More Winter Running Tips
Staying in shape throughout the winter is hard – especially if you live somewhere that gets extremely cold weather. Most people agree that it’s easier just to hibernate on the couch in front of the television than even attempt to stay in shape. But rather than pack on the pounds this winter, why not try jogging to keep fit?
If you know the right tricks, braving the cold for a quick jog isn’t so bad. And best of all, you won’t have to worry about losing any winter weight when swimsuit season rolls around again next year.
Wear a hat
More than 40% of your body heat escapes through your head, so you’ll want to keep it covered. And earmuffs just won’t cut it. When running in cold weather, you’ll need a hat that covers your ears and entire head.
Start Slow
The worst thing you can do when running in cold weather is to get started before you’re fully warmed up. You need to loosen your muscles and adjust to the cold for at least 15-20 minutes before breaking into a full run. Just a few minutes of preparation will make you less prone to cramps, spasms and painful muscle tears.
Run into the wind
It might not sound like much fun to start your run with a cold wind blowing in your face, but think about it for a second; would you rather have added wind on your face when you start running or after you’ve been sweating? Running into the wind as you start means it will be at your back as you finish. So that not only means that the sweat and moisture on your body will be less exposed to the cold, but that a couple gusts can give you the added push that you need to finish.
Don’t dress too warmly
You’re going to work up a sweat while running, so don’t wear what you would need to stay warm if you were just waiting for the bus. Dress as if the temperature is about 15 degrees warmer than it really is and you should be comfortable throughout the rest of the run. You may also want to wear several warm layers that you can remove as you begin to work up a sweat.
Stay motivated
Find a group to run with. You’ll be more likely to head into the cold to run for a couple hours if you’re not doing it alone. Running with a partner can also give you someone to keep pace with and up your performance.
Check the weather
Because come on, there are some times when you just don’t need to go outside.
