A couple words about running in the winter before sunrise:
First, check the Internet for the temperature & wind chill. Overdressing for a run can be as uncomfortable as underdressing … but not as dangerous. For any temperature above 40 degrees a T-shirt & shorts along with good running shoes is sufficient. At 40 degrees you’ll start out chilly but feel fine after the first mile. Between 35–40, a sweatshirt added to your ensemble is good. Between 28-35 degrees, I add a pair of gloves & a knit cap. Anything under 28 degrees requires sweatpants: light ones in temps above 20, heavier ones for the teens & lower. Once it’s in the teens I add a second sweatshirt with a turtleneck & a hat that completely covers my ears. For single digits I also tie the hood of my sweatshirt over my hat. For wind chills below zero, I wear a face mask & add an extra pair of sweatpants. When wind chills are in the double digits, I run in the gym.
On top of it all you need to have something fluorescent & reflective. Never assume that the people in the cars can see you or that they care about your welfare — there are a few people out there who actually enjoy watching you jump out of the way. Next week we’ll discuss weather conditions.
Who cares? you ask. Anyone thinking about adding a morning run to their exercise routine. Okay, maybe that’s nobody reading this column. Let’s try this then: everyone reading this will one day die. Are you prepared for what comes next?