by Jessie Bahrey

Created on: April 20, 2009

Running in cold weather offers a challenge to runners to stay warm and dry throughout the duration of the run. Whether you are a runner who can afford the latest in high-tech active wear, or someone who has to rely on old sweats for their fitness wardrobe, the key to dressing for cold weather running can be summed up simply in one word: layers. Head to toe, layers will keep you warmer and dryer during cold weather running, no matter what your running budget.

The first layer is the only one that I would recommend spending some money on. Making this layer, the one closest to the skin, a dry fit material that wicks away moisture, is the best way to stay warm and dry. Often, when you begin to sweat, it is this moisture that makes you very cold as it dries, so getting rid of the wetness will help you avoid this. The next layer should be either cotton or thermal, depending on how cold it is, and the final layer should be either a running jacket that is water-resistant and wind-resistant, if possible, or even a fleece. In very cold weather, consider wearing a turtleneck as the first or second layer; it may only be psychological, but having my neck covered seems to keep me warmer, especially in the wind. In Canada, where I live, running clothes cost about three or four times the amount they do in the States, so unless we Canadians are able to do a bit of cross-border shopping, many of us simply cannot afford many layers of expensive running clothes. But no matter how much or how little you spend on each individual piece, layering works for running in the cold.

For your head, which can lose much of the body's heat, I usually run with a cotton ear band so that my ears stay warm but my head doesn't sweat. I do wear a toque in temperatures under -12 C, (approximately 6 F), but the ear band is convenient because it also folds up nicely and fits in a pocket once you warm up. For the hands, I wear some cotton mini gloves,' the $3 stretchy ones that are available at most department or even grocery stores, but I have seen gloves that wick away sweat, and those would be great. For socks, I have never worn anything except good old cotton sport socks, but again, there are high-tech ones available at running stores which would be good for long runs in the cold. I have never needed to layer socks. I think if I ever need to do so, I may skip my run that day.

For the legs, good old running pants seem to work in most temperatures, because the lower body does not seem to need the warmth as much as the upper body. However, I do have some lined pants that are wonderful in the winter. In extreme cold, I have layered a pair of thermal long johns under my running pants, but this was only in northern Alberta, and after that day, I did not venture outside again.

For runners who must fight the elements and venture out into cold weather, layering is the answer, and it will work no matter what your budget may be.

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