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If outdoor running is your preferred mode of exercise, there are some things to consider to make sure that the journey is a safe one and most productive as possible…especially in the winter. Here are some tips.

Choose Your Clothing Properly

It is important to add some layers for warmth when you are running outside in the cold, but you do not need to bundle up as much as you would if you were just heading out for a day of strolling around. Your body temperature heats up a lot when you run, so you want to dress as if it’s about 15 to 20 degrees warmer than it actually. That means that you’ll probably feel cold when you leave the house, but as you get going you should not be overly hot. Layering with a shell jacket over the long sleeve shirt is a good option, since you can take it off if you get too warm.

Wear Reflective Gear

During the winter you might be dealing with conditions like rain and snow that affect driver visibility, so it’s important to wear your reflective gear even during the day. If you don’t want to buy a whole new wardrobe of reflective gear, at least get some strips you can put on your clothing or a strobe that clips on.

Choose Good Shoes

Normal running shoes can be fine for the rain but if you need more traction you might consider putting on a traction device to prevent unnecessary slipping.

Adjust Your Form

If you are running outside where it might be slippery, adjusting your form can help you prevent having any slips. To avoid slipping on water or ice you can shorten your stride a bit and keep your feet closer to the ground. Fresh snow is always going to be safer to run on than packed snow in case there’s some hidden ice or slippery spots.

Run Into the Wind

If you angle your run to run into the wind, you can avoid getting overly chilled on your way back when you’re all sweaty.  It can be a cold way to start, but it won’t be as cold as it would be to be running into the wind on your way back. Obviously this only makes sense if there is some real wind going on and if you have the option of switching directions on your route.

Always Consider if Outdoors is the Best Option

Running outside can be a lot more interesting than running on a treadmill, but certain days it can be better to just call it a loss and head to the gym. You don’t want to put yourself in danger with extreme weather and you also don’t want to risk over chilling yourself when the temperature is just too cold.

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