I sometimes avoid saying that I “run”, just like I avoid telling people that I have a BA in math. Because I’m not actually a mathematician, nor am I an athlete. I studied a little bit of math because I like it and it’s challenging and I didn’t know what else to do. I run a little bit because I like it and it’s exerting and I don’t know how else to exercise on the cheap.
It’s not always easy to run outdoors in the winter, though. A friend of mine who runs 10Ks, for example, does not run outside at all during the coldest months. Instead, she takes group classes at the gym: barre, yoga, spinning. I, on the other hand, refuse to pay for a gym membership; but when I don’t exercise, my legs start to feel leaden, and I get antsy.
Thus I find myself running in the freezing cold. Everything is relative, anyway; even the perception of warmth. One time at Dartmouth, a classmate shrieked “What are you doing?” as I ran past. My fingers did feel unusually numb… I checked the weather afterward and decided not to run in -8F again. I figure that I can brave teen temps easily enough.
Besides, it’s Boston, a running mecca. Plenty of people run year-round.
How to run in the snow
The first time I ran in the snow here, I was a little nervous, even after surviving Dartmouth. Slipping on ice is no joke. My grandfather broke his wrist that way, and my boyfriend’s dad broke his leg.
I jogged extra slowly and stopped to walk over several icy patches. Snow in the city means snowbanks, since the snow on the street and sidewalk has to be put somewhere. I climbed over some of the snowbanks and circled around others. I slipped a couple times but made it home in one piece.
My boyfriend, who hails from Maine and runs competitively, patted me on the back with pride and some superiority. He claims that you can run over slippery parts safely as long as you’re not changing direction or going downhill.
I’m not that gung-ho, so I just take it slow. Yes, there is snow, and ice, and slush, and snowbanks, but you get used to it. I usually run the same route, so after a while I figure out where the slippery patches are, which side of the street is better shoveled, and so forth. Plus, I only run 2 to 5 miles at a time. That is very doable, even in messy weather.
I also try to practice good running etiquette. For example, I try to keep right, instead of running down the middle of the sidewalk, and holler when I’m going to pass someone: “On your left!” Etiquette is important in any weather, of course, but it becomes even more relevant in the winter, when pedestrians are obliged to tread carefully and snowbanks that take up half the sidewalk leave the remaining path very narrow.
In the same vein, I try to communicate very clearly with motorists. I wave, nod, smile – or sometimes I just wait, if I can’t get a clear reaction from the driver.
What to wear
After much trial and error, I have finally figured out what to wear based on the weather. This piece of the puzzle was crucial for me, since I get cold easily.
Right now I’m on a tight budget, so my running outfit is comprised of random pieces that I have acquired over the years. Some are gifts, some are hand-me-downs, and some are holdovers from middle school. By “outfit”, I really mean just one outfit. I don’t sweat a lot, so I can get away with wearing the same thing for the whole week.
I want to believe that it’s possible, with patience and resourcefulness, to assemble a winter running outfit for $50 or less, shoes not included. (By way of example, I’ve found activewear bottoms at Goodwill for $6. I’ve also used wool socks as mittens.) That’s way cheaper than a gym membership.
Here’s how I bundle up.
| Temp (F) | Top | Bottom | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55+ | short sleeves | shorts | none |
| 50-54 | (a) long sleeves; OR (b) short sleeves + sweatshirt | shorts | none |
| 40-49 | long sleeves + sweatshirt | pants | hat + neckwarmer + gloves + wool socks |
| 20-39 | long sleeves + additional layer + sweatshirt | pants | hat + neckwarmer + gloves + wool socks |
| 10-19 | long sleeves + sweatshirt + windbreaker | two pants | hat + neckwarmer + gloves + wool socks |
NOTES
- Temperature is not everything! Wind or rain makes it feel much colder and harsher. If it’s windy or wet, pretend that the temperature is 10 degrees cooler and dress accordingly.
- My favorite running gear is wool. My wool turtleneck and leggings are key components of my winter outfit, as well as a wool neckwarmer. The shirt and leggings were Christmas gifts. Previously I wore synthetic leggings, which work fine, but the wool ones are more comfortable. The neckwarmer I knitted myself!
- Regardless of the weather, I always wear a running cap with a visor, which is like a lightweight baseball cap. It keeps the sun out of my eyes and the hair out of my face. (I have short hair, usually.) When the temperature is below 50F, I first don a running hat, which is basically a thin beanie, and wear the cap over the hat.
Findings
I’m very happy with my running routine this winter. Running in the morning gets me out of the house and helps me to start the day. When I don’t run, I end up feeling leaden and antsy – as I said.
There are also interesting things to see in the winter. I especially like to check out the Charles River, which is only a mile away from me. It’s pretty cool to observe how it changes with the weather: freezing over, preserving clouds of fallen leaves in translucent ice; then accumulating snow, swept into shallow ridges like dunes by the wind; then melting under the sun and rain.
I also realized that running outside is actually the warmest part of my day. Sitting stationary in front of a computer, I can never quite shake the chill. But by the end of a run, I’m always warm and toasty, from the inside out.
Then I come home and gorge myself on hot soup!