Battling The Winter Blues With One More Mile Running

I have three items that I swear by when it comes to running in cold weather. The first is quite obviously Under Armour. For the longest time I didn't feel as though buying an "expensive turtleneck" was worth it, but after just one use I completely understood why UA is so essential in a runner's wardrobe. If you've been out there hacking it with less expensive imitation products, just invest in ONE piece of cold weather UA gear. It is WELL worth it.

The second is the yellow headband you can see above. My mom actually purchased this for me at a race that ended up being much colder than anticipated this fall. Before having an actual SPORT headband, I was rocking one of those polar-fleece numbers that you get for $3 from Wal-Mart that come with matching gloves. While it did the trick, having a band meant for runners simplified a lot of things. It fits tighter, doesn't give me static-y hair, and it doesn't slip around.

But what I'm here to talk about today are the arm warmers pictured below. They're from One More Mile Running & they were the solution to quite a few of my cold weather-induced running problems.

You can wear them either over your long sleeves for an extra, removable layer or you can use them with a short sleeved shirt like I did below:

$18.99 from OneMoreMileRunning.com

Different phrases are available, but I think mine are pretty sweet

(they say "running is a mental sport and we are all insane")

Here's the thing about running outside in the winter. I love it, I really do - but the first half mile or so absolutely positively blows most of the time. I usually run in the morning, so it's freaking freezing outside in Pittsburgh. Because of this, I always overcompensate with my clothing. Great example - the Zoozilla 5k back in November. Absolutely freezing at the beginning - hated my life about 10 minutes into the race for being a sissy and putting on my t-shirt overtop of my hoodie.

Arm warmers solve this problem because, if you haven't figured out, you can roll them down mid-race. They're not lined with fleece or anything like that, but they do provide that extra layer that protects from the elements. Not gonna lie, I've taken them off and shoved them into my sports bra mid-run a couple of times. Whether you just roll them down to your wrists or you pull a makeshift bra stuff at the mile and a half mark, they're surprisingly lightweight so you won't be left lugging around a big hunk of fabric for the rest of your run.

If you've been struggling with the "I'm cold but I know I'm going to be hot soon but the idea of shedding a layer and standing for 15 minutes at the starting line freezing my ass off doesn't sound appealing" crisis, I'd absolutely recommend these. It's enough coverage and warmth to get you through the chill, and you also won't have to bathe in sweaty hoodie sleeves your entire run. I'd call that a win/win.

Thanks to One More Mile Running for hooking it up. Your witty slogans are 100% my style.

Keep Running,

Kelli