Hurray for fall running! After a summer slogging it through the D.C. heat, I’ve been loving these crisp morning jog sessions. If you are a longtime follower, you probably know what I’m about to say: I am obsessed with my New Balance Heat Loft jacket for cooler weather running. It is remarkably insulating but not suffocating. I feel like it keeps me at the exact right temperature, and it has a nice light, layerable weight. If you have one of the Tracksmith merino base layers (seen above) beneath the NB heat loft, I swear you are warm enough even if it’s in the 30s. I also saw that a zip-up version is about 50% off here!
More great fall fitness finds below…
ROW 1: SWEATY BETTY THERMA HIGH NECK RUNNING TOP // NIKE SUPERREP 3S // SPLITS59 LEGGINGS AND BRA // LULULEMON SWIFTLY TECH TOP
ROW 2: NEW BALANCE HEATLOFT TUNIC // TORY BURCH LEGGINGS AND BRA // AMAZON HAT // SPLITS59 FLARE LEGGINGS
ROW 3: ODODOS BELT BAG // TRACKSMITH MERINO BASE LAYER // NIKE AIRZOOMS // LULULEMON DEFINE JACKET
ROW 4: VARLEY FREYA PULLOVER // ULTRAS VIRGINIA RUNNING TEE // L. ERICKSON PONY TAIL TIES // TAKEYA WATER BOTTLE
P.S. 200 runs in Central Park. This post always makes me nostalgic.
P.P.S. But! Leaving New York was a major ampersand moment for me.
P.P.P.S. Speaking of ampersands: “A woman contains multitudes.”
Cold weather running is a favorite topic of mine! I have done a lot of honing my wardrobe over the years and here’s what I have determined…figuring out of you are a heavy sweater or not and dressing accordingly is KEY. If you overdress (or dress too heavy in the wrong places), you’ll be sweating too much and soaking your layers, which will then make you colder. Vests over a long sleeve with gloves are great for avoiding this…you keep your core warm and your extremities warm, but your pits have room to breathe. Ditto for a headband vs a full hat- to avoid soaking your hair. I generally only wear a running jacket in the winter if it’s below 25 degrees or it’s really windy. Saucony and New Balance make great tops and jackets.
If you are pear-shaped and carry more fat on your hips/butt/thighs, when it’s below freezing you will need two layers on your legs no matter how insulated your tights seem. Trust me. This is because unlike muscle, fat does not produce heat- it just sits there and slowly freezes so your legs go numb. I layer merino long underwear from Icebreaker (a New Zealand brand) under insulated tights from lululemon. You can get knee-length tights to avoid your knees feeling too constricted. Hot tip, put the long underwear inside the tights first, then pull them both on at once.
And my number one cold weather running tip…do a light warm-up inside before getting dressed so you’re warm but not sweating too much indoors in your layers. THEN, when you return, immediately take everything off. Bra, underwear, everything. Even if you don’t think your clothes are too sweaty, once your body temp drops back down to normal you will get a chill. I like to immediately strip, then throw on a loose sweatshirt/sweatpants for about 15 mins to allow my skin to warm back up before jumping in the shower.
GREAT tips – I’ve never layered on the bottom before, so might have to try that if it gets super cold in these parts. Probably would have been useful in Chicago! Ha!
What vest do you like to run in? I’ve tried a few but they really make me sweaty?
xx
A close-fitting fleece vest usually does it for me. I like Patagonia’s basic ones. I also generally find that close-fitting layers perform better than looser ones in the winter. Less space for cold air to get inside, and allows for sweat to be more easily wicked away as opposed to collecting on the skin.
Thanks for the intel! xx
I have purchased colder running gear haphazardly over the past few years instead of intentionally searching out products I truly love. Can I wear them? Yes. Do I feel good and look forward to wearing them? No! I have high hopes for those Tracksmith merino tops – it’s going on my holiday wish list now.
Ooo I am SO excited for you to experience them. I have both the Brighton and the Harrier and think the Brighton is THE standout, must-have. It’s really soft (non-itchy), breathable, stretchy, AHHH I love it.
xx