AMR Gears Up: Dressing for Winter-Weather Running
Welcome to Another Mother Runner Gears Up our gear testing column! We are going to have #motherrunners put key running gear—capris, headlamps, socks, bras, etc.—to the test, then deliver the results to you so you can grab the gear that works best for your running and body.
AMR Gears Up: Dressing for winter weather – it’s all about the layers!
No doubt you’ve heard some version of the oft-quoted comment attributed to either an explorer or as a Norwegian proverb, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” While the quote has merit, we will be the first to support you if you opt to sweat it out on the treadmill instead of torturing yourself with a tempo run in dangerously bitter temperatures. For that matter, curling up with a steaming mug of cocoa sounds rather nice as well! Marshmallow dreams aside (hot chocolate is also a yummy recovery drink for after a chilly workout), these layering tips will help make your next winter run all the more comfortable, enjoyable, and safe.
How many and what layers you wear depends upon just how cold it is, and if there’s wind or precipitation. While runners in the mountains of Colorado might opt to have every possible bit of skin covered from head to toe during winter outings, a mother runner in more mild zones might find a vest, long-sleeve tee, and capris suffice. The general recommendation is to dress for about 10 to 20 degrees warmer than what the thermometer says (but don’t discount wind chill!). Consider this your mix-and-match guide to layering essentials.
Start with a soft-against-the-skin base layer for your top. Wool is a good fabric because it keeps you warm even when it’s wet (from sweat or precipitation). Avoid cotton in cold weather: It cannot wick sweat fast enough, making it next to impossible for you to stay warm. Look for pieces with flat seams to help prevent chafing. If you heat up quickly, opt for a half-zip tee to allow for some ventilation. The next layer to consider is an insulation piece, something to provide more warmth. Vests can be good for adding warmth without bulk, or a thin fleece or pullover also works. The top layer should have wind- and water-resistance with breathability—you want sweat (yes, you still sweat in the cold) to evaporate, so you stay toasty.
For the following suggestions, we reached out to BAMRbassadors from New England to the Pacific Northwest for their favorite winter running pieces. The upside is all of these pieces are available now, meaning you may even be able to find some of them on sale (hint: now is the time to stock up for next winter!).
Jacket: Saucony Women’s Vigor
Review: This wind and waterproof jacket protects you from the elements (it has bonded seams) with reflective pops for visibility, plus is breathable. Plus, it offers enough stretch to accommodate extra layers when needed. Our tester in New Hampshire has been wearing hers for more than two years for protection from blizzards, sleet, and rain.
Price: $140
Grab it here: saucony.com
Nylon Vest: Asics Lite-Show
Review: AMR co-founder Sarah received this vest in a curated box from Mercury Mile, and it’s become her go-to piece for winter running. “Living in Pacific Northwest, a lightweight nylon running vest is my ideal garment for our winter weather. In rain, it helps keep me dry without making me feel clammy. In chilly temps, a vest keeps my core warm. Because I run hot, I wear a vest even when running in the teens.” This particular vest has a slim fit, with a drop tail, zip pockets, and 360 degrees of reflectivity.
Price: $75
Grab it here: asics.com
Insulated Vest: Brooks Cascadia
Review: According to our tester from “cold and snowy” South Dakota, the Brooks Cascadia Thermal Vest is a must-have during the winter months. She says this is her favorite layer because it keeps her warm on the run, and also looks great with jeans. However, it’s out of stock for the season. That said, you may be able to find it at independent retailers (like REI).
Price: $80
She grabbed it here: brooksrunning.com
Base Layer: Pettet Endurance Project The Milo
Review: Pamela from Massachusetts loves this long sleeve V-neck for its toasty warmth, moisture-wicking abilities, and the fact that it isn’t the least bit itchy. It has a stylish, slim fit, with a longer hem and extra-long sleeves to keep wrists and hands warm.
Price: $60
Grab it here: pettetendurance.com
Tights: Athleta PrimaLoft Ridge
Review: Mary from Ohio, who says 10 degrees F is her lower limit for running outdoors, raves about the warmth and coziness of these tights, calling the zipper pockets “a huge plus.” How cozy are they? Well, the waistband is brushed on the inside for extra softness.
Price: Normally $98, BUT THEY ARE ON SALE RIGHT NOW FOR $53.99!
Grab it here: athleta.gap.com
Tights: Sugoi Midzero Tights
Review: Colleen, our Michigan based tester, says these tights are super warm without being too bulky. She wears them as a single layer down to about 5°F and says she stays plenty warm thanks to the brushed interior finish that wicks away moisture and holds in heat. They have a small interior pocket for your car key or a GU packet, and a rubberized band at the ankle to hold them in place and keep the snow out.
