How to Prepare for Cold Weather Runs

Running in cold weather can be extremely challenging if you’re not adequately prepared. Due to blood flow restriction, cold weather running can increase your chances of cramping, muscle spasms, and joint injuries.

What to Wear

Layering is key! Wear a base layer made out of a material that will absorb sweat and keep it away from your body (i.e. Nike Dri-Fit, Under Armour spandex, and Adidas Cool Max). Add insulating layers, such as pants and a sweatshirt, and then a weatherproof layer if necessary.

Warm-up!

I can’t stress the importance of warming up enough, no matter the weather. Your body needs time to slowly adjust to exercise in order to get blood moving to the various parts of the body. Warming up will help you transition into your run, as well as loosen up muscles which will help you avoid injury. Your warm-up should last between 15 to 25 minutes total, and should consist of both cardio and stretching. Don’t exhaust yourself! This is JUST a warm-up!

I suggest the following:

Cardio

10 pushups
10 squats
10 side lunges (each leg)
10 Sumo squats
10 side-to-side leg swings (each leg)
10 front-to-back leg swings (each leg)

Stretching

You should hold each stretch for about 10 to 30 seconds and repeat two to three times.

Standing hamstring stretch
Butterfly
Side lunge
Standing quad stretch
Standing calf stretch
Cobra
Shoulder stretch
Chest stretch
Lying glute stretch

Tips for During and After Your Run

During: Reduced blood flow also keeps your muscles from warming up as fast as they normally would, so pace yourself at the beginning of your run and give your body more time to warm up before you kick into your race pace.

After: Don’t stay in wet clothes! If you get wet from rain or sweat and sit in your clothes for a prolonged period of time, you’re putting yourself at risk for hypothermia. To avoid this risk, change your wet clothes immediately after your run and get to warm shelter as quickly as possible. If you show signs of hypothermia, such as shivering, impaired coordination, slurred speech, and fatigue, seek emergency treatment immediately.

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