Dressing to Run

If you haven’t been running a lot before, or at least have never been able to make a habit of it, you might be unaware of all of the little things that can make or break your run. One of these “minute details” that might not be so minute is the clothing you choose to wear – if you wear the right kind of clothing for your body and for the environment, you’ll have a much more pleasant experience. If not, you might find yourself stuck with some painful memories, all in the name of exercise.

It doesn’t have to be that way, so consult this quick list of different clothing strategies that take different variables into account:

-Know your weather.

If you live in a state closer to the north pole than others, than you’re going to have to work with a greater variety in the seasons, perhaps, than other states. You’ll have to be ready for summer runs, fall runs, winter runs, and spring runs – that is, if you plan on making running one of your long-lasting habits. So how do you know what to do? Here are some basic tips.

-In winter, overdress.

It’s easy to be warm and to remove a hat and some gloves than it is to be freezing outside – you’ll always want to err on the side of being warmer when it comes to those tough, cold winters.

-In summer, underdress.

Short shorts and a T-shirt are plenty, and you might find that your body heat will warm you up over the course of a run, even if it’s overcast outside and there’s a little rain spraying you.

-Dress light.

Dressing light applies to every season, most of all summer and least of all winter. In winter, you’ll probably want to sacrifice the change in weight in order to stay warmer, but on those cool summer nights, you can get away with some short shorts and even without a shirt (if you feel like showing off). Don’t underdress for winter, especially, but don’t carry to many materials with you during the other months that you feel like slowing down and stopping. Get windbreaking material that is light but weather-resistant.

-Know your undergarments.

You’ll want soft, durable material that can withstand the constant friction of legs rubbing near each other; otherwise, you’ll end up with an unfortunate situation of “chub rub.” This is a painful experience for many, so be sure that you’ve tried out your underwear or bought some underwear made specifically for athletics – believe me, it will help you when you’re a few miles into your run.

Photo Credits: Glorius

Originally posted 2009-03-16 05:51:26.

This post involves:

body heat, cold winters, cool summer, exercise, gloves, habit, light dressing, little rain, minute details, north pole, overcast, painful memories, running one, short shorts, summer nights, t shirt, underdress, variables, weather

... and focuses on:

Running

Posted by Bike Swim Run on October 29, 2009 in Running. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.