Well, the holidays have passed with all the excitement, shopping and partying that goes with them. When you think about it, those 6 or so weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are probably the fastest moving portion of our yearly calendar or at least it always seems that way. If anything, it goes TOO fast. There’s always something going on or something needing to be done. Right about now, however, the only thing on people’s agenda is taking down the Christmas decorations. Not much fun or excitement going on with that!
January and February are what I think of as the “dog days” of winter. The lucky ones among us might have a week or two planned in Florida or some other sunny climate but for the most part, it’s up to us to keep ourselves sane when the weather outside is frightful. Back in the 80’s, I spent 4 years living in New Hampshire when I was transferred there for work. We moved in January and let me tell you, we flat-landers have no idea what ‘winter’ is. I was used to running on the boards every day throughout Jersey Shore winters with little concern about ice or snow. I went into shock when it became clear that NO surface up there is without snow or ice. Further, winter starts around Halloween and can hang on well into April. One of the ironies of my situation was that we were living in a beautiful area smack dab in ski country, the place where people pay to go on THEIR winter vacations and yet here I was, a non-skier hating every minute of it. My first 2 years up there, I did exactly what you shouldn’t do, waited out winter just trying to keep warm and sane. Unfortunately for my colleagues and family, I found it comforting to let everyone know how much I hated the place. I did nothing to try and enjoy the conditions, I simply waited winter out.
Proving that even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while, it dawned on me that I needed to change my tact and try to find something to enjoy about winter. Being a runner, I was drawn to cross-country skiing. It’s pretty easy to learn the basics, not particularly expensive getting started and a great compliment to my running. I invested in the equipment in early Fall and found myself looking forward to the first snow. A whole new world opened up to me when I got started. The golf courses up there would set XC tracks for anyone to use, there were cross country touring centers everywhere and for a trail fee of about $8, you could glide through acres of some of the prettiest winter scenes imaginable. I met some guys who set up a private touring center on their properties that adjoined and was invited to use the trails whenever I wanted. One of the local ski shops created a 1/2 mile oval which they groomed so I could work on my technique and strength doing intervals whenever I wanted…for free! I spent that winter skiing about 4-5 times a week and was never in better shape. The winter flew by! When Spring came, aka “mud season”, I was bummed. Another thing I noticed that winter was the fact that my outlook towards running had improved. I came to relish the brutal cold and saw it as a challenge. I remember running 6 miles on Saturday when the temperature was -14 and it was one of the best runs I’ve ever done. Looking back, I am sad that I wasted those first couple of years fighting the winter rather than enjoying it.
Fortunately for us at the Jersey Shore, our winters come nowhere NEAR the extremes up in Northern New England but there is still the tendency to hide from winter rather than find ways to enjoy it. Having gone for a run this past weekend just as the snow started falling, I can tell you that it was a treat. My run ended at the beach which gave me a chance to walk down near the water and enjoy the sites of an angry ocean with snow-coated jetties and sand dunes covered in snow. I didn’t do it this time but I’ve had the opportunity to XC ski on the beach after big storms. I have a couple of pairs of snowshoes that I use from time to time. One pair is designed for running. When conditions are right, a run through the snow using snowshoes is awesome. These activities may not be of interest to some but I mention them as an example of how opportunity always exists to try new things. By virtue of the fact that we have more ‘down time’ in these next couple of months, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore. You don’t necessarily need to be looking for new endeavors, it might be the opportunity to pursue activities that you’ve been meaning to re-discover. That Yoga practice that made you feel so good might be something to re-ignite. That neglected weight training program or Boot Camp class might fit into your winter down-time easier than the warm weather months that are filled with outdoor activities.
Try and look at these next couple of months as a period of ‘opportunity’. Plan some goals around these pursuits to keep you focused. If nothing else, keep repeating a mantra of “beach bodies are made in the winter”.
It's not too late to shop Miles Ahead for all those runners on your list! 🎄 We are open Christmas Eve 10am-3pm and closed for Christmas Day. Miles Ahead tees, hat & socks make great gifts for all those runners who already have everything. Gift Certificates available too!
The 2nd Annual Ryan’s Reindeer Race and Family Fun Fest is THIS Saturday December 17 at Blue Claws Stadium in Lakewood! A great event for a great cause!
Running in the winter is easy! Wind chills in the teens, who cares? Snow covered streets, no problem! Hey, its always sunny and 70 on a treadmill. There’s a lot to be said about never having to worry about layering or whether to wear gloves or mittens. It can be below zero with snow coming down and there you are in shorts and a singlet. How cool is that?! I certainly understand the appeal but to me, there’s only one problem, you’re inside.
