WASHINGTON — 听This weekend brings brutal temperatures, wind听and听some sloppy snow conditions.听 But that’s not stopping some avid runners from getting their daily fix.
For runners, it is sort听of like the motto of the postal service, “Neither Rain nor Snow” nor brutal temperatures will stop runners from getting their daily run in.
“I think to many people, we are lunatics,”听says Dan DiFonzo, running coach with the Montgomery County Road Runners Club.听 He adds听runners are pretty much type “A” personality, and for them there is no such thing as bad weather.
DiFonzo, who has听run in more than 50 marathons 听including the Marine Corps Marathon and 11 consecutive听Boston Marathons,听is not听letting our brutal and bad weather stop him from getting his daily fix, especially since he’s training for his 12th Boston Marathon.
There’s this Norwegian saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather just bad clothes,”听he says.听 “We figure if the Norwegians can do it, we need to do it as well.”
He stresses not overdressing in this weather but dressing in layers.听听He suggests听to start with a synthetic fabric next to your skin to听wick away moisture.听 Next add an insulating layer, then add a windproof or waterproof layer on the outside.
Make sure all your skin is covered, DiFonzo adds. 听Actually an old trick is to put Vaseline or Aquaphor听on your face to cover up your skin.听 It’s waterproof 听and windproof. 听“It’ll make you feel surprisingly warm,” DiFonzo shares.
Also think hydration.听 He says听even in this weather hydration is exactly like hydration in the summer. Most people don’t realize that you听lose听just听as much sweat in the cold and dry conditions as in the warmer weather. 听Make yourself drink every 20-25 minutes.
DiFonzo says in the cold weather you really need to make sure you warm up. 听Start slow and increase your pace as you warm up. 听“Cold temps can restrict your blood flow sometimes which can cause muscles to contract and cramp.听 You also want to protect your muscles which can be easily pulled.听 So you want to make sure you warn up effectively.”
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