Surviving Winter Running (Treadmills & Outdoors)

Winter Running: My Tips and Tricks to Get you Through harsh temps and Boring treadmills

So many people have been asking me how I manage running in these freezing temps! Well, my rule usually is that I will run outside if it is above 20 degrees. When it’s colder than that, I usually hit the treadmill if I had a run planned!

How to survive outdoor running in the winter:

1. Layer appropriately

This is so key to success in winter running! You have to be dressed according to the temperature. My favorite winter running accessories are definitely my long sleeve turtle neck under armour and my running headband/ear band that I got at target! My ears get so cold when running outside and it is a definite must for me to wear a warm winter headband. I also always wear a pair of my nike running tights on bottom. The top layers are where layering becomes important! I usually wear my under armour, then a long sleeve over it, and an under armour sweatshirt over it. That is my go to for cold temps, plus gloves! If it is a bit warmer, I may not wear the long sleeve shirt or will wear a lighter sweatshirt.

I don’t have much else to add about surviving winter outdoor running except to keep yourself motivated! Find a friend, or running partner to hit the trails with you! It will make it way easier and a lot more fun!

Now for the dreaded treadmill running-

Ok, so I am different than most runners in that I usually enjoy running on the treadmill. I am going to share some of my tips to help conquer the treadmill once and for all!

1. NETFLIX!

Seriously. If you plan on doing a long run on the treadmill, Netflix is a must. The only time I really ever watch t.v. is when I am on the treadmill. It is so much easier to push through and knock out 10 miles on the treadmill if you are watching a movie.

2. Cover up the time!

I use this trick all the time. If you are one of those people that constantly looks at the time on the clock then you need to try this tip. I put a towel over the screen so I cannot see how long I have been running for. It helps to not count down the minutes, or to discourage you when you realize you have only run for 12 minutes and it felt like 30. \

3. Change your incline/speed!

Even when I have a “steady” run planned, I still change up the speed. For example, yesterday I ran 10 miles on the treadmill and varied the pace between 7.1-7.5 and the incline from .5-1.0. These are small enough changes to keep your body working hard! If you are doing speed work or progressive runs, change up the speed and incline even more! When I do intervals I switch between 7.5 and 9.0 and when I do progressive runs, I start at 7.0 and end at 8.5. Changing up the time definitely makes the time pass faster for me!

Let me know what your winter running tips are below! How do you survive the treadmill during the winter months? How cold is too cold for you to run outside??