Having been at this running malarkey for just over a year, I have officially been through a seasonal cycle as a runner, and there’s sometimes been nothing tougher to contend with.
Take this weekend – glorious weather, beautiful sunshine…and temperatures reaching up to 35c. Beautiful, right? Runners may not agree! At Park Run yesterday I saw conflicted people running in layers, in barely everything, as they normally would – no one quite knew what to do! And do I really try and carry my water round or do I just hope for the best (i.e. not collapsing in a heap and being trampled on by PB seekers?)?
And it doesn’t get any easier when it’s cooler. Autumnal temperatures are confusing – jacket or no jacket? Long tights or short? Sunglasses or risk being blinded by low glare? Gloves in that mild chill or will it get warmer?
The winter comes…what temperature means what? Is that really sunshine or is it a faux warmth? How will my body temperature fare against minus degrees? If you’re like me this is a real battle, I get incredibly hot when running so figuring out my clothing is incredibly difficult.
My solution to all weathers? I’ve genuinely started a record of what worked in what temperatures. Over 10 degrees? Shorter trousers and and a t shirt, maybe gloves. Glorious sunshine over 18 degrees means wear shorts, t shirt or vest top, and bullying myself into realising it’s not a failure to stop for a drink if it keeps me alive!
And then having the right equipment – sounds simple, but next time you’re running in the rain, spot how many runners are in cotton hoodies. No good for you at all, but you see it everywhere, and with shops like Decathlon offering running waterproofs at £15 it’s not overly expensive to kit yourself out. Likewise, wearing acrylic gloves instead of running ones – Sports Direct do running gloves for under a fiver, give your fingers and your body heat a break! I put off buying running sunglasses for ages because I thought they’d be expensive – ridiculous and untrue at either of the aforementioned retailers! The right gear can change your stamina, your wellbeing and your mindset, so invest to reap the rewards.
It’s about knowing yourself as much as recognising the outdoor conditions – how does your body cope? Do you keep quite cool or melt after a mile like me? When do you need water or snack breaks? How much energy will see you through a 10K on a hot day versus a winter evening? It’s all about the mindfulness of running, so start tracking how you weather the weather to make sure that, rain or sun, you can be the best runner job are.
