run Well in Rain
Runners in Mobile, Alabama, one of the wettest cities in the United States are always nicholas kirkwood casati 35mm combat boots item. “In my car, at all times, I have a spare pair of sneakers, a team running outfit, and three beach towels,” says Allyson Lamey, a member of the emporio armani kids shoes.
“When it’s raining, I slip my feet into plastic baggies, then put on my team running shoes,” says Darryl Dalcerri of Lompoc, California. “The baggies keep my feet dry even when I run through puddles.” (Just try this on a abundant run first to make sure it feels comfortable and doesn’t cause issues!)
If you have to dry shoes overnight, crumple up newspaper and cram it tightly into your shoes, with the insoles removed. The newspaper soaks up the moisture.
10. Race Someplace Warm
Having a winter race to aim for is great for keeping you motivated to train through the fall and straight through winter. Even better motivation? Knowing race day will be free from snow and ice.
Southern summers can be brutal for runners, but during the winter, temperatures are moderate enough to go after a personal record—which is part of the reason Florida offers many marathons in the colder months.