Price: $85
Grab it here: sugoi.com
Socks: Smartwool PhD Run Cold Weather Mid Crew
Review: Again, depending where you run, you may be able to pull on your favorite Balega no-show socks and call it good. But for extra warmth, Stephanie from Colorado chooses these Smartwool beauties. With a no-slip fit and comfortable in any weather wool, these socks will keep your feet (and ankles) happy. When she needs more warmth to the knee, Stephanie grabs her Smartwool Women’s PhD Ski Medium Socks (wear them under your tights to prevent them from collecting snow).
Price: $21
Grab it here: smartwool.com
Winter Hat: Pink Badass Mother Runner Running Beanie
Review: Our audience may be biased, but several testers said these beanies, made by BoCo Gear, are their absolute favorites!
Price: $22
Grab it here: motherrunnerstore.com
Gloves: Head Sensatec Touchscreen Ladies Digital Running Gloves
Review: Deanna from Nebraska loves these gloves because they are warm and priced right. In fact, she has no less than three pairs in her car at all times just in case. With special pads on fingertips, you can change podcasts on your phone or turn on Strava without exposing your paw to the elements!
Price: $17
Grab it here: walmart.com
More Essentials: Saucony Peregrine 8 ICE+
Review: With a special Vibram outsole and a water-resistant upper, these super-grippy shoes keep feet dry and, most importantly, rubber to the road in ice, slush, and snow. These shoes allow you to run without adding cleats through nearly all winter white stuff. Mother runner Heather from “cold and snowy” South Dakota swears by them.
Price: $150
Grab it here: saucony.com
More Essentials: Kahtoola Nanospikes
Review: Colleen, who runs outside through Michigan winters, calls these spikes 100% necessary. “They keep me confident and safe on ice, snow, or whatever else falls out of the sky. They are very easy to pull on and take off, and they stay in place no matter what. I’ve run up to 14 miles on them (including speedwork), and they have been amazing.” (SBS also is a fan, saying they keep her upright on frozen fog–a Portland specialty–and on ice-crusted snow.)
Price: $50
Grab it here: kahtoola.com
More Essentials: Buff Multifunctional Headwear
Review: With hundreds of styles and a variety of fabrics, our testers from across the country appreciate the versatility of Buffs, calling them their “all-time favorite piece of winter gear.” Wear them as hats, neck warmers, headbands, over your mouth to protect lungs from cold air: Like Survivor contestants show, there’s no limit to the possibilities!
Price: $20
Grab it here: buffusa.com
Check out all of the Gears Up Columns Here!
Did we miss your favorite winter running layer?
Disagree or agree with the reviews?
Let us know in the comments below; it takes a #motherrunner village to be outfitted in the perfect gear!
Our Favorite Podcasts for Runners
We might be a bit biased, but the Another Mother Runner podcast is our absolute favorite! Yet occasionally we want to a non-running show, whether we’re listening while pounding out the miles, cleaning the house, gardening, or commuting.
Here are a few of our favorites to add to your list. (And if you’re new to the podcast scene, host Sarah walks you through how to download + listen, at the bottom of this post.)
Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone
A welcome antidote to the myriad true crime podcasts—and yes, I listen to those too—Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone is just plain fun. Every week, she and her co-host, Adam Felber, bring on two experts to give advice on everything from Monopoly (don’t buy Boardwalk and Park Place!) to tattoo removal. The best part, though, is the house band (rotates weekly: usually a local musician), the laughter coming from the people crammed into the studio, and the unexpected places the conversations meander. — Dimity
Everything Is Alive
A joyful, slightly absurdist podcast hosted by the charming Ian Chillag, who does one-on-one unscripted interviews with…inanimate objects. (Okay, they’re really comedians.) Who knew a can of cola or a lamppost (my two favorite episodes!) had such deep thoughts and insight to share? The show makes me laugh–and think. Season Two just kicked off. —Sarah
Why Won’t You Date Me?
