How Cold is It?

First things first, how cold is it? One of the biggest challenges for me on winter runs is just figuring out how to dress. Don't just look at the temperature, but make sure you also consider the "feels like" temperature and the windchill which can make a huge difference during your run.

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Depending on the temperature, you'll likely want to bundle up but as you get moving, your core temperature will warm up and may cause you to overheat if you overdress. Start with some kind of moisture-wicking base layer, to help with sweat management. After that, on the coldest days, I'll throw on a running fleece as well as a heavy vest to help keep my core warm. For my legs, I keep it simple and typically just throw on a pair of tights and sweats.

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As far as other accessories, I've always got some type of hat on and usually a buff to cover my ears. I'll also bring a buff to keep my face covered to help break the wind. For virtually every run that dips below the mid to low 50s, I've always got a pair of gloves on to keep my hands warm.

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It can be tough to judge just what to wear for different temperatures so I recommend including the information in you're running journal. I've started jotting down a few brief notes about the weather, what I was wearing, and how it felt so if I'm ever unsure if I'll be too hot in a heavy vest, or too cold in just a long-sleeve, I can revisit my notes to help decide.