Tag Archives: winter running

6 Tips for Staying Motivated to Run in the Winter

Posted on February 1, 2016 | 2 comments

Last winter was a disaster for me. I couldn’t get motivated, I couldn’t get out the door, and my training really suffered. This winter, I have been much more successful, so I wanted to share my tips for staying motivated and in shape during the colder months of the year.

wearing sunglasses

  1. Sign up for a winter or spring race. Nothing motivates you to get out the door like dishing out cash and having something on the calendar to work towards.
  2. Run before work or during the day, if possible. This has probably been the biggest change between this year and last year. This year, I work completely for myself, so I have the flexibility to run during the day when it is light out and warmer. I also have more energy in the middle of the day vs. trying to go out after a solid workday.
  3. Mix it up in the gym. There are several options for staying in shape that don’t involve the treadmill, such as the stationary bike, the elliptical machine, swimming, or a cardio class. I’ve gotten in to swimming this winter, and it’s been a ton of fun (as well as a full body workout!).
  4. Work out with a friend. If someone is counting on you to meet them at the gym or for a run, you are far more likely to meet that commitment. It’s much easier to make excuses for yourself than to your accountability buddy.
  5. Get cold weather gear. This is another big one for me. I hate being cold. This year, I’ve stocked up on cold weather gear and have been able to stay warm during my runs, which makes me WAY more likely to get out there. See my guide to winter running post for more tips about layering and staying warm while you run.
  6. Don’t try to stay in peak physical condition. For me, the winter is a time to build my base and keep my conditioning. If I gain something, even better, but my main focus is not to lose anything, so I can start up again in the spring when the weather is warmer.

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Review: 2XU HYOPTIK Thermal Compression Tights

Posted on January 23, 2016 | 5 comments

Disclaimer: I received a pair of 2XU HYOPTIK Mid-Rise Thermal Compression Tights to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

jumping

I recently posted about winter running, and how important it is for me to stay warm (I’m a big sissy). It’s usually pretty easy to layer up and keep my core and upper body warm, but I find it really tough to keep my legs warm, so I’m always on the look out for tights or pants that will keep me toasty. I was super excited for the chance to try out these 2XU tights, and I was not disappointed!

What I received to review

whole pants

From the website

Stand out, get noticed, and stay warm. HYOPTIK reflective logos help you stay visible when training in low light conditions. A soft brushed thermal inner layer helps retain warmth in cold climates. With coverage over the knee, powerful compression support and protect upper leg muscles to help prevent soreness and fatigue and long term overuse injuries. HYPOTIK THERMAL Compression helps you battle the cold and dark for outdoor training in winter.

The Good

I didn’t run a ton of miles in the tights, but I did run in the cold, and the thermal layer on the inside was warm and soft. While these tights didn’t keep me super warm right off the bat (they are thin tights after all), the thermal inner layer definitely helped.

They is definitely compression in these tights. They felt a bit tighter than my other running tights, but I’ve been dealing with a minor muscle strain, so the compression really helped my glutes to feel protected. The compression also helped with my day-to-day recovery. I wore the tights for at least 30 minutes after each run, and my legs felt great the next day.

side view tights

The overall fit was great – I appreciated the mid-rise, and it was high enough to reduce the “muffin top” effect. There is also a little pocket inside the waistband. There was no chafing, no seams, and I didn’t feel very sweaty after running in them.

The box also says that the tights are antibacterial and have UPF50+ sun protection. The HYOPTIK logos are also reflective for high visibility at night.

The Not-So-Good

These babies are expensive (but look for a discount code at the bottom of this post!). The 3/4 length is $99.99 and the full length is $139.99. If these end up lasting for several seasons (which I think they will), then it would be worth the investment for all of the “running tech specs” involved in the tights, but having only had them for a short time, I can’t speak to the longevity of the product.

box

The Bottom Line

I plan to wear these to run throughout the entire winter. I love that they support my muscles and help me recover more quickly.

If you want a little more support for your legs when you run, you should definitely get yourself a pair.

Get a 20% discount!!! Enter “RUN20” at check out. Good until 2/29.

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Review: Hoodie Thermal BUFF

Posted on January 17, 2016 | 5 comments

Disclaimer: I received a Hoodie Thermal BUFF to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

If you saw my post yesterday about winter running, then you know I’m not a huge fan of it, and a big task for me is trying to keep my ears/face/head warm without having to wear a full on balaclava. When I heard of the opportunity to review a BUFF Hoodie as part of the BibRave Pro program, I jumped at the chance.

hoodie spread out

What I received to review

From the website

Hoodie BUFF is a stylish and superbly comfortable hooded garment made for cold weather protection with a double layer of fabric at the neck for extra insulation. Long enough to cover the nose and mouth but a little less technical than its stable mate Hood BUFF Hoodie BUFF is brighter, funkier and very wearable.

The Good

It’s definitely super warm. There is the actual hood part, the buff neck piece, and then another piece of buff fabric that you can pull up over your mouth. The hood is a thick, knitted Polartec Thermal Pro that is soft and warm. The neck and mouth pieces are made from naturally anti-microbial Merino wool, so not as thick, but still soft and warm. The materials wicked sweat without getting wet and kept me warm and dry during my runs.

