What Fit Moms Wear-Winter Edition

Another reader question! You know I love reader questions. This is a good one, too, and appropriate for a December post:

Hello Kara,
I have enjoyed reading your blog now for several years - thank you for taking the time to keep us inspired! I know you published a post this past summer about running clothing that you like, but I am curious about cold weather gear. I have been a runner for many years, but most of them in very temperate climates which made year-round outside exercise easy. I now live in upstate NY and hope to continue my outdoor/road running throughout the year. Last winter though, I found it very hard to regulate my temperature - I always felt like my core was too hot and my extremities too cold - just the opposite of how it seems cold-weather gear is designed to function! Do you have any suggestions of cold-weather running gear that has worked particularly well for you?
Many thanks from a fellow Sweaty Mama,
Wendy K.
Ithaca, NY

Let's start with a little review. I grew up in El Paso, TX, and lived in Dallas for about 10 years before moving to Minnesota. Until I moved North, I saw no reason to run if temps dropped below 20, mainly because the next day would likely be 60 degrees or higher. So I had options. No so in Minnesota. In order for me to continue running outdoors (I've discovered this is important to surviving winter outside the mental institution) I've lowered my standards and bolstered my wardrobe. Now, not only do I survive the long Minnesota winter, but with the addition of my beloved snowshoes, I thrive.

Thriving! This Texas girl does enjoy winter.

The secret is having the right clothes. Before I go into the details, I'll share a few highlights:

Had there been a blackout, my reflective vest would have come in handy.

#1 You don't have to sacrifice style when you bundle up. Here I am in a Skirt Sports ensemble that can go from presentable (literally in this case when I wore it for a presentation at the Twin Cities Marathon Expo) to perspirable. I've said it before: the best chance you have to get in your workout is to get up and put on your running clothes. As moms, we all know it could be another eight hours before you actually get to sweat, so you might as well look good in the interim.

I'm like Goldilocks, I need gloves that are just right for the weather.

#2 You need to have a range of winter gear. As I've learned to brave colder and colder temps, I've bought the gear that withstands those temps, which means I have mittens and hats for various degrees of cold, like the gloves above and the various hats, below.

Left, the hat for severe cold, middle, the hat for pretty darn cold and right, the hat for mild cold.

The Wonder Teen modeling the barely cold cap with The Boy in a fleece headband (to prevent hat head).

Keep your bank robber comments to yourself.
I don't want to lose my nose to frostbite.

#3 Fabric matters. What this means is, you might find yourself "investing" in winter running wear. After moving to Minnesota my husband did what I couldn't seem to do for myself, which was spend the money on good winter running clothes. He bought me a pair of running pants that might very well be made of Teflon because I can wear them in subzero temps and not feel even a sliver of cold through those fibers. They cost on the other side of $100 and I am here to tell you they are worth the money (see comment above about avoiding the mental institution if I run through the weather). I also recently discovered a new line called Icebreaker, when they sent me a few items to try out. The clothing is made of Merino wool, intended to be cool in summer and warm in winter. I know you're thinking thick and scratchy. But it's not. It's freakishly lightweight and soft. I say freakishly lightweight because this thin layer I'm wearing in the hot pink number above (the balaclava on my head is Icebreaker, too) keeps me as warm or warmer than many of my heavier tops. I was afraid the first time out that it wouldn't be enough so I wore another layer. I didn't need that second layer on my 20-degree run. I tested the other extreme as well. Went to a heat-cranked yoga class wearing the same top. I wasn't hot. Freakish material. But the best part? Most garments have a "Baa Code" so you can trace your clothing back to the very sheep who supplied the wool for it. Fun for the whole family!

#4 Think reflective. The thing about winter is, it's not just cold, it's dark. On my morning runs I now start and finish in the dark. I might as well be running at midnight. I wrote a post about what to wear in the dark for Innovation for Endurance. Check that out for what running experts around the country recommend.

#5 Don't be afraid to take the kids. Have you ever heard of a Brown Fat Cell? Babies have an abundance of brown fat cells that help regulate body temperature, which eventually diminishes the older a child gets. But this explains why you are shivering in the 3 minutes it takes to get the mail, while your children have been playing in the snow for hours. You know how we argue with them to wear their coat and they protest, "I'm not cold!" Well, believe them. What I'm saying here is, the kids might like to get out with you. If you're pushing a babe in a jogger, though, remember they're only sitting there, so they will need more layers than you who are moving. A weather shield for the stroller is a handy addition to fitness winterization.

Me and Emily Hedges (The Hot Sweaty Friend helping with the Virtual Book Tour) before our Sunday run.
Temp was 32 degree F with a fair amount of wind.

To complete my advice on winter wear, I've got the following chart. This is what I've learned the last nine winters in Minnesota. Trial and error. Everyone's heat making abilities and tolerance for cold is different. Get the right gear and get out there!

Temperature	What to Wear	Extras
50-60° F	In the fall this might feel chilly, but in spring it will feel glorious. Shorts still required, and a light, long sleeve layer (the kind with sleeves that can cover your fingers are nice).	If you’re prone to being cold add something over your head—like a running cap, not a knit stocking—and light gloves.
40-49° F fall &/or no snow	Same as above. For some reason having just spent the summer wearing shorts it’s easier to keep them on and transition gradually.	You might want to make your top layer a little thicker or—especially if it’s windy—add a vest. Now it’s time to consider a hat of some sort and gloves.
40-49° F spring &/or snow	Snow changes everything. Maybe it just looks colder, but I want Capris on bottom.	Same as above.
30-39° F	A pant is now required for me. Nothing heavy-duty, just offering full coverage and a top made to keep out the chill. Hat and gloves are no longer optional for me. I’m also wearing a warmer mitten and hat.	When temps dip below 40 this is when my body and brain disagree. My mind wants to bundle up, but my body will protest 10 minutes into my run. Stick with your one layer (the vest rule still applies) by the end of your run you’ll be glad you did.
20-29° F	Here is where I’m going through my drawer searching for a tight that’s a bit thicker, with a tighter weave. I might wear two layers on top, a light base with a thicker outer layer.	I’m also digging through my drawer looking for my wool socks that come up higher on my ankles. Hate when that little strip of skin between sock and tight get exposed. Also, remember to remove earrings. Freezing metal on earlobes is no good.
0-19° F	Bring on the mack-daddy winter running pants. These are the pants you hold up at the running store and wonder why they are SO expensive. When wearing these tights your legs are in Hawaii. From the waist up I’m wearing the same as above.	I might also add a jacket now or make the jacket my second layer. If the temps are closer to zero I also might add some sort of mask for my face. My heavy duty mittens come out too.
Sub 0° F	I'll get out if cabin fever strikes, but generally more than five degrees below zero and I’m at my limit. Yes, I love to run, but not so much below zero. If I’m training for something and need to run, I’ll find my way to a treadmill. Otherwise there are plenty of other fun ways to move inside.