Winter Running

The “Summeriest” Winter Ever

When it came to running this winter in the Chicagoland area there’s no better way to describe it than a Tweeter did on my Twitter feed this week: “It’s the ‘Summeriest’ Winter EVER.”

In fact, this post was supposed to be about helping you through the last days of winter running - and the cold early spring days Chicago is known for.

Well that blog post idea went away, when we had our first 80 degree day last week. Went away as quickly as the 30 degree temps and dri-fit winter running jackets off the backs of the runners along the lakeshore.

Part 2

Part 1

Unless you have access to a treadmill, winter running can be next to impossible. But if you have the right gear, you can run in most winter conditions. It’s important to understand the limits of regular winter clothes and the benefits of specially tailored gear.

Rule No. 1: Avoid cotton. It will absorb water and could make a cold situation much worse. Beyond that, here are a few tips.

Torso and Up

It’s getting cold outside, and the ranks of outdoor runners are thinning out.

Your choices are simple: You could stay inside and watch TV while remembering those warm spring and summer runs, or you could bundle up and run alongside the snowplows or crashing waves of Lake Michigan. If you plan to tough it out until the Spring, it’s important to keep some safety tips in mind.