I really like that there are two Buff pieces in addition to the hood – the one was easy to tuck down into my jacket to keep my neck warm, and the other piece was easy to pull up around my mouth. It was thin enough that I could easily breathe through it, but was enough to keep my breath (and my lungs) warm.

The Hoodie has two drawstring pieces so you can cinch down the hood and make it tighter on your head, which is helpful if you have a smaller head like I do. Making it tight also pulled it around my face to keep my ears warm.

Even though it’s not specifically designed to be windproof, I wore it on a run with the wind was gusting up to 22 mph, and another day when it was a steady 6 mph, and it still kept me warm.

hat and gloves

The Not-So-Good

The Hoodie is a one size fits all, which is great because it will fit anyone, and you can wear it looser if you just need a little protection, but not-so-good if you have a small head like me. Even cinching the hood super tight leaves some space in the back that makes it a little cooler than it would be if it was totally tight against my head. That being said, it wasn’t a huge difference, and I just pulled up my jacket hood to seal everything in.

The Bottom Line

I love this thing and I wear the Hoodie Thermal BUFF pretty much any chance I get. I have worn it just around my neck, as a loose hood, as a tight hood, with the mouth piece up, with the mouth piece down, in windy conditions, and in pretty cold conditions (a 30-degree run). The Hoodie has not let me down. It has kept me warm and wicked sweat without becoming too wet, sweaty, or stinky.

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I highly recommend the Hoodie Thermal BUFF for runner, hikers, snowboarder, bikers, or pretty much anyone who wants to stay warm in the winter. The retail price of $45.99 feels very reasonable to me, considering I will wear it every winter for a variety of activities. There is also another version that isn’t quite as insulated, the AW Hoodie BUFF, for $37.50.

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A Cold Girl(or Guy)’s Guide to Winter Running

Posted on January 16, 2016 | 4 comments

I should start off by saying I grew up on the cold, snowy east coast. I never really liked the cold, but I could deal with it. Then I moved to Southern California and it ruined me. Now that I’m in Colorado, I spend most of my time during the winter trying to stay warm. So when I need to get in a run outside, it can be tough to figure out what to wear to stay warm (but not too warm once I get going).

I think I’ve got a pretty good system, so here are my best tips for when the weather is around 30 degrees. And obviously, try out different things to see what works best for you.

1. Check the weather.

Surprisingly, it’s not as simple as just looking at the temperature. Cloudy is going to be colder than sunny. Windy is going to be colder than calm. Humidity or impending snow can also affect how cold it is, so instead of looking at the main temperature, you want to look at the “feels” like temperature.

weather app

2. Wear two non-cotton layers.

Don’t wear cotton. When it gets wet, it stays wet, and you get cold. I like to wear a long-sleeved technical shirt and a light jacket (though sometimes I’ll wear a wind-resistant fleece). You will be cold when you start, but for me, two shirt layers feels just right once I get warmed up.

3. Wear full-length tights with a liner.

Tights with a warm liner are going to keep you warmer than other pants that might have more air circulation. I’ve been wearing the Hyoptik tights by 2xu, which not only are full-length with a liner, but have compression as well. The compression feature is supposed to promote blood flow and help your muscles warm up faster, too. Make sure you wear a pair of socks that comes up  at least a little higher than the tights or you will have some cold ankles!

tights

4. A note about socks.

Again, you may want to stay away from cotton so they don’t get wet and cold. I like running in wool socks (such as Smartwool) in the winter because they give me a little bit of extra warmth, but technical socks like Feetures are also nice.

5. Don’t forget a hat and gloves.

Whether you go for an ear warmer headband or all-out with a Buff Hoodie, a warm head = a happy runner. Sometimes I pull my jacket hoodie on overtop, just to seal in the warmth. I really like my newest gloves because I can still use the touchscreen on my phone with them, a feature to consider whether you want or not.

hat and gloves

6. Packs.

I use a Spibelt to hold my phone when I run because I don’t like holding it in my hand. When you hold your phone in your hand, you also can’t do tip #7! Same thing with having to hold a water bottle, except holding water could also make your hands cold. I know several other BibRave Pros highly recommend Orange Mud hydration packs, and I am a fan of Camelbak packs.

7. Pump your fists.

Even with gloves, your hands might get cold, especially if you hold them lower when you run. By pumping/squeezing your fists occasionally, you get the blood flowing and can warm them up.

8. Spikes (if there is snow/ice).

After a particularly precarious run last year, I don’t plan to run on snow/ice without some sort of spike in my shoe. I haven’t needed any yet, but Kahtoola is a highly recommended brand. I’ve tried YakTrax, and they are a built bulky and interfere with my natural gait, so they didn’t work for me. Maybe they would be better in a bit deeper snow instead of just a thin layer on the sidewalk.

9. Keep your running buddy warm, too!

Buster in coat

For more running clothing tips in other temperatures, Runner’s World has some suggestions in What to Wear Running.

 

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