9/29/2019 0 Comments HOW I DRESS TO RUN IN 0ÂșC (32F)This morning, the mercury dipped below freezing for the first time this fall, and I not only had to dig into my cold weather running duds drawer, but I also had to remember how to dress for running in sub-zero temperatures. I always used to overdress for the first below zero run of the season, because DAMN, IT FEELS COLD! But now, after years of making the same mistakes over and over again, I usually get it right.
PANTS: MID-WEIGHT LEGGINGS I wore a pair of mid-weight, full-length running tights I got on sale many moons ago. They wouldn’t be sufficient for anything below -10C (14F) but were perfect for around the freezing mark. I’d always recommend full-length tights rather than capri length for below zero temperatures, because even though my legs are usually the last place on my body to get cold, having freezing calves doesn’t appeal to me. SHIRT: LONG-SLEEVED, LIGHTWEIGHT BASE LAYER Unlike many of my running buddies, who did as I usually do during the first cold morning run of fall and piled on a thick jacket over their long sleeves, I kept to just a thin, long sleeved shirt that I use during colder winter runs as my base layer. It was perfect. I was pretty chilly for the first five minutes, but after that, I felt great – warm but not too sweaty. Best of all: I didn’t have to tie a bulky jacket around my waist for the rest of my run. If it had been windy, or 5 degrees colder, I would have thrown on a windproof vest or light shell. SOCKS: DOUBLE-LAYER, BLISTER PROOF, CREW LENGTH I usually wear double-layer socks, except during the very hottest days of summer, because I find they keep the blisters away much better than single-layer ones do. However, the socks were definitely not as thick or as long as the ones I wear in the below -10C range. SHOES: MY TRUSTY NEW BALANCE 880’s The only time I change up my shoes or add spikes is when the road or trail conditions are wet or icy. Not today! ACCESSORIES: BUFF. THIN MOISTURE-WICKING GLOVES. BELT HOLDING 2 SMALL WATER BOTTLES & PHONE. WIRED HEADPHONES. POLAR M430 GPS WATCH/HEART RATE MONITOR At 0ºC, I haven’t had water bottles or electronics freeze up on me, so I didn’t take any special precautions like putting my phone into an insulating bag or adding anything to my water to lower its freezing point. The Polar M430 watch is new to me, so I'm not sure how it will hold up in really frigid temps, but it worked fine today. I found the Buff sufficient to cover my ears against the wind, and I’m a wimp about cold fingers due to my Raynaud’s Syndrome, so even though my hands were a little on the warm side during the last half hour of my run, I kept my gloves on. Choosing running apparel is like choosing underwear: highly personal. What works for me won’t work for everybody. But until you’ve got a handle on what works for you, I hope this provides a good starting point to make your zero-degree run feel like a day at the beach. OK, maybe not. See you out there!
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AuthorKathy Istace runs and races in one of the coldest cities on earth. Archives
December 2020
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