Post your best cold weather running tip

Runderwear, for those windswept days. Beats having to lose a glove "down there."

Don't overdress. You should be a bit chilly at the start of the run.

When its really cold, touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth when you breath in...heats the air a little bit before it gets to your lungs.

Get a treadmill.

Run directly on top of the snowbanks. The cushioned, cool surface helps reduce the chance of injury. Also, gives the passing drivers a good chuckle.

Wear shorts over tights.

I've used the duct tape "trick" many times. It works well, but if running on slipper roads or trails, you can lose some traction.

When it's really cold, I put the self-stick chemical toe warmers (the ones that are designed to be worn inside shoes) on top of my toes (right on the skin), followed by a thin pair of socks, then another toe warmer, and then wool socks.

Most of the chemical toe warmer manufacturers say that the warmers aren't supposed to be worn on the skin, but I've never had a problem. Since I figured this out, I don't have to deal with cold feet at all. I've run in temps pushing -20F and never have to worry about cold feet.

Start your run into the wind, finish the run with the wind at your back. Hands are what will be the coldest, don't be afraid to double up on gloves.

Kyle's Killer Lemonade wrote:

Start your run into the wind, finish the run with the wind at your back. Hands are what will be the coldest, don't be afraid to double up on gloves.

Oh, yah: I love those long-sleeved shirts w/integrated over-gloves. Nice n neat.

Move to Florida.

Find the thickest wool socks to wear on your hands. You don't need your thumbs or fingers free while you're running.

Protect the tip.

Leave the Saucony A5 / A6 on the shelf during winter. They put holes in the bottom of the shoes (ostensibly to shed water for triathletes). These only serve to gain frigid water as you run over packed snow.

Fat Joe wrote:

Get a treadmill.

They freeze up.

Vaseline. Everywhere, especially exposed skin. I think the long distance lake swimmers use it. Keeps in heat and forms a layer against cold. Not as greasy as you think as most gets absorbed.

Standard Bearer wrote:

Vaseline. Everywhere, especially exposed skin. I think the long distance lake swimmers use it. Keeps in heat and forms a layer against cold. Not as greasy as you think as most gets absorbed.

Yes - Vaseline on the face helps a lot.

I also like a combo of thin gloves, disposable handwarmers, and then socks over the gloves/handwarmers. If your hands start to overheat, toss the socks.

Dick in a sock.

I second the wool socks on hands for gloves. I double them over themselves and my hands stay warm easily down to ~0 degrees.

When you're doing a workout, wear your watch atop your top layer.