Keep Your Feet Warm on Winter Runs
Thursday December 4, 2008
One of the biggest complaints I hear about running outside in the cold weather is, "I hate when my feet are cold!" Get over your cold feet with these tips for keeping your toes warm on those winter runs.
- Wear the right socks. Be sure to wear a good pair of wicking socks made of fabrics such as acrylic, CoolMax, or wool. Never wear cotton socks (in cold or warm weather) when running because they won't wick away the moisture, leaving your feet wet and at risk for frostbite. Check out these suggestions for cold weather running socks.
- Put hand warmers in your running shoes. Some runners on the team that I coach swear by Grabber Hand Warmers for really cold days. They're easy to use: Just take them out of the package and put them inside your sock, on top of your toes. Once your feet warm up, you can take them out so you don't overheat.
- Choose the right shoes. For cold weather running, look for a running shoe with as little mesh as possible, since that's where the cold wind or water will get through to chill your feet. If you can't avoid running in the snow or slush, you may want to think about buying trail running shoes, which are somewhat water-proof and will give you a little more traction in the snow.
This article swears by silk socks, but how do they fare for running? And what about electric socks that skiiers use?