Warning: If you listen to this podcast other than in the comfort of your own home, you should be comfortable with laughing in public. A lot. Comedian and actress Nicole Byer (Girl Code, Nailed It!) tries to answer her own question every week with fun guests and pressing topics. —Maggie, AMR Social Media Manager + Podcast Co-Host
On Being with Krista Tippett
Pretty much every Sunday morning, I go for an hour-ish run while the sun comes up and listen to this podcast. I love the range of guests she gets and the smart, smart, vaguely spiritual, and deeply intellectual conversations she has with thinkers and creators. Some favorites have included Tracy K. Smith (my current literary crush), Bobby McFerrin (delightful: he sings!), Maria Popova (so smart it makes my brain hurt), Alain de Botton (on love and work), and poet Mary Oliver. Everyone needs to load that one up in their listening queues right now; it fills me with joy and inspiration. —Tish, AMR Columnist + Podast Co-Host
99% Invisible
This deeply nerdy podcast never fails to engage and delight me, even if I’ve never given a single thought to what my voice-crush Roman Mars is talking about. A recent standout is this episode on color and Articles of Interest, which is a series about clothing. Remember: Always Read the Plaque. —Adrienne, AMR Columnist
Finding Mastery with Michael Gervais
Gervais is a high-performance psychologist who brings on those at the top of their game in sports, life, and business. As a trained psychologist, he has an ability to dig deep with the right questions and weave the dialogue together into the bigger picture of what it takes to achieve high performance on the path to mastery. —Coach Liz, Triathlon + Running by Heart Rate Coach
We Couldn’t Help But Wonder
It’s a discussion of all of the “Sex and the City” episodes. I recently started watching the series because I had never seen it before. And since I’m the last person on Earth to do so, I don’t have anyone that I can chat about it with! So I found this podcast of two friends discussing the episodes. It’s quite amusing though sometimes it’s a little explicit, as the show isn’t exactly family-friendly. So that’s a no-kids-around-podcast! —Coach Jenn, Train Like a Mother Club 5K + Relay Training Programs
Not sure how to listen to a podcast?
If you’re an iPhone user open the purple Podcast app (to the left)) and start searching for shows by name.
If you’re an Android user, Stitcher is a good free app. (Start with Another Mother Runner, please!)
On the search returns page, click on the show you want. Then tap on the + sign next to an episode that interests you. To download the episode (meaning you can listen to it when you are offline, great for running), tap the little cloud icon next to episode description.
If you know for sure you want to listen to more episodes, click on the Subscribe button. Then, when a new episode hits, you’ll be notified and have the choice to download it.
Want a few more details? Here’s a super helpful step-by-step guide.
Spotify is also an increasingly popular platform for podcast-listening. And there are myriad free podcast apps, including Soundcloud and TuneIn Radio. Pocket Casts is a very popular app as well; it’s available for a small fee.
Need more suggestions?
If these suggestions haven’t triggered your phone-tapping finger, the Week in Podcasts is one of our absolute favorite sources. Fun fact: Michael Yessis, who complies this newsletter, is the only person who was a guest at the weddings of both Dimity and Sarah!
What podcasts are you enjoying the heck out of right now?
#352: Single Mother Runners, and How They Get It All Done
Sarah Bowen Shea and Tish Hamilton chat with three single mother runners about how they juggle all the demands of parenting, running, work, and life. The first guest is Bethany Mazura, a mom of two young sons in Albany, New York, where she works as an attorney. Bethany reveals she re-started a stalled running habit because she “needed a goal to restart” her life post-divorce. Marvel at how she then not only knocked out a marathon, but also a 50K! She shares her secrets of a yin-yang balance of tight scheduling, yet also being flexible. Bethany also talks about why a coach is such a worthwhile investment.
Next is Susan Landolt of Hillsboro, Oregon, who also runs ultramarathons. This widowed mom of four, including two youngsters, confesses seeing a treadmill almost makes her cry as it reminds her of the countless pre-dawn miles she put in on a ’mill in her garage. Susan tells how she manages to tackle 60 miles in a week (!!) in addition to working full-time, finishing a business degree, and solo parenting. (“I don’t have time for shenanigans.”) Yet find out why she watched 31 continuous minutes of Netflix on the final day of January. The final mother runner is Julie Burke of Greensboro, South Carolina, who has run on both sides of the proverbial street: Starting at age 16, Julie was a single mom to her older daughter, and now Julie is married with two more kids. Julie talks about how she worked in workouts, including ones with her young daughter by her side. After describing the “relentlessness of single parenting,” Julie reminds all parents to “have patience with yourself–and your kids.”
Nuun drinking game: Chug every time a guest admits all her friends are other runners. In the introductory chitchat, all roads lead to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park—it’s where SBS will be running this weekend, and it’s where Tish gutted out a New York City Marathon-qualifying race. The first guest hops on at 9:00.
Start your vitamin ritual today at ritual.com/amr
Dry Martini: 13.1 in New Orleans
Usually, no matter how tired I am before the start of a race, I get excited once I’m lining up to get my run on. I can be at a race with 50 other runners where the starting line is a couple of orange cones and a guy with a whistle. Or I can be in a corral with several hundred of my closest friends and the actual starting line is miles and miles away on the horizon. Regardless, there’s at least one moment or two when I’m thrilled to be on the verge of a run.
