With colder weather approaching and the days getting shorter, long gone are the days of rolling out of bed and hitting the road. As they say, there is no “bad weather” just bad clothing and I can confidently say that applies to winter running as well. 

The first order of business is safety. If you are training for that spring marathon and work a 9-5, chances are a lot of your training runs are starting or finishing (or entirely) in the dark. Wearing brightly colored clothing is a must. A reflective vest or LED vest can make running much safer improving your visibility to drivers (I use the Noxgear tracer 2). A headlamp is important for your own safety to illuminate the ground ahead and ensure you are aware of ice, curbs, uneven sidewalk, and approaching pedestrians. 

From a comfort standpoint, keeping your core warm will do wonders to keep you warm. On the coldest of cold PA days I still run by wearing a thin synthetic base layer, a mid layer (such as a sweatshirt or fleece), and an outer shell (a water-proof jacket). I will add a hat and gloves and usually will need to remove these by the end of the run (yes even in below freezing temps. 

On bottom, the same layering technique can be applied but usually only 1-2 layers. A base layer of leggings (which could also be worn on their own) with an extra sweatpant over top can make a huge difference in winter temps.

Will your laundry triple? Probably. Will you take twice as long to get ready for a run? Definitely. But winter running can be fun with the right gear and if you get as bored on the treadmill as I do I think you’ll find it worth it!