Reasons to Run: Five tips for winter running

The other day, I did something I hadn't done in months — set an alarm for 5 a.m., inhaled a high-carb, high-protein breakfast, put on running clothes and waited for my running group to pick me up.

On a Saturday.

You know you're a runner when you get up earlier on Saturdays than on any other day of the week. After a busy summer in which one of us was always out of town, our running group is back to our usual weekend early-morning long runs. I've returned to my running school after a summer of sporadically looking at the assigned reading. And I couldn't be happier.

Last year, I confessed I hated to run in cold weather and, since the "dreadmill" was my only other option, I made it a goal to master cold-weather running. It was a success. I trained for my first marathon (the Ogden Marathon) in the winter and learned to love cold-weather running. This California girl who anticipates summer like a kid anticipates Christmas was actually dreading summer running.

After mastering winter running, I found summer running is just too hot. I can't sneak a run in when my daughter naps because, well, running in the heat of the day is brutal — I can only make it two to three miles before feeling as if I'm going to pass out. It's not just the heat of the day — in Utah, it's hot in the evenings, too. In the summer, my regular running routes are packed with winter hibernators. And I feel like a camel, carrying and drinking insane amounts of water just to stay cool.

I've now seen my usual Saturday running route — the Jordan River Trail — in every season. My favorite is the winter: it's uncrowded and draped in snow. The crisp breeze blows on my face, the cold air fills my lungs, the steam comes off my legs as I sprint to the finish — it's wonderful.

How did I convert to a winter-loving runner? Here are five tips that made winter running an enjoyable element of training for me:

Wear layers: lots and lots of breathable layers. This is key to making winter running enjoyable. My usual winter running gear is Under Armour pants, compression calf sleeves, long-sleeve shirt, tech shirt, jacket, gloves and a beanie. If it gets any colder, I add another layer on top and bottom, extra socks and a ski mask or a scarf over my neck and mouth (so that hot air I exhale will come right back to my body). Since I run a loop on most Saturdays, I often leave clothes on the side of the trail to pick up later, or I just shove clothes into my jacket pocket. My goal isn't to be warm right when I start running — I expect to be cold until I've warmed up after the first five minutes — but to stay warm after the warmup.