That feeling was 100% absent at the starting line of the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans on Feb.10. Instead of that butterflies-in-my-belly woo-hoo-this-is-fun moment, all I thought was, “I guess I’m doing this.”
And, reader, I did it.
The NOLA crew: Christine (who ran the 10K), Lisa, me, Heather, and Ariel
My lack of enthusiasm has nothing to do with the race itself, mind, or the company, the weekend, or New Orleans. It was a “meh” of my own that arrived unexpectedly.
Any runner who has run for longer than a couple of weeks knows that your feelings about lacing up your shoes and hitting the streets wax and wane. Most days, you just kind of do it because you know you’ll feel better when you do. Every now and again, you’re like a kid on her birthday, ready to rip some paper off of your gifts. Then there are the days when a root canal sounds more appealing, if only because you won’t have to move too much.
Sunday was that sort of day. I wasn’t sick. I wasn’t all that tired. I was just the runner equivalent of a shrug.
The previous 36 hours had been great fun, however. The four of us — BRF Lisa, Ariel, and Coach Christine — each had our own list of things to do in the Big Easy. Christine and Ariel were all about the music. Lisa and I took in a Pod Save America taping. The next day, BAMR Heather caught up with us for coffee and dinner.
Mostly, though, there was wandering and eating. Because New Orleans.
The four of us sample gator. It was fine.
All of the wandering and eating caught up with me at mile two, when my tummy starting rumbling. As it turns out, beignets and po’ boys and blackened gator are terrible race fuel. Shocking, I know. I am happy to be your cautionary tale.
Nothing overly catastrophic happened — but I did experience the finest port-a-potties in all of the city. Which were really just standard port-a-potties but some had strings of beads in them. So, you know, sort of festive.
I never once thought about bailing on the race. One: I wasn’t in active pain, just vaguely uncomfortable; and, two: I wanted to check Louisiana off of my 50 state map. And I am nothing if not goal driven.
I did perk up around mile 12, if only because I knew the finish line was close. I even sprinted the last quarter-mile, which fortunately when the rest of my posse saw me. They claimed I looked all eye-of-the-tiger then. Really, I was just so happy to be nearly done.
BRF Lisa and I in our corral. I cannot see a stop sign without mentally adding “hammer time.”
That afternoon, after a shower and a sandwich, I did one of the smarter things I’ve done, which is head to a local spa for a massage. If you are able both to spend both the dollars and time, I highly recommend this. My happy haze lasted all day.
Then I flew home, where I learned a very important lesson.
The flights both down and back went well. Thanks to the advice on my last post, I made a point of sitting in a window seat near the middle of the plane, where turbulence is less, um, turbulent. Whenever it would get bumpy, I visualized myself in a boat on the ocean. I added a mantra from The Bloggess and Neil Gaiman, too: Pretend You’re Good At It, which is excellent life advice that comes in handy when 30,000 feet in the air.
No, my lesson came after I landed in Albany. My bag did not make the same trip.
Which wasn’t the end of the world. I was on my way home and have plenty of clean underpants there, too.
As I was describing my bag and its contents to the woman tasked with finding it, I realized that my coat was in my bag.
“I’ll just need to run to my car …. oh.”
I might have dropped an f-bomb.
Because at that very moment I realized that I’d left my car keys in my coat pocket, which was in my suitcase, which was somewhere else.
I did all of the things you do. I called my husband and the Subaru dealer and AAA. The last two were no help. My husband, who is a mensch, decided to drive the hour to the airport. It would put him there just after the next flight from BWI, which is where we figured my bag had wandered off.
I spent the next few hours practicing my super power, which is killing time. I knitted. I farted around on my phone. I ate an indifferent breakfast sandwich from Dunkin Donuts because it was the only place open on my side of security and I was starving.
Then a miracle occurred.
My little red suitcase was on the next flight from Baltimore and we were reunited. Not in enough time to save my spouse from what would turn out to be a pointless trip to the airport, mind — but we can’t have everything.
Am I the only one who has “meh” runs?
When was your last one?
I Am Capable: a Runner’s Intention at Rancho La Puerta
We wish all you BAMRs could have joined us earlier this month in Mexico for our first-ever international Retreat. But since just 21 of you were at Rancho La Puerta, I (Sarah) wanted to share a bit of the classes + vibe with you.
We’re currently in the planning stage for a repeat Retreat, possibly February 8-12, 2020.
The (surprising-to-me) lush and verdant grounds of Rancho La Puerta.
I am capable.
The Yoga for Runners instructor has just asked us to set our intention for our stay at Rancho La Puerta, and those three words pop into my head like kernels of corn on a hot, oil-slicked pot.
