I'm not going to lie. Bitterly cold temperatures and windchills, not to mention snow and ice, have made it tough to get out for my scheduled runs recently.
Don't get me wrong. Winter training in New York City is always hard and this isn't my first rodeo, but I don't remember it being this cold when I trained for the Boston Marathon last winter.
Regardless, the TCS London Marathon is about two months away and my training for it is about to kick into high gear. Having friends to run with a couple times a week has been key in making sure I stick to my training plan and so has the right winter gear.
This weather has given me plenty of opportunities to put some of the latest winter running gear through some of the toughest conditions a runner could experience. That in itself is pretty nerve-racking. You can't tell by looks how much warmth a base layer, pair of tights or hoodie is going to provide. More than once I headed out on a run and found that I had worn too much or too little.
At the same time, winter running gear can get pretty pricey. I don't mind paying for performance (within reason) but there's nothing worse than shelling out big bucks for something that turns out to be just OK.
Here's a look at some of my favorite winter and other top running gear.
It's a fact: Runners love socks. Feetures
Runners love socks
When I was a kid, I used to groan when I'd find socks in my Christmas stocking. Now I get excited.
Runners don't cut corners when it comes to socks. They can make the difference between finishing a race happy and limping to the end with bloody feet.
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