Cold Weather Running

 As long as the roads aren’t slick and icy, I’ll run outside throughout the winter. 

Connecticut temperatures haven’t been horrendous so far this winter, but they HAVE dipped below freezing on quite a few of my running mornings. Over the years I’ve figured out how to layer up for different temperatures and have collected enough of the right layers to get through the winter.

The general wisdom of dressing for 20 degrees warmer than actual temperatures has worked pretty well for me. Anything below 60 degrees has me wearing an earband (I have wimpy ears). When temps get down to freezing and just below, I’m running in 3 layers on top and a warm pair of running pants or leggings. At 5 degrees below freezing I add a 4th layer on top and pull out my heavy duty running tights (made out of heavyweight polartec power stretch fleece). At 20 degrees I add bike shorts under those leggings (butt cheeks get really cold!) and substitute a much heavier layer for my usual fleece jacket. A run in the single digits calls for 2 pairs of socks (wool of course) and 2 pairs of gloves.

Tech fabrics that wick the sweat away from the skin are a life saver in cold weather. Much as I love cotton in my street clothing, I do not recommend it as a layer anywhere close to the skin when running. Cotton will produce chafing. Ouch! I have one wool-blend running shirt that works really well, and I swear by wool socks year round. Everything else I run in is a man-made technical fabric.

There’s more than just the running clothes. My old running partner, Susan (who moved away years ago and I miss her terribly!) always recommended tucking in the first layer. That helps to create an enclosed pocket of air close to the body that will more easily stay warm. Quarter zip tops give me the option to open up at the neck if I start to overheat, and I can cool off without having to take a whole layer off and carry it. In the picture above, my first layer is a quarter-zip, long-sleeved wicking top, second layer is a wool-blend short-sleeved tshirt, and the heavier fleece jacket can also be partially or fully unzipped if necessary. I discovered just this year, when trying to replace my old running gloves that are full of holes, that even gloves need that little pocket of air between the glove and the skin. I tried a new pair that had a much tighter fit around the fingers and found that they didn’t keep my hands warm at all. I’ve gone back to the old gloves, holes and all, because they’ve got just the right fit and keep my hands much warmer.

Sunday’s run: 3 layers on top, approx. 28 deg. F at start of run

Through all the stress this year from the coronavirus pandemic, the presidential election and my fear that the Biden-Harris team might not win, running has been my go-to for working through the stress. It has also been my connection to seeing real people in person (safely outdoors) who are not in my household of 2 people. And we all need to take our safe stress relief wherever we can get it.

Occasionally, on a particularly stressful week, I’ll look at my watch at the end of the run and discover that my pace was a good 20-30 seconds per mile faster than usual. Not planned or pushed for, just a result of my need to run through the stress. The Sunday after the riot/attempted coup at the Capitol, all 3 of us on the Sunday run ran noticeably faster than usual. Feels better to know that it’s not just me.

With any luck though, stress levels will go down once we have a working White House with a competent administration and get the country vaccinated. I am hopeful.

Shelley in CT

Snow.....and more snow!!!

OK, the first snow was pretty. But several snows into the new year, I'm tired of it, and the shoveling. And the cold. And the icy roads.

snow is higher than the snow blower mouth

Opened the garage door....

My wonderful Dear Husband snow blowing the driveway

Good thing we don't have to drive this car until everything thaws!

OK, I'm done.

The kids in town have certainly enjoyed their snow days, but let me tell you, when I'm trying to get back into harness with my running, the snow really messes things up! I find that I have to really pay attention to the weather forecast so that I can get out when the roads are clear. I did manage to get out last Sunday, wearing many layers in order to survive the cold.

It was well below freezing (but the roads weren't icy!) so I went with 2 pairs of wool socks, wicking tights and heavy polartec tights, and three layers on top. I have to say that all of these wicking fabrics are really helpful in cold weather. I wasn't cold at all. I will pass along my other trick for cold weather running: I always tuck the first shirt layer into my pants. It helps hold in the warm air and keeps drafts from wafting up inside my clothes as I run. I wasn't cold at all. Wish all of those layers had helped me run faster. Guess I'll have to take what I can get!

Since the Sunday run we've had a couple more days of snow and roads are slowly clearing again. Hopefully I can get in another good run before the next snowstorm, which, by the way, is predicted for Sunday.

Meanwhile I've been getting caught up on the laundry and housework. Today I even (finally) got the the sewing I've been wanting to do for ages. I have a T-shirt pattern I've been wanting to try, and fabric sitting with it. I decided that I could try out the pattern by making myself a pajama top in some lavender cotton waffle knit that's been sitting around the sewing room for years. Long enough that I can't remember what I bought it for in the first place. I figure that if it doesn't fit as well as I'd like, it's just a pajama top so it really only needs to be comfortable. I'm using a pattern from Pamela's Patterns called The Perfect T-shirt.

The pattern is very generously sized. According to my measurements I cut out the medium, but had to take in the shoulders and then take in the sides as well. I should have cut out the small and shortened the armscythe.  I'll try that next time. I used the same fabric for the neckband and cuffs since I don't have any coordinating or matching ribbing. I think the neck opening is a little wide for me as well. I'm not sure whether that's because this fabric is so loose and stretchy or if I would do better narrowing the neck opening for the next iteration of this pattern. I like the drape of the body, so it's worth tweaking until I get a fit I like. I left the bottom of the body circumference at the medium size, since I'll be using this shirt as a pajama top and I like the extra width for wearing with slim pajama pants or leggings. There is also a front option with darts, which I will definitely try out.

Not much else going on here. Just waiting for the next snowstorm. Sigh.

Shelley in CT