There are a lot of things that seem like common sense, but I wanted to address here-- running in the summer and winter are totally different ball games if you are outside year round!
Clothing is the biggest difference-- and the most obvious. Wearing improper clothing can be easier in winter than summer (overdressing is just as bad as under dressing!) Sometimes it's hard to figure out what to wear, but I stumbled across Runner's World's "what to wear" page. All you have to do is plug in the temperature, your gender, and a few other bits of info and voila! Instant suggestion of what is appropriate.
A good rule of thumb in general that I hear/ see often is "dress for 15-20 degrees warmer". Your body heat will keep you plenty warm!
Speaking of overdressing, you are probably curious about why it's bad to overdress. In summer it's simple, you dress to keep from getting too hot. In winter, there is a fine line between "keeping warm" and "wearing too much and sweating too much". Yep, it is actually easier to dehydrate in the winter! Because of the cold, it's easy not to notice how much you sweat (thanks to the fancy sweat wicking stuff you have on) and you lose more than you think (not to mention cold winter winds).
You also don't want to run like this-- unless you like lying down a lot!
Layering in winter should be in many lighter layers, rather than bulky stuff like the above image. Maintaining your flexibility is the key to keeping proper form and being comfortable (chafing can still happen, even in winter!) while you run.
Your innermost layer should be sweat wicking, and layers on the outside should be wind breaking, but breathable. It goes without saying, but even in winter remember no cotton socks!! Blisters will happen this way, just look for thicker technical socks (or knee high socks, my favorites!) if you need more warmth.
I have no experience at all with running on ice or snow, so I won't attempt to advise on that. If someone out there does, please lend us your experience! I've seen spikes for shoes to help with traction, but that's about all I know. :) Pardon my southern heart!
Put me on ice, and this will be the result, I'm sure of it!
Winter running has one more major difference for runners, and that's warm up times. Colder temperatures mean it takes your muscles longer to warm up and loosen up, so take extra time to walk and stretch before you run in winter, or you are flirting with a possible injury! Cooling down for a bit longer is important too, to give yourself time to adjust.
There are pros and cons to both seasons-- I know spring and fall are there too, but those days are few around here, and only amount to precious few "perfect" days, so I'm sticking to the big seasons.
Summer Pros:
*Fewer layers to wash and put on/ take off
*No cold hands and feet!
* More daylight to keep safe
*More animals/ flowers/ greenery to enjoy on your run
Winter Pros:
*No more sweat soaked runs
* Pollen? What pollen?
* Getting to enjoy holiday decorations on the route
* You actually feel faster when the humidity and heat aren't unbearable
So, both seasons are pretty equal, and it's really all about finding the drive to get out there, and finding some creative ways to adapt to whatever Mother Nature throws at you!
**Personal Update**
Long run last night was wonderful! The temp was great, we both held out well and I'm not even extremely sore today! We were actually quicker than our 5 miler, so the temps do make a difference! That long run is almost the halfway mark, and we still have 12 weeks to prepare for the Leo half! It's exciting ( and we have only 6 weeks left in our training program, so we're just doubling each week, in case we miss one and to ensure we add miles slowly) and I'm a little nervous!
I had to show you this too! The Hare has a seriously genius idea for keeping up with headphones. We only wear one for safety and to be able to talk, but the other one can get tricky! If it hangs down it can mess with the other one in your ear. He couldn't wear the camelback that he usually clips his spare earbud to (he's healing a tattoo, and it would have rubbed it severely), so he just looped it through his ponytail! Who woulda thunk that??
I've been dreading winter running. I do NOT like being cold. I gather from this post that the right clothes may make all the difference.
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DeleteMost definitely clothes can make or break! Clothes are a little confusing at first, but in winter it's most important to keep your ears, hands and throat warm. Comfy gloves and ear warmers (hats can make you too hot if they don't allow heat to escape at all) are good starters. And of course, lighter layers that you can shed if you need!
DeleteBreathing through your mouth can dry it out, so chewing gum can prevent that (it's helped me in summer too!). Being less humid is helpful for your lungs though!
I thought I would hate winter running, and I admit I did a bit, but I think part of that was because we started our training in the winter, and it's always tough in the beginning!
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