Hey - people in Alaska do it...

I'm just sayin' that after a weekend of two very very very cold runs,  with beautiful scenery, lots of laughs, and the very best people around... this cold weather running got me thinking.  It really wasn't alllll that bad.. except the wind.  THAT was a killer. So,  if you know me,  you know that I'll find an excuse to not doing something pretty darn quick.  I learned this weekend,  I can no longer say 'it's cold outside'.  HA !

All you excuse makers - suck it up buttercup - there's no reason why you can't head out on a beautiful sunny 20 degree day and enjoy a walk, jog or run.  Of course,  one note of caution... ice.. yeah... don't walk run jog over ice K ? 

I found these tips at a marathon running forum.. 

Practical Practices for Running in the Winter 

Prevention of Cold Injury - Reducing your heat loss to the environment takes careful judgement.Layer your clothing - Resist the temptation to overdress, as excessive sweating under too many layers may result in your getting really cold during the run - especially if you have to stop or slow way down or you find yourself running into a headwind.

Best fabrics to wear - The best fabrics for cold weather running are those that have high insulating properties that are not diminished significantly by wetting. These fabrics include Polypropylene, wool, wool/synthetic blends, and treated polyesters like Capilene. The fabric closest to your body should wick moisture away from your skin. Avoid wearing cotton. It has poor insulating ability, which decreases even more when it becomes wet. ( I say UNDER ARMOUR UNDER ARMOUR UNDER ARMOUR !)

Wind protection - It is essential that you wear an outer layer of Gortex or nylon for cold weather running. This includes top, bottom and hood. Vaseline on any exposed skin is helpful if it is not severely cold weather.  (OK... I'm not putting vaseline on me... but I do love my brooks jacket.  It's way lightweight, has tons o' pockets and keeps me warm and dry if needed !)

Covering miscellaneous body parts - (duh... )

Wear a cap! Everyone knows that you can lose a lot of heat through radiation from your head. Well-vented ski goggles can be worn.  ( Um yeah... not so much on the ski goggle thing... I'm already dorky enough running as it is... sheesh... BUT.. I do wear my Rudy Projects sunglasses,  and not because I'm that cool and the sun always shines for me,  but because with my contacts,  that wind is a killer.)

Be careful of wearing contact lenses in extremely cold weather - they can freeze to your eyeball.  (Can you imagine !!!  sheesh... I don't run fast enough for that to ever happen !)

Polypropylene gloves and maybe Gortex or nylon mittens are important to protect your hands.  (Nothing fancy for me here... 99 cent gloves from Fred Meyer ! )

Consider wearing two pairs of socks - an inner polypropylene pair and an outer wool pair. Size your winter running shoes appropriately. 

Avoid Getting Wet - Soaked clothing from things like rain showers and nearly frozen rivers can lead to some serious problems. Gortex will protect you from rain. Avoid bodies of cold water - especially if you're clumsy. (I have no comment here....)

Consider wind chill - Like considering the humidity and temperature for a summer run, you must account for the wind and temperature for running in the winter. This refers to both natural wind and the air movement created if you are running fast.  (again...no comment regarding the 'running fast' statement...)

Warm-up properly - As you probably know, it's hard to warm up when you're freezing cold. The key is to do your stretching while you're inside, then to wear heavier clothing outside until you warm up, at which time you shed your layers down to the right amount for the current weather conditions.