Happy Fall Everyone!
The leaves are finally changing and the
weather is getting colder. That means two things in the running world. Be smart
and precautious while running and wear warmer running gear. This week I will be
discussing tips on running in the cold and next week I will discuss specific
items to wear in the cold.
After three years of cross-country and track
I received lots of advice on ways to be safe while in the cold. These are three
of my favorite tips:
1.
Always wear warm clothes.
This may seem
obvious but a lot of people don’t wear the proper attire for the weather. The
key to dressing correctly is to wear layers.
When
dressing in layers, the most important first layer is tight clothing. I
personally recommend wearing some type of undershirt that clings to you and some
running tights. Next week I will get into some specific brands that I enjoy the
most but essentially any brand that fits will do.
For the
second layer, I keep it simple. On the top half I usually wear a normal cotton
shirt. It can be either short or long
sleeves. It doesn’t really keep you warm but in case you get hot under the
third layer it allows you to shed a layer. The bottom half is a personal
preference. Sometimes I wear normal sweatpants but usually I just stick with
leggings.
The third
and final layer I wear is a sweatshirt. It can be a baggy sweatshirt or it
could be a thin pullover. Just make sure it is confortable over the other two
layers.
2. Always
keep your hands and ears covered.
Some people
feel like a little kid when bundling up, but it is important. I personally wear
either a hat or ear warmers. By keeping your ears and head warm it dramatically
lowers your chances of catching a cold.
Wearing gloves
can be a very “touchy” subject for runners. Some runners enjoy the warmth
gloves offer. But others experience tingly sensations in their fingers when
they wear gloves. I personally am a
glove person.
Gloves and
head warmers are very important while running in the cold but again in the end
it is personal preference.
3. Stay
Motivated.
This tip
isn’t just about safety. It is also about
staying fit in the winter. People think that winter is a time when they can
hide their fat under clothes and hibernate. But in actuality that isn’t what
winter should be about.
Winter
should be about improvement. Instead of giving up on working out you should
prepare for the summer. Get in shape now. Don’t wait until the summer to get
that “bikini bod”. Try to retain your shape. It will make workouts more
enjoyable and productive because you have a goal to strive for.
This week the Bible verse I chose wasn’t
directly correlated to running but about the seasons changing. This week I
chose Psalm
74:17 “It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer
and winter.”
This verse
is helpful at the start of fall because it reminds us that just because the
seasons are changing, it doesn’t make them entirely different. God made all
seasons and wanted his children to live and thrive through them. Don’t take the
winter off and be a slug. Instead try to live and workout this winter for the
glory of Him.
God
Bless.
Jamie
