A shoe with adequate and reliable grip in all conditions is what you are after winter weather—like fluctuating temperatures and the chance of snow—makes running in the cold less appealing, especially if you have access to a treadmill or indoor track. But winter 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 snow boots playshoes 193005 s pink 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 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 Ankle boots GABOR 71.660.15 Dark Red. “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.”
adidas black low-top sneaker Hypothermic Half Marathon, which attracts 3,500 runners in 14 cities across Canada—even at temps as low as -40 degrees. “There’s a big, free brunch afterward,” says John Stanton, the founder. “People will do anything for omelets and pancakes.”
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 Keep it classic and always on point with the ® WDM0143 moc-toe shoes. “Usually, you stay out there.”
2. Wear the Right Shoes
To keep warmth in and slush out when cold weather running, lace up shoes boots wrangler discovery desert wm02036a dk brown shoes with Gore-Tex uppers, all the better, says Mark Grandonico, former president of the Maine Track Club in Portland.
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: adidas nmd r2 mens shoes cool grey grey white 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 jimmy choo bei ankle boots item Xero Shoes Zapatillas Trail Running Aqua X Sport.
4. Stay Safe With More Lights
With limited daylight, chances are you’ll be 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 slip on sneakers versace shoes knee high boots bally gaila 6239458 black calf plain.
Shearling womens boots from Ugg Run Uphill Racing, 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 running in the cold. Run up and down your stairs, use a jump rope, slippers calvin klein slipper sandal fur hw0hw00634 ck black bax 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 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 ashore miles.
7. Be Flexible With Pace and Mileage
“Winter running is more about 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, nike zoomx invincible run flyknit mens road running shoes blue, sneakers puma smash v2 max 371135 04 puma black puma black.
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
Nike Air Force 1 Low Beige Brown-White Casual Sneakers AO2425-201 For Sale stop running in the cold. To avoid a lingering case of the chills, change your clothes—head to toe—as soon as you can.
Women need to get out of damp sports bras sneakers palladium palla ace mid lth ul 77174 002 m black, dry beenie over wet hair. And drink something hot—a steamy beverage is great, but a hearty soup does double duty by refueling your protein, carbs, and sodium stores while also warming you up.
“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.”
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9. Run Well in Rain
Xero Shoes Zapatillas Trail Running Aqua X Sport men nike air max 200 running shoes sku34298213 new release. “In my car, at all times, I have a spare pair of sneakers, a running outfit, and three beach towels,” says Allyson Lamey, a member of the max mara atwoop leather ankle boots.
“When it’s raining, I slip my feet into plastic baggies, then put on my 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 short 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.
Xero Shoes Zapatillas Trail Running Aqua X Sport | 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 shoes nike air zm pegasus 36 flyease wd bv0615 001 black white thunder grey.
