- You will experience frozen eyelashes.
- You will spend a lot of money on really warm running clothes (May I suggest Craft gear- expensive but worth it!)
- You will wear more layers than you thought possible.
- You will experience “frosty thong.” This is when your butt is sweaty on a cold winter run, so the sweaty areas freeze, resulting in what my friends have come to know as the “frosty thong.”
- You will wear a face mask.
- The fluids in your fuel belt will turn to ice on a run.
- You’ll call 30 degrees “downright balmy!”
- You’ll slip. Hopefully you will not break anything. (May I recommend YakTrax Run!)
- You’ll post pictures on social media of just how cold it is and how #hardcore you are for running outside.
- You will make friends with a treadmill. It will happen.
- You’ll experience Raynaud’s.This is normally not a big deal if this happens to you. It happens to me ALL the time. It definitely looks freaky!
But let me tell you about the really AWESOME things that will happen if you decide to run through the winter!
You’ll be tougher.
The winter never feels as horrible when you’re still running outside. With the right gear, you can safely run through winters as tough as those in Minnesota! Knowing that you are hardy enough to be outside for extended periods of time will make the whole winter more bearable.
You’ll come to appreciate the beauty of winter.
Check out some of THESE pictures and tell me you’re not inspired to go for a winter run! It really can be beautiful out there…much more beautiful than the inside of your gym on a treadmill.
You’ll stay in AWESOME shape.
Running in the winter is tough. Running on uneven terrain from the snow is challenging on the legs, but the minute you’re running on dry pavement in the spring, you will discover how strong you have become! There won’t be a long base buliding period after the winter because you’re already going to be in shape. You’re going to be in shape THE WHOLE TIME!!!
Running in the winter is totally doable, totally worth it, and can actually be a lot of fun.
REMEMBER: YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE COLD TO APPRECIATE THE WARMTH.
Minnesota’s motto, right there folks.
Previous posts about running in the winter:
New Year’s Day Run
More Winter Running Tips
Gotta love winter running. This list actually makes me excited for it!
Yay! Yes, it really can be a lot of fun 🙂
I oddly love winter running… so invigorating! Frosty thong… never heard of that, but so funny! 🙂
haha, keep an eye on your fellow runners’ bums and you’ll see the frosty thong 🙂
I know, I like winter running usually- running in the snow in the 20s/30s is awewome, but below zero can get a big tough!
I love winter running! I’d also like to add one thing that hairy gentleman experience on winter runs – the “frosty beard” 🙂 I’m also guilty of posting pictures of the temperature for my runs…ha! I’ve also slipped once this year already. I’m usually hyper focused on my winter runs because my route is very slippery and I use my regular running shoes – but this particular time my Garmin beeped as I was about to round the final corner, so I shifted my focus from the road to my watch. One second is all it took – I planted… Read more »
Yes, how could I forget the frozen beard! My husband is a fan of that one, he says it keeps his face warm 🙂
Sorry to hear about your fall. Be careful out there Brad.
(I’m guessing you saw, but I linked to all your lovely winter running pics!)
Your husband is right! Frost on the beard does help keep your face warm. Snow/ice is an insulator, as backwards as that seems…
I did see you linked to the pictures, thanks! I’m glad that I’m not the only one posting about the wonders of running in Winter and all it has to offer! I sincerely hope that we can inspire runners out there to brave the temperature and get outside – it’s so worth it!
The ladies love the beards AND they keep you warm. Seems like a no-brainer 🙂
I quite enjoy winter running and it DEFINITELY makes me feel stronger in the spring. Sounds like you’re likely to have a pretty tough winter. Here in Scotland it varies. Sometimes snow, sometimes cold. Last winter was really wet and windy. Let’s see what this winter brings…
Hi Allison! Yes, winter came a little early here…hopefully it warms up a bit! Hoping you have a mild winter over in Scotland 🙂
[…] those adorable vizsla faces did give me a wave of homesickness. Similarly to how I think that the Minnesota motto is that you have to experience the cold to appreciate the warmth, I think you have to go away to be […]