Comments on: Welcome! Can I steal your sweat-wicking outer garments?

By: Mrs. Duffy

Mrs. Duffy — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:30:59 +0000

Hi PQ! Target has that C9 stuff from Champion, which is pretty awesome because it’s as good as nike or whatever and much much CHEAPER. Under Armour insulated tights are pretty great, too. It’s true – you do warm up quickly when you run. I have a little, thin sweat wicking hat & glove set and a light running jacket that looks like a windbreaker but actually makes me too hot in anything warmer than 30 degrees. Not that -12 windchill is anything like 30 degrees, but, well… nevermind. Be brave! I’ve been wussing out all week long, and we were ten degrees warmer than you. :)

By: eva

eva — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:33:36 +0000

wow. i admire anyone out there running in this weather. i live in rochester,ny and i get mad when i have to walk to my car in this COLD.

By: Miss_Thing

Miss_Thing — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:07:06 +0000

Hi PastaQueen – living in the icy land known as Vermont, I have a few suggestions you might find helpful. I highly recommend tech fabric wicking baselayers, which will help keep you warm and dry and are thin enough to wear under a fleece. I like the brand Moving Comfort quite a bit; they also make plus size tops and bottoms (yay!). They also have a great line of sports bras. Stonewear Designs is also a good brand. For socks, I recommend wool, which is best for wicking sweat and providing warmth – Smart Wool is a well-known brand. I also recommend getting a pair of wind pants that you can wear leggings under (mine are from New Balance). And of course, I can’t stress the importance of a warm hat enough! I’ve gotten most of my workout gear through the Sierra Trading Post and gotten great deals (more than 50% off retail!). Hope this helps!

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:16:39 +0000

What helps me is that, on the cold mornings, for the weekly long run, I do my warm up inside (I have a treadmill and walk for 5-10 minutes) and then rush outside to start my run. I stay warm and eventually heat up to the point where I’m comfortable. Gloves, a hat and multiple layers are necessary for me. Also, what helps me survive the winter is that I do all my weekday training runs and cross training indoors and only run outside for the Saturday long runs. I can tolerate the cold at least one day a week. Once the weather warms up, I run outside most everyday.

I’ve run the Indianapolis Mini for 5 years, and each year, without fail, I train through a cold, damp, windy, snowy and sometimes rainy winter. But, come Mini day, it’s always been hot and humid. You train for 4 months in the cold, snow and ice and then run the Mini in the heat and humidity. Go figure! But, I’ve always found that the hassle of the winter weather melts away once you cross the finish line.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:22:03 +0000

Good luck finding good gear at Target. I’m finding their women’s workout clothing really lacking this year. (I’m about a women’s size medium so the men’s stuff is all too big for me– but it was great when I was even a little bit bigger.)

Atlanta, try a neck gaiter that you can pull up over your mouth until you get warm. (Plus hat or earband, of course.)

Not sure if it’s okay to post links, but campmor.com and sierratradingpost.com are good sources for discounted athletic gear online.

By: Manic Mommy

Manic Mommy — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:04:55 +0000

Just thinking about the smell of Aqua Net is giving me a headache!

By: Steve v4.6

Steve v4.6 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:18:37 +0000

All I can say is wow and what an inspiration. Your transformation is wonderful.

By: Marshmallow

Marshmallow — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:18:32 +0000

Oh dear, you’re more than welcome to swap your climate with mine – I would much rather run in the snow than in the sweltering heat. My personal trainer used to be in the israeli military, and he says hands down, working in the snow beat working in the desert any day of the weak. I second that. That being said, you’re running your 5K on the same day I do my triathlon. What were we thinking?!

By: JoLynn Braley

JoLynn Braley — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:55:31 +0000

How great that you’re in training for a marathon, it sounds like you’ve run them before? I’m not a runner but I do fast/paced walking, mainly on the treadmill… although I don’t mind the cold either since my greatest love is downhill skiing. You bundle up a lot more for skiing than you do if you’re going running, though, and if I walk outside I get pretty warm once I get going. :)

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:44:54 +0000

The windchill in Chicago this morning was -10. Yikes. The scary part is that I actually have a friend that has developed his own sub zero running kit because he hates running on the treadmill that much.