I let the phrase roll around in my head for a minute, deciding if it resonates.
Yeah. Yeah. It does.
It really shouldn’t: My 50-something body is as limber as a stone pillar. And I’m all about cardio and strength training, not bendy, inward-looking classes. In the last two decades, I’ve taken perhaps a grand total of five yoga classes.
Retreater Holly and I in a barre class, a setting I’m more comfortable in thanks to a weekly class I take in Portland.
When I sit cross-legged on a throne of blocks and blankets, my hips don’t allow my knees to point toward the floor; when we lay on our backs to raise our hips gradually by rolling up one vertebra at a time, my pelvis and board-like back raises like the rear gate on my minivan. Still, thanks to the gentle, accepting guidance of the curly-haired instructor, I am awash in a comforting, confident sensation when I silently repeat in my head:
I am capable.
That afternoon in Cardio Drum Dance, my palms are slick with nervous sweat as I clench the plastic baton-like percussion sticks each of us dancers use to beat on the heavyweight lids of rubber garbage cans. About 18 of us face the front mirror in the beautiful wood-timbered dance studio, and I feel dorky and self-conscious. Twice in the first 20 minutes of class, one of the plastic sticks flies out of my hand, and I laugh nervously as I stoop to pick it up and catch back up with the moves the instructor is leading us through. Step-cha-cha right, bang once on my neighbor’s ersatz drum; step-cha-cha left pound twice on my own drum.
Taking out the garbage and recycling now makes me laugh, remembering the Cardio Drumming class. (So great, I took the class twice!)
Yet as the dance sequences get a bit longer and more complex (step back left, rotate, bang on diagonal neighbor’s drum; rotate back to own drum and pound twice; step back right, rotate…), I’m smiling broadly as I feel the rhythm flow from through my long limbs. I recall the choreography sequences, one after another, as the well-muscled instructor links them together for a final song.
I am capable.
Maria and I answering the siren call of heading back to the Ranch.
The next morning, our posse of Retreaters head out to trail run with ultramarathon man Dean Karnazes. Heavy grey clouds hang low over the lush green landscape, threatening rain. The reddish-sand trail is smooth, largely free of ruts and holes, but the rolling terrain seems to have a few more ups than downs. We have the option of running 5.5 miles or 4 miles. I am excited to take several more dance classes plus a barre session so when we reach the “Ranch 1 Mile” turnoff, I headed back with Maria, another Portland-area Retreater. I definitely could cover more distance but decide not to overdo it.
I am capable.
Just after sunrise, I shiver as I walk toward the activities pool: The temperature is hovering around 40-degrees Fahrenheit and a light mist is falling. Steam rises from the pool, obscuring the tranquil aqua-colored tile lines that stripe the 25-yard pool. As I ply back and forth the length of the pool, alone in the hypnotically warm water, I marvel at the chance to swim outdoors. Tall oak and palm trees frame my view of the sky when I turn my head every fourth stroke. I do open turns at the end of each lap because flip-turns make my low backache. I feel my quads contract pleasantly as I push off the wall.
I am capable.
Few things make me happier than swimming outdoors.
And like a refrigerator magnet, T-shirt, or other souvenir, I brought the phrase home with me. Last week on a solo run in a steady, unusually heavy rain, I was climbing a long, steady hill. Breathing heavily and dodging puddles, it once again sprang into my brain: I am capable.
#351: Recovery: What It Is, and How to Make It Beneficial
Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell welcome Christie Aschwanden, author of the just-released GOOD TO GO: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery, to talk about, you guessed it, recovery. Christie, a former competitive runner and Nordic skier, tells how people undervalue recovery—and how that oversight can limit people. Learn what she deems the most important recovery “tool,” as well as why runners should have something ritualized that helps them recover. A “coffee nap”: Find out how this seeming-oxymoron can be beneficial (and how to take one!). Christie stresses the importance of accepting stress and how it can impact your body and mind. The trio talks about why you don’t want to disrupt the inflammatory cycle after a hard workout or race. After trying myriad recovery methods and tools, for her book, Christie shares her favorite—and least favorite—therapies, including the one that finally quieted her “monkey mind.”
In the intro, the AMR duo recounts some of their favorite experiences at Rancho La Puerta. Laugh along as Dimity tosses out the phrase, “beginning stripteasers.” And Sarah explains why she tossed out the “micro-dosing” call. Christie joins the episode at 13:55.
Listen to Murder Book, a new true crime podcast hosted by bestselling author Michael Connelly, and check out Dark Sacred Night, Connelly’s latest #1 bestselling detective novel.