Good morning!
Winter has not officially kicked in yet, but the temperatures have certainly let us know that it is knocking at the door. Even here in North Carolina, we had to dawn a few more layers yesterday before setting out for our run. For me, that meant I got to wear my newest NFLR quarter zip, which was really awesome. Kathy had on the original NFLR quarter zip, and also wore a headband and gloves. No doubt back in Dover the Winter Pacers were all bundled in NFLR apparel, along with winter weather clothing. Looking at the 10-day forecast, it appears that her in North Carolina and to the north in New Hampshire, will enjoy some perfect running weather.
What is the optimal running temperature? Based on the normal raise in body temperature as we progress in a run, the optimal running temperature is 42°. While that seems fairly cold to many, and it may be initially, our body temperature goes up 20° fairly quickly and that math puts us at 62°. Running at 62° is best for our bodies functioning and overall performance.
The problem that we freeze while standing around before starting a race or just waiting for the group to be ready, as well as the time it takes for our body temperature to rise to a comfortable level. Most runners know the trick of layering and some even have a plan to take layers off as the run. I do not usually layer smartly, but instead, I dress minimally and deal with the early chill. Depending on your tolerance, is usually the best way to determine your strategy. My experience has shown that most people tend to overdress and that can be problematic. 55° may seem really cold and that may lead us to wear a thicker top and running pants, but once our body temp increases by at least 20°, our running becomes that much harder. Depending on the distance, that increased body temperature can really become a problem.
This is a challenging time of the year to figure out what to wear, so put a little thought into it and do not just think about the immediate feel.
Have a great Sunday and a super week!
God Bless!
Mike
