Happy Halloween! There are 2 things about Halloween I know to be true:

1. We’re all going to stuff our faces with candy, feel bad about ourselves for doing it and be more motivated to run it off tomorrow.
2. Halloween marks the official start of cold weather running!

Halloween is the turning point during the fall when we can officially welcome cold weather to our running (unless you live in Florida – sorry guys!). Although some of you may dread freezing temperatures and single digits on the thermometer, running in cold weather is my absolute favorite. I love training in the winter and do my best running when it’s chilly.

But to enjoy cold weather and winter running, you have to do it right. In honor of Halloween, here are my tricks and treats for running happy when it’s cold.

TRICKS for Running Happy in Cold Weather

• When dressing for cold weather, dress as if the temperature is 15 to 20 degrees warmer than it actually is. After your first mile, your core body temperature will rise and you’ll warm up quickly. Rather than shedding layers and carrying them while you run (annoying!!!), dress for how you’ll feel once you’ve warmed up. When in doubt, less is typically better, at least it is for me.
• Don’t be afraid of shorts and tank tops when the temperatures are in the 40s (F). Ear warmers, arm warmers and gloves can be a great compliment to keep you warm without putting on tights, long-sleeves and jackets … and wishing you didn’t have them later. This is especially helpful if you’re running for several hours and the temperature could change by 10 or more degrees while you’re running. They are easy to take on and off and are not so cumbersome to carry or put in a pocket while running.
• When it is really cold and you feel like your throat is burning from sucking in freezing air, use a trick my dad taught me when I was younger: Put your tongue on the top of your mouth as you keep breathing. This blocks some of the cold air from getting in your lungs, while still enabling you to breathe through your mouth. If this doesn’t help you, blame my dad. *wink*
• Bring hand warmers (typically used for skiing) along with you on your really cold runs (these are like little bags with beads in them that warm up and stay hot for several hours). You can hold them in your hands, put them in your shirt or pants, etc. to help keep your core temperature warm.
• For race days in cold weather and during the winter months, stock up on throw-away clothes from places like Wal-Mart, Goodwill or the Salvation Army where you can find warm clothes at extremely cheap prices. Items like gloves, ear warmers and full zip jackets can easily be taken off and tossed once you fully warm up.
• Carry chap stick or lip balm with you to prevent your lips from getting wind burnt and from licking them to keep them moist while on the run.

TREATS for Running Happy in Cold Weather

Running in the cold is especially fun when you’re dressed appropriately for it. Here are some treats I especially love to keep my body temperature perfectly regulated and running happy in the cold and winter:

Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Arm Warmers

If you’re looking for some arm warmers that really keep you warm, I am loving these ELITE Thermal Fleece Arm Warmers. I wore them on the bike at the Beach2Battleship Half Iron Triathlon and they kept me at the perfect temperature. I really like the elastic binding and silicone gripper they have at the top of the arm warmers to prevent them from falling down or riding up. They also have a specific fit for right and left arm. Two thumbs – er, two arms – up from me on these.

Brooks Running Utopia Softshell II
This jacket is my new cold weather running obsession. I have it in black.

Although it’s incredibly warm, it’s super lightweight and easy to move in. Even better, it has the best thumbholes ever. The thumbholes are a fleece type material that also have a flip mitt to cover your entire hand. However, the best part is that because the thumbholes are under the jacket, you can tuck them in when you’re indoors and not using them. It’s windproof, water-resistent and has a really flattering fit. You’re not going to be able to wait until the holidays for this guy. It is made for men and women.

Brooks Running Infinity Tight III
These tights are perfect for running in places that are cold, but not freezing (32 degrees and above). I love that the inseams are chaff resistant and that there is an invisible back-zip pocket that is moisture proof to keep keys, IDs and other things like a phone dry. For temperatures freezing and below, check out the Utopia Thermal Tight. It is made for men and women

Asics Ear Warmers
I bought these at a race expo last year when I wasn’t expecting the race day temperature to be as cold as it was (packing lesson learned). I’ve really liked these ear warmers ever since and wear them often in the cold weather. The headband is designed to curve around the head for ear and forehead protection against bad weather. It also fits well under a visor.

I am a Brooks Run Happy Blog Ambassador. I received the jacket and tights mentioned above from Brooks for free. Everything I write about Brooks or any other company or product  is always my own unbiased and honest opinion based on my personal experience.

What is your favorite cold weather running tip? What piece of cold weather running gear can you not live without?