Use these cold-weather running tricks, tips, and hacks to beat the chill of winter.
So it’s January. And for those of us who live in areas where winter is something you brag about surviving, well, we’re in the thick of it. The doldrums, if you will. I write this, sipping hot coffee, after having knocked out an eleven mile workout on my treadmill this morning.
That’s right. Two hours of running on Nance (That’s my treadmill’s name!) because it snowed all weekend and this morning it was a balmy 12 degrees. And, I am not complaining. Nope. I am grateful to have the option to run inside when I need it.
That said, if I am not doing a workout, as I was this morning, and I can take things a little easier, meaning not worrying about pace or having to stop to shuffle over ice or having to be super focused on my effort versus my surroundings, then I’m gonna head outside. I don’t love the cold. But with the right gear, it’s absolutely manageable. And if I’ve been forced inside for an indoor workout on the machine, then I look forward to getting back outside in the fresh air for some recovery miles.
Recently, one of my Six Minute Mile Run Club teammates shared an article with our group about running in the winter and why we should see winter training as a tool that helps us improve versus as the enemy and something we have to “get through”. In a nutshell, the author talks about the fact that winter running makes us stronger, tougher and ultimately, for many reasons, keeps us healthier throughout the season. OK, yes. All of this is true. And when I am staring down a cold, windy morning where I’m about to tackle twenty miles on the snow and ice-covered streets these facts are very helpful to have in the back of my mind.
But, if I’m being honest, after several weeks of marathon training in these brutal winter conditions, I sometimes feel like I’m at my wits’ end. Like, there is literally nothing else I can do, think about, manifest, visualize, say, think — none of it — that is going to make my experience outside more pleasurable. And this is when things get really hard. Because while I try to stay positive and remind myself daily that training is my choice and no one is forcing me to do it, that I get to do this, that it is a privilege and that no one likes a whiny brat, I am still human. And there are days when I simply break down and wish I had chosen a different hobby.
It turns out, however, that I am pretty good at running. That it keeps me sane and healthy and fit and strong and that I love to do it and that if I couldn’t I would be a hot mess. Like, you wouldn’t want to be around me. So, because of this I have to stay the course. And also, because of this, I have to try to get creative.
Because you can have great gear, spikes on your shoes, hand warmers, foot warmers, body warmers — all the warmers — and yet, there are always new tricks of the trade. And as I roll deep into my 40th or so winter as a runner I am still pulling out all the stops to get myself to April. You know, for the Boston Marathon, when it will undoubtedly be 80 degrees and sunny. But, that’s for a different story.
Here are some cold-weather running tricks, beyond the norms (ie. run inside, run with friends, just don’t run in winter) that I have picked up over the past couple months. Some you may already know, some may be new, some you might say, what the freaking hell, Trax, just NO. Still, they are worth sharing as we’re all in this together and every little bit helps. So here you go. Stay warm.
~ Stick your clothes in the dryer before you head out. Warm up with the shirt, jacket, even the hat and then throw them on, take a second to soak up the heat, and go. You can’t delay on this one because obviously if you wait too long the heat wears out and you have to start again and we don’t have all day.
~ Carry a bottle of hot water. If your hands really suffer and heaters aren’t enough, fill a small handheld with hot water. Pass it between your hands for the first couple miles to keep them extra warm. Then, when the water cools down you can use it for fluids during your run.
~ A lot of people use disposable hand and foot warmers. And those are great. But when you need them daily, it makes more sense to go with something that lasts. There are quite a few different types of reusable hand warmers on the market, none of them are super pricey, and most of them are very effective. I have been carrying these Occopa hand warmers in my gloves and they work like a charm. Another option are the one-time use Hot Hands hand warmers and toe warmers.
~ Coat your face and all exposed skin in Aquaphor or Vaseline. They act as a protective shield against cold and wind. And while your hands and face feel sticky, the added layer it one hundred percent worth the discomfort.
~ Throw on a fun outfit. My running partner met me at the track for a workout and was wearing crazy tights, fun socks, a fluorescent jacket and had tied her hair up in a fun ribbon. At first I was like, ummmm, what’s up? But she explained that she’d been having a hard time getting motivated at home so she tried to get herself in a good mood by wearing things that made her smile. That made me smile, too.
~ Make a new playlist. Music almost always helps. Create something with songs you know will lift you up no matter what mood you’re in. And start cranking those tunes before you leave the house so the minute you hit the ground your inevitably happy to be out there.
~ Try a new route. We tend to run on the same roads, paths, trails every day because we’re creatures of habit and it’s mentally easier to go with what we know. But, driving somewhere or going in a totally different direction and seeing new things will mentally stimulate the brain in a new way. You’ll be focusing on all the things you’ve never seen before rather than the fact that you’re only on mile 3 of 8 and you can’t believe you have 5 more to go.
~ Try KT Tape. This one is pretty out there. But it was recommended to me by a friend who said that cross country skiers having been using it to keep their faces warm. I mean, I’ll try anything once. On our coldest day so far this year, I did throw a couple strips on my cheeks. I’m honestly not sure if it made that much of a difference, but I did feel kind of bad ass, and for that it was worth it. Although, now that I see this photo, I also recognize that I look pretty ridiculous. Not that I care.
What cold-weather running tricks, tips, or hacks do you swear by? Let me know @runningwmusic and stay warm out there!
Boston-area editor-at-large Rebecca Trachsel is a mom, a competitive age-group marathoner, a high school cross country and track coach, and music lover with a coffee problem. She’s still chasing big goals and having a blast along the way.
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