Finding the correct running clothing for your run can be hard. Having trained in -40 degrees F in upstate New York blizzards, I can attest to that. What I found more challenging was training in 100 degrees F with 98% humidity. You can put more clothes on, but at a certain point you cannot take more off.
Again, since this running blog by 261 Fearless reaches women in both hemispheres, some in winter and others in summer, here are some basic tips for running clothes and race day preparation:
How to Dress for Cold Weather Running
Bright colors are essential to stay visible, even on bright days, as black and grey blend totally with the winter landscape. Use layers to stay warm; as you heat up, you can take them off and tie them around your waist.
You can wear a lot less than you think when you are first going out to face the elements, but winter running essentials include:
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A hat or beanie (a great deal of heat escapes through the top of your head)
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A neck scarf or buff
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Gloves that go well above your wrist
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A base layer made of tech fabric or wool
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A windbreaker
Covering pulse points on your neck and wrists will keep you comfortable; leave these places exposed and you’ll be chilled. Keep plenty of tissues easily reachable for nose blowing (leaving it dripping will invite nasty chapping). When you get home, do your stretches indoors and make a hot chocolate for a wonderful recovery drink.
Want even more tips for your winter running workouts? Our blog posts Keeping Safe on Winter Runs and Running in Winter: Whether It’s Raining, Snowing, or Cold will help you stick to your winter running routine.
How to Dress for Hot Weather Running
Always wear less than you think at first. Shorts instead of capris, singlet instead of T-top. Light-as-possible bra.
If a race or workout has a chilly start, wear some gloves you can discard later (if your hands are warm, you feel warm all over). Later you’ll heat up fast. If it is hot to start with, begin the workout or race with wet hair or even ice in your (white) hat. Punch holes in your hat or wear a visor so you can let heat escape from your head. Shade your eyes from road glare with sunglasses.
When you get home, stretch outside in the heat rather than in the air conditioning. Make your recovery drink something cool that replenishes lost electrolytes; for me, smashed up watermelon mixed with cold water and juice works best.
Marathon Gear Tips for Unpredictable Weather
And if you’re running the New York City Marathon or another marathon in November?
November weather is unpredictable in both hemispheres. In New York, one thing is for sure: before the start, it’s a long wait on a potentially wet field.
Bring a huge plastic garbage bag to sit on. Over your running outfit, wear gear you are ready to discard or thrift shop clothes that you can throw away. (The best discard-outfit I’ve seen was a long, cuddly chenille bathrobe!) Don’t worry, after the race start, this stuff is collected, laundered, and given to charity.
For the event itself, please make sure everything you’re wearing has been tested beforehand on a long training run. The last thing you need is chafing shorts to derail all those months of hard preparation.
Ditch the Heavy Water Packs
Think about this: it is highly unlikely that you will need a water backpack or a hydration belt with four bottles of water in any well-organized road marathon. Nowadays, there are massive water and energy drink stations, sometimes as often as every mile.
Go weigh your water pack or bottle belt and you’ll find that it weighs close to five pounds. Most of us would be thrilled to lose five pounds in our training! Carrying that weight in a marathon really slows you down and takes a lot of energy. Less is often more in a marathon.
Find Your Running Gear at the 261 Fearless Shop
If you’re looking for the right gear, the 261 Fearless Shop is where you should go to find it. I’ve spoken to Heather, and she told me everything about it.
When the first official clothing order arrived through the new 261 Fearless online shop, Heather, the 261 Fearless Shop Manager, was ecstatic because the order came from a woman in Chile. “I was amazed at the global reach of the 261 Fearless organization simply through this one international purchase,“ stated Pierce, who is based in America’s Midwest region.
Following that South American purchase, orders from New Zealand, Canada, and Europe arrived. It showcased what the organization’s leaders already knew: 261 Fearless is an international social running network for women.
“Why do you think women love wearing 261 Fearless gear so much?” I asked Heather. She responded, “I think it is because of the natural connection and instant bond people have to the number 261, based on its origin with Kathrine Switzer’s gender-barrier-breaking run in the 1967 Boston Marathon.” Furthermore, 261 Fearless Inc. is able to provide high-quality items thanks to our global sportswear partnership with adidas.
Join the Fearless Tribe
I know what Heather means because every time I don a 261 Fearless hat, jacket, or t-shirt, people look at me knowingly as if to say, “You must be associated with fearlessness.” They are right, I am! People in our society enjoy wearing branded items because it makes them feel like they are part of a tribe.
In our case, a woman becomes part of a supportive tribe of brave, fearless women who believe in the positive benefits of running within a community. We welcome all running levels, ages, and backgrounds. Through 261 Fearless, active women come together across a global, supportive social running network. This allows fearless women to pass the strength gained from running onto women who are facing life challenges, sparking a revolution in empowerment from Chile to England to America.
Find a 261 Running Club near you!
Purchasing and wearing branded 261 Fearless merchandise is just one step toward sharing the importance of networking, running, and bonding with women all over the world. Why not demonstrate that you are part of our tribe too? Purchase your merchandise and share our 261 Fearless Online Shop on your social media pages and with the women in your life.
We can never have enough fearless women in the world!
Cheers!
Kathrine
