How to Run in Cold Weather

There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

I grew up in northern California, where 40 degrees was considered cold weather. When I moved to Boston for college, I knew I was in for a (literal) phase change when my walks across the Charles River in October felt cold. Now, I live in Chicago, where it’s 15 degrees and negative wind chill as I write—already having finished an 11-mile run outdoors. That sounds cold, but in fact it is essentially never too cold to run outside, if you have (1) the right gear, (2) the right strategy, and (3) the right attitude. Below, I’ll talk about all three. As a native Californian, if I can run through Chicago winters, then anyone can run through a cold winter with these three aspects of preparation!

It’s Never Too Cold for a Run

When I interviewed for a job in Chicago about two years ago, in January 2019, my visit was timed with a polar vortex, which brought temperatures to nearly minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, with the wind making it feel closer to minus 40. My trip was nearly cancelled, Chicago itself shut down, and my hosts volunteered to defer my interview. But, in fact, I wanted to come check it out, figuring that if I could manage—and run—in those temperatures, then Chicago was a place I could live. I managed a 90-minute run in the polar vortex…