Running in the cold and dark season

[yvi]

It's slowly starting to get really cold where I am - it's 5°C today and the sun sets before 5 pm at the moment. Winter is going to be here soon with temperatures well below the freezing point and the sun setting at around 4 pm.

Those of you with more experience with this, how do you keep going during the winter? What do you wear, when do you run, how do you stay motivated? Any tips and experiences are appreciated.

Comments

[blnchflr]

I'm a very low-tech runner, with not much proper running gear. I just pile layers on (and wear scarves and mittens and earmuffs and wool underwear and everything), and often I'll then get too hot and sweat too much, and consequently get too cold too fast when I start shedding outer layers, *hands*.

I don't like running in summer, when my face and brain overheat from the heat, so running in winter is not too off-putting for me. I prefer to run in the morning, and yeah, it's dark now, but it's also dark in the afternoon when I get home from work, and by then, I'm not up for running. So I live with running in the dark in the morning.

But in general, I run more in spring and fall, when the weather and light suit me better.