Tips For Winter Running

Have you noticed that it’s starting to get that little bit colder? That there’s an ever-so-slight chill in the air compared to a few weeks ago? Well if you’re anything like me where you enjoy your running but not running in cold/rainy/windy weather, you may be wondering how you’ll cope and whether to just ‘call it a day’ until February-March time. 

Well don’t worry, because in this blog post I’m going to provide you with some easy tips and strategies that can allow you to continue your running journey and allow you to make further progress, even in those blustery Winter months ahead!

Firstly before I get into the ‘how’ to keep running during this season, let’s discuss the ‘why’. 

So the majority of people that run, do so when the temperature outside is decent and the running conditions are good enough. If you’re willing to find a way to continue your training despite these perfect conditions, you will have an edge against everyone else that you’ll be up against come next year when the races restart. 

You’ll be putting in more runs, more mileage and this motivation will carry you into further progress than you’ll have ever seen before. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. If it was everyone would be doing it. But this is how you get the edge over your competition and it’s how the 1% of people progress further than others, not just in running or sports, but in your every day working life and the goals that you’d like to personally achieve. 

So it’s easy for me to sit here and say ‘just keep running no matter what the weather’ however that’s not useful or practical. For me there are two important factors to consider; your motivation and the right gear to execute it. 

Let’s start with motivation. 

Firstly you should already have your ‘why do I run?’ reason. Is it to get fitter? To lose weight or tone up? To complete your first 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon? Keep this in the forefront of your mind before you’re about to set out that door and even write it down. Once you have that ‘why’ nailed down, the conditions outside aren’t even an issue. For example f it’s cold you wear a long-sleeve top, but you find a way to get the run completed. 

Personally I’ve got a friend who I often run with. That can also be a helpful strategy where you’re not running on your own, especially in the dark. If you don’t know anyone that runs or lives near you, do some research and join a local running club. Not only is this practical from a safety standpoint, it’s also an opportunity to meet like-minded people who love running!

Another strategy to consider would be making a friendly wager with a running buddy. For example, whoever runs the most miles during November, December and January wins the agreed pot! That’s certainly enough motivation to keep me going! 

When it comes to running in colder, wetter and windier conditions, it’s crucial to have the right clothing and footwear to keep you warm enough and even safe. For example in the UK it can start to go dark by around 4pm in Winter and if you finish work at 5pm or 5:30pm you’ll be running in the dark (unless you limit your running to weekends only). So if you decide to run in the dark make sure you are wearing clear, flashing LED lights that are bright enough for cars and traffic to identify you, as well as other runners. 

You also have to have the correct footwear. It will be colder on your feet and wearing the right training shoes will keep your feet warmer, reducing the risk of injury. The right shoe will also keep your feet drier so you won’t have to worry about them getting soaked. Even for the most motivated runner returning home after training and having soaking wet feet is never a good thing.

Personally I’ve always preferred running trail shoes, even when I’ve been running on pavements during the Winter season. They achieve all the above and keep my feet well-protected. One thing to note though is that you do often get what you pay for, so I wouldn’t advise going for the cheapest as a more expensive pair will see you through years of training, not just months. 

So I hope this blog post has offered you some insight into how you can continue to run during the colder months ahead. As long as you have the right equipment and your mindset is in the right place, you can continue to increase that mileage and take that to your next level in 2025. 

Adam Warren