Stay warm when running during the cold snap

I cannot believe how chilly is has been the last two weeks in London!  Don’t get me wrong, I love winter and have all the right kit to stay warm, but in the 6 years I have lived in London I don’t remember it ever being so cold for so long.  While I was home in New York for Thanksgiving, I saw  warm sports kit (merino wool, thermal, fleece lined) in all the shops, but I knew (or so I thought) that it would never be cold enough in London to wear it more than once or twice a year.

It was fortuitous that SKINS Compression got in touch soon after and offered for me to test out their compression kit.  I chose the A400 line because it features Adaptive Technology that helps regulate body temps.  This seemed like a good compromise as London often has cool/windy weather, rather than hot or cold extremes.  The leggings feature 360 degree reflectivity and have a pocket in the back of the waistband.

The A400 long sleeve top has similar features to the leggings, such as 360 degre reflectivity, moisture wicking, and dynamic gradiant compression.  The other unique feature is silicone gripper on the hem of the top which keeps it in place as you run, bend, or stretch, meaning you don’t need to worry about flashing some skin but rather focus on your workout.

I have worn the A400’s on long runs, trail runs, parkrun, and a, eight mile run commute.  I never felt too warm or too cold on my run, which was amazing to think how versitile .  The compression is supposed to help with blood circulation and recovery.  (You can read more about compression technology here.)  Obviously, the only downside to compression gear is how tight it is.  You need to be confident in your body shape as SKINS leave nothing to the imagination.  Every curve gets a form fitting hug.

The other tips I have for staying warm are wearing light-weight running gloves.  This is something I always do to help my hands from developing  more severe eczema.  I have a pair of sport E-Gloves that I really like to wearing when running.  They don’t get sweaty or damp, even on long runs, meaning my hands don’t get cold.  They also dry quickly so I can wear them a few hours later.

As you will see in my photos here and on Instagram, I am always wearing a snood in the winter.  For some reason, as soon as I step outside in weather that is a bit cool, my nose runs.  In the summer, I think I have allergies too which also cause excess mucus production.  So I wear a snood in the winter to easily wipe my nose (don’t worry, I wash it regularly).  It also helps warm you breathe when it is so cold outside, your nose hair freezes. You can bring the snood over your face and breathe in air that is warmed by your body temp first.

Finally, I wear a lightweight handband to cover my ears when it is really cold.  It is also a bright High-Vis color to help me be seen.  I would advise accessorizing with lights and reflective wear too if running in low light conditions.  Yes, the clothes have 360 degree reflective bits but you want to ensure that all traffic and cyclists definitely see you coming.

I am so happy to say that SKINS is offering my readers a 20% discount using the promo code PTMOLLIE-SKINS20 on all full-priced items. Offer expires 31st January so head on over and pick up some kit today to beat the winter blues.