5 Tips to Keep You Running through Winter

Typically in Sydney, Australia during Autumn we experience cooler mornings and beautiful bright warm sunny days. With such sunshiny days and less humidity, these perfect running conditions are always welcomed and of course we make the most of them. However, staring down the barrel of Winter’s commencement in only a couple of weeks and with our first few chilly mornings already rearing up, things are about to get tricky, especially if you like your warm bed! If you want to keep up your running during the coldest months of the year, but think you might have trouble dragging yourself out of that toasty warm bed in the morning, here’s a few tips to help you along.

• Rug up – Running gloves, a beanie or buff, long tights (RunFaster of course!) and a long sleeve running top or hoodie will make sure you are warm when you step outside the comfort of your heated house. Wearing layers is a good way to get started too and it’s easy enough to just peel them off and tie them around your waist as you warm up.
• Be prepared for wet weather – Get yourself a good quality lightweight, waterproof jacket with fully taped seams. A few years ago I outlaid a small fortune for one of these jackets as a mandatory requirement for a trail running event and didn’t think I would ever use it, but there’s been plenty of mornings in subsequent winters where it’s kept me dry. It's also very warm too, making a great top layer! The other thing that will protect you in the rain is a hat or visor, which will keep water out of your eyes, and therefore providing one less excuse for not getting outside in the wet weather.
• Run late – If you can arrange your schedule to suit, try and run later in the day when the temperature has risen a bit.
• Meet a friend – If you plan to meet a buddy or even have a regular running group to attend (being mindful of current Covid restrictions), you are more likely to get yourself out the door on those freezing cold Winter mornings.
• Plan your post-run coffee – Tuck $5 into your pocket and make a plan to finish your run at the local coffee shop so you can warm up with a hot beverage and a nice coffee chat walk with a friend afterwards.

The cold, crisp air in Winter can make it difficult to get out the door but if you make a plan to accommodate the weather change, it’s a lot easier to get out for a run and continue to train through all seasons. Enjoy breathing that coolness into your lungs, because before long that Summer humidity will be back to greet us.

Stay tuned for lots of new 7/8 and full length tights coming out in the next couple of weeks. Happy running!