Running in colder weather can affect your performance. Just
like anything else when it comes to sports, you have to prepare your body for
the change in order to overcome the issue and achieve your goals. In this case,
we will discuss some strategies in persevering through the cold so you can
finish your upcoming race in the desired timeframe that you want to. Just
because it’s cold, doesn’t mean running season is over! So, here we go, let’s
talk about some tips for cold-weather running:
1.
Acclimatization.
This is a super fancy word that basically means if you train in the cold,
you’ll be able to perform in the cold. By introducing your body to these
temperatures a little at a time, you will be able to adapt and thus excel. The
same concept applies to preparing for extreme heat. This repetitive exposure
helps to improve blood flow and regulate it as needed. So, in order to achieve
this, it’s simple: run outside whenever you can and as much as you can prior to
your winter race.
2.
Wear Easy
Layers. And by easy, I mean easy to carry because you are more than likely
going to be peeling off those layers as you run your race. We all know how it
works: you start out freezing, then as your blood starts pumping from your
increased heart rate, you begin to get warmer (even if it is snowing out). To
sum it all up, wear layers that you can wrap around your waist or tuck in a
strap real quick. With this strategy, you can adjust along the way, so you
don’t end up being too warm.
3.
Start
with Your Hands and Head. We lose a lot of heat through these outlets. At
the beginning of the race, make sure you have gloves and a hat to keep that
heat in and keep the energy to help you get going. Of course, you can always
take them off as you warm up once you are further into the race. Keeping your
hands and head warm at the start can make all the difference in your
performance.
4.
Warm-Up …
Outside. Warming up before any form
of physical activity is essential, we all know that. However, when you’re about
to take it outside to run, especially before a race, try and do your warm-ups
and stretching outside in the cold. This not only attributes to the
acclimatization aspect, but also prevents any sweating to occur pre-workout
that might make you even colder when you step outdoors to take off.
5.
Listen to
Your Body. That’s the bottom line. Some temperatures are not meant to
battle with. If it’s too cold, then OK – take it inside. We only progress when
we do the right thing, and sometimes that means knowing when to stop pushing
through. So, maybe on that one day where it’s freezing, rainy and windy, you
practice at the gym. Above all, your body knows what’s best for you, so take a
listen!
This article was
provided by Happy Can, an Atlanta portable
restroom company. We are a proud provider of porta potties and portable
sinks for some of the top Atlanta-area races.
