It's taken a while, but long nights and cold mornings are finally hitting Northern California.
With autumn comes a time of adjustment for runners; gone are the 5
a.m. sunrises and 75-degree runs after work, all replaced by pre-dawn
runs at 6:30 a.m. and 50-degree weather after sunset.
The good news is no more heatstroke. The bad
news is, low temperatures and less sunlight can chase runners indoors
during the fall and winter.
With the right gear and some caution, though, there's no reason for
runners to be stuck indoors until spring. Here are a few gear recommendations to help runners stay off the treadmill this winter.
Jacket: Sugoi Versa Jacket/Vest $120, sugoi.com
The Versa jacket is windproof and water-resistant enough to keep you
dry in a light rain. and if you start to warm up, the sleeves (attached
magnetically) can be removed with a quick pull and stored in the
jacket's back pocket.
Gloves and hat: Pearl iZumi Shine Wind Mitt $30 and Barrier Headband $25, pearlizumi.com
The Shine Wind Mitt combines the warmth of mittens with the dexterity
of a pair of gloves. The mitt blocks wind when you need it, and it
folds back and packs away so you can open a Gu without taking the gloves
off. The Barrier Headband keeps your forehead and ears warm, but its
open design allows excess heat to escape.
Headlamp: Black Diamond Sprinter $79.95, blackdiamond.com
The Sprinter's 68-lumen LED bulbs are bright enough to light up the
path ahead while its rear taillight strobe will keep runners visible
from behind. A six-hour battery life keeps it alive on long
early-morning runs.
Brooks' Infinity tights provide a light layer of insulation to give
you just enough warmth, while its bright yellow side panels and
reflective detailing keeps you visible from every angle.
I'll be doing a head-to-head matchup of running pants vs. running tights, so keep an eye out for that in the near future.
