By: The Mizuno Shoe Guy
Winter running has its own unique set of challenges, and certainly the greatest challenge is just dealing with cold, wet winter weather. We are a hardy breed and most of us train through the winter months which—surprisingly enough, depending where you live (and how you dress)—may be more comfortable than running in the summer heat and humidity that blankets much of the country.
However, running in colder weather also means dressing differently than in the warmer months. There’s no question that dressing properly for winter conditions is extremely important for a safe and enjoyable run, especially long runs. Wear too little and you’ll be cold and miserable. Wear too much and you roast.
The single greatest mistake winter runners make is wearing too much clothing—and often the wrong clothes. Fortunately, running clothes have come a long way from the days of cotton sweats. Today, new materials are light, breathable, protective, warm—and perfect for layering.
Less is more, even in the winter. Nowhere is this more evident than in Mizuno’s winter running collection. Some, but not all, of Mizuno’s winter gear is made with a revolutionary, proprietary fabric called Breath Thermo.
Simply put, this light fabric actually generates heat while running. How this works, is the Breath Thermo material has an insulation property which absorbs the moisture your body produces while running and uses it to generate heat. But, the space between the Breath Thermo clothes you’re wearing and the body, remains warm and dry.
Think of it like a furry animal which gets wet in the winter and yet—remarkably–stays comfortable because their internal furnaces generate heat and their skin surface prevents that heat loss. Breath Thermo essentially does the same thing because of its heat-generating (and retaining) fabric.
To be clear, Breath Thermo uses your own body heat when you run, to generate warmth. All clothing will do that. That’s the point of wearing clothes, but the Breath Thermo fibers capture more body vapors—heat–than ordinary wool or polyesters can.
Additionally, Breath Thermo wicks excess moisture away from the body to keep you dry. Soggy, heavy clothes are a sure ticket to hypothermia which occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce and drops the body temp—an especially dangerous condition on long, winter runs far from home.
Still, how you use Breath Thermo is nearly as important as using it in the first place. In other words, layering is critical; particularly in sub-freezing temperatures. By layering Breath Thermo garments, the body heat which is generated is retained and the sweat is wicked away from your base layer to an outer layer where it is evaporated.
The best way to go about doing this is to wear a Breath Thermo base layer such as a Breath Thermo Double Knit Half Zip, Breath Thermo Body Mapping or Breath Thermo Windtop. If it’s 35 degrees or above, you should be warm enough in one of these long sleeves along with a Breath Thermo knitted hat and a variety of Breath Thermo gloves. The gloves and hat are essential because you lose so much heat through your extremities. If it’s extremely cold, mittens are a better option than gloves because your fingers will share their heat.
If it’s extremely cold (below freezing) and windy and/or wet, you’ll need to add two layers: A Breath Thermo jacket and Breath Thermo tights. The Breath Thermo Jacket is wind and water resistant and even though it’s extremely light, it blocks out the elements while the Breath Thermo panels keep you warm. This jacket is so light though it might not seem like it will keep you warm enough, but once you start running, it works like all the other Breath Thermo clothing by generating and retaining heat. The same is true with the Breath Thermo Layered Tight which is also very light, yet has Breath Thermo panels to keep your legs warm.
Here are some guidelines for cold-weather running, especially dressing for long, winter runs. If it’s cold (below freezing), you’ll need to wear:
- A running jacket. Lightweight and breathable, jackets such as the Breath Thermo Jacket or Breath Thermo Softshell are ventilated but come with Breath Thermo panels to keep you warm while on the run. Unless it’s really cold and windy, the bigger problem after just a few miles will be staying cool so you don’t overheat. That’s why a ventilated shell like the Breath Thermo is a must because of its wind protection and water propelling materials. It also helps that the Breath Thermo Jacket has reflective material so you’ll be visible to motorists in the early morning or late afternoon darkness.
- Tights. Sweatpants will not work. Repeat, sweat pants don’t work for serious running. Tights, such as the Breath Thermo Layered Tight, provide warmth but are light and don’t restrict your running. If they get wet, the materials will wick away the moisture from your skin. The Breath Thermo, like most high-quality tights, come with draw cord and ankle zippers so it’s easy to get them on and off. If you’re modest or self-conscious about your weight, there are some fully-cut tights, such as the Breath Thermo Wind Pant, that aren’t quite as tight or as revealing.
- A hat. Every runner needs a hat for cold-weather running. You lose so much body heat through your head that you will need to wear some covering for your head. Usually, a baseball cap is fine. If it’s near or below freezing and windy, you’ll need to protect your ears so wear a light knit cap such as the Breath Thermo Knitted Hat.
- Gloves. Absolutely essential. If your hands are unprotected during a cold weather run, you will be sorry. A lightweight pair of gloves, such as the Breath Thermo Softshell Glove, is usually enough to keep your hands warm. If it’s near or below freezing, you may need to wear a pair of gloves under some mittens such as the Breath Thermo Lobster Mitt. Or you can even wear socks under mittens. Some runners wear tube socks on their arms in cold-weather races.
- Shorts. Your normal running shorts are fine in cold weather. Wear under your tights, never over. Mid-shorts, such as the Mizuno Mid Tight, that extend to your thighs are also great.
- Socks. Your normal running socks should be fine—unless it’s extremely cold. If it is, some runners prefer woolen socks or Breath Thermo running socks.
- Sunglasses. If there is snow on the ground and it’s a clear, cold day, the reflection of sunlight off the snow make sunglasses a must.
- Layer. In cold, wet weather, layering is essential. Under the jacket, you’ll need to wear a technical, base-layer such as the Breath Thermo Double Knit Half Zip. It will trap air close to your skin, generate heat and keep you warm without getting wet.
- Don’t overdress. If you feel comfortable when you step outside and in the first few minutes of a cold weather run, chances are you’re overdressed. You should feel slightly chilled when you begin because you will warm up once you start moving. Trust me on this: You will heat up so much during a run (especially a long one) that if you have worn too much, you will bake.
- Post run. You should have dry, warm clothes to change into immediately after finishing or you’ll freeze. Especially after a long run. You can certainly wear too much on a long, cold run, but you can’t wear too much after.
- Warm up. First chance you get, jump into the shower and blast the hot water to get your core temperature back up to normal.