In the winter months, folks who run frequently may feel inhibited from going on their typical outdoor jogs. However exercising outdoors throughout the chillier half of the year may be incredibly helpful for your wellness, giving you excellent cardiovascular exercise and a surge of endorphins. Running in winter, especially, in the UK can be challenging without preparation.
When preparing for running in winter in the UK, you must take certain measures to guarantee that you don’t put yourself in harm’s way.
Warming up before exercise is always necessary, but even more so when your muscles are at danger of getting excessively tense in cold temperatures.
Furthermore, you may need to invest in luminous clothes if jogging during the early or late hours so that cars on the road are aware of your location. Below you will find some helpful winter running tips.
Table of Contents
1. Consider It As Training Your Mind
Not every winter run will be a sunny stroll through the park, and rainy runs will make you enjoy dry runs even more.
The extra difficulty of rainy weather and getting out when you don’t want to is fantastic mental training. It prepares you to push through when the going gets difficult – in the last km of a race for example.
If you’re training for a marathon or a triathlon, it may be pouring on race day, too. All those rainy training runs will ensure you’re equipped and aware of the equipment and mentality that function best in wet conditions.
2. Dress For The Temperature
When it’s pouring outside it’s tempting to wear ALL the layers but you’ll quickly become too overheated. Instead, consider the weather forecast and dress for the temperature.
In most circumstances, a lightweight rain jacket over your typical sweat-wicking running top should be acceptable. On warmer days forgo the jacket – you’ll end up lugging it – and accept the reality you’re going to be somewhat wet.
3. Banish The Chafe
Chafing may happen on any run but add rain and damp clothing into the mix and you’re more likely to experience rubbing.
Lube up with some petroleum jelly. Apply it in the locations you frequently suffer chafing or blisters such as your inner thighs, under your armpits, around your sports bra and on your feet.
4. Collaborate with pals
Motivating oneself to exercise throughout the winter may be challenging, even more so if it requires you to get up at ridiculous hours.
To combat this, you may form a running group with some buddies and go on group runs together, encouraging one another along the way.
5. Wear The Right Gear
Ever heard the adage there’s no such thing as terrible weather, only lousy gear? While it’s not 100 per cent accurate – no running jacket is going to assist you in a rainstorm – the correct equipment may undoubtedly make the difference between a rainy, freezing running in winter and a warm and somewhat dry one.