I’m one of those runners that just hates being inside. Don’t get me wrong, I like being warm and comfortable just as much as the next guy. I just enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to be comfortable outside while Mother Nature is at her worst or, in my opinion, her best. Dressing properly is a good start to winter comfort. That doesn’t mean throwing on multitudinous layers of thermals, sweaters, coats, hats and gloves. Bundling up like Ralphie in “A Christmas Story” will have you sweating like a mule on the equator and make you just as uncomfortable as being under-dressed. Nope, the trick here is to dress specific to the day’s conditions. You want to feel just a tad under-dressed when starting out because as you begin to move and get into your flow, your own body heat will warm you up. Before you decide on what to wear, think about the temperature and the wind conditions on your planned route as well as how long you’re going to be out there. I know some runners that will absolutely not deviate from their daily route so their clothing choice must match up with whatever that route brings, weather-wise. On the other hand, having some flexibility allows you to avoid the worst of those conditions or at least being able to use them to your advantage. Having those blustery northwest winds to your back requires a lot less protection than does running directly into it. If you are doing an ‘out-n-back’ route, run into the wind first. This way, if you work up a sweat, it’ll be on the way home which saves you from having to run into a cold wind with damp clothes. This brings up the subject of ‘sweat’ and the challenges it brings.
Winter running doesn’t mean you’re not going to sweat, you will. It might not be much but even a little has the potential to cause discomfort if not transferred away from your body. This highlights the importance of proper base-layer clothing. Base-layer is the clothing item closest to our skin. It is crucial that this item be made of a fabric that wicks the moisture away from our skin, either to another clothing item or the air where it will evaporate. Another description of the process is “moisture transference”. Most of these fabrics are made in some version of polyester. Poly has two essential qualities; it can not absorb and hold moisture, it transfers it. The clothing item will retain some dampness but it will not be soaking wet. The other important quality of polyester is it will still retain thermal properties when damp so it will still keep you warm. The one fabrication you do NOT want next to your skin is cotton. Cotton is like a sponge when it comes to moisture, it sucks it up and holds it. Making matters worse, wet cotton has no thermal value so you’ll quickly get chilled and stay that way. Wool is not ideal in the sense that it, too, will retain moisture although even when wet, it will keep you warm. This brings up the next important clothing item, the outer layer. Usually, this is a jacket or shell, depending on the temperature, wind, etc. Here again, this needs to be constructed in fabrics that will continue the moisture transference. The fabrics used in high-end jackets and shells are woven in such a way as to allow the smaller molecules of dampness to travel to the jackets’ outer surface where it can be evaporated but tight enough to keep rain out. Some jackets are water-proof while others are water resistant. The other role these jackets or shells serve is that of a wind breaker. When it comes to what we wear on our legs, we have some options based, again, on the conditions. A lot of people will go bare-legged even on the coldest days. I’m not a fan of doing this because while my legs may be able to withstand the cold, they get chapped and raw. Running tights follow the same principles as base layer tops in that they will wick moisture away from the skin. Tights aren’t for everybody, especially guys who are self-conscious wearing something that form-fitting. They might prefer running pants that are, shall we say, less revealing. Gloves and hats are another crucial aspect of winter comfort. Here again, you don’t want a big ol’ bulky knit hat soaking wet from sweat. Look for ones that have wicking properties. Gloves are fine on most days around here in the winter but on those super-cold mornings, mittens will provide better warmth.
As mentioned above, flexibility in choosing a course or a time to run plays a big part in winter running. We do the same thing in the hot weather. Have a few different course options that will allow you to minimize the time exposed to strong winds or wet, slushy surfaces. One word of caution when it comes to winter running, ice. Ice is the one factor that will keep me indoors, especially if I’m planning on a run in the dark. If you are not 100% sure that your course options are ice-free, you probably want to stay inside. In cases like that, I’ll switch around my schedule to do some weight training or Yoga and save the run for better conditions. While avoiding a run on icy surfaces, I absolutely love running in snow. As long as the roads aren’t slippery, I love nothing more than a run as it begins to snow. It goes without saying that particular caution needs to be paid to running on snowy roads with heavy car traffic. As a rule, I’ll hit the boards for a snow run. Try it, you’ll love the experience. I also love a run on those days where the weather reports are warning everyone of record low temps and eye-watering winds. I may not be out there long but I love the thought of people seeing me thinking, “look at that idiot, he must be out of his mind running on a day like this”. I’m not going to tell you that running on brutally cold days is all peaches and cream cause some days, it’s downright unpleasant. I always give myself the ’20 minute rule’ which basically says that after 20 minutes, if I’m not getting comfortable and enjoying myself, it’s time to call it a day. A word of advice; if you’re going to use the 20 minute rule, make sure you’re back at your starting point at 20 minutes!
It's not too late to shop Miles Ahead for all those runners on your list! 🎄 We are open Christmas Eve 10am-3pm and closed for Christmas Day. Miles Ahead tees, hat & socks make great gifts for all those runners who already have everything. Gift Certificates available too!
