Running for Two: Braving the Elements

Running For Two is a series on LV Running Scene specifically for women who are pregnant and still running. Christina is currently running through her pregnancy and encourages women to continue running during and after their pregnancy. In this series she will cover issues such as fighting nausea during the first trimester, active wear, racing while pregnant, hydration during runs, braving the cold weather, cross training and stretching.

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In mid-October an ultrasound confirmed that I was indeed pregnant.  The weather, already starting to hover above the freezing mark, prompted me to break out my cold weather gear.  Pregnant or not I believe that we need to take precaution when dressing for the weather.  Cool, hot, freezing, drizzle – dressing appropriately will give us a sense of comfort.  The elements, then, become one less thing to worry about.  Until you get a feel for each season, finding the perfect combination will take some experimenting on your part.

In previous articles I mentioned the increase of the body’s core temperature, so it’s most important to stay cool, even during the winter months.  Here are some tips for dressing appropriately:

Cool/Cold Weather

• Wear layers with the base being a ‘cold gear’ type of material.  Multiple layers will give you the flexibility of removing them as you warm up.
• Wear a hat and/or ear warmers.  A lot of heat can be lost from the top of your head; keeping your head/ears warm will let you retain some of that heat longer. If you get too warm, these items are easy to shove in a pocket or hold for the remainder of your run.
• Gloves can save your fingers early on.  If your hands start to sweat you can ball up the gloves and tuck them in your sleeve.
• Double up on socks to keep the piggies warm, but make sure that your feet are still comfortable in your shoes.
• If the air is bitterly cold or the wind is whipping invest in a face mask or wear a bandana over your nose and mouth.  Your warm breath will keep your face warm and the material will save your lips and cheeks from wind burn.

Warm/Hot Weather

• Wearing layers, even in warmer weather, give you the flexibility of removal in the event you get too hot.  Some technical fabrics are manufactured to dissipate the heat and keep you more cool than others.  Keep this in mind when shopping for clothes.
• Think about investing in a running skirt.  All skirts I’ve seen have a short brief underneath and are usually made of wicking fabric (to draw sweat away from the body).  The skirt gives your legs a little more freedom – there’s no fabric constantly resting against your skin.

Additional tips

• Referencing my article on the importance of hydration – please bring water with you, especially when the weather gets warmer.
• If there’s rain in the forecast put on a rain jacket and wear a hat.  There’s no fun in feeling your cotton shirt double in size and weight.
• Wear sunscreen.  The sun shines in the winter, too.  Not only should we wear sunscreen all year round, but pregnant skin has a tendency to dry out considerably.  Take the extra precaution to save it.
• If there is snow or ice consider running on the dreadmill or cross-train.  Your growing belly can alter your balance and throw off your footing.  These two factors, complicated with unstable surfaces, can be a recipe for falls.
• Inclement in the close past?  Be mindful of your usual route which may be washed out, laden with puddles, covered in patchy ice…you get the idea.  This is your opportunity to change it up.  Check out local trail conditions or map out a residential route with some sidewalks.  Worse case scenario, hit the dreadmill or cross-train.
• Heat advisory?  Stay inside.  Dreadmill or cross-train.

Most, if not all, of these suggestions can apply to all runners, not just us preggers.  Stay cool, dress smart and use common sense.

Happy running!

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Christina “Muffin” Roberts, wife and mother, is running through her second pregnancy. Disappointed with the lack of information on pregnancy and running available today, she wanted to write about her experiences in hopes of sharing what she’s learned and to encourage fellow pregnant runners to keep on running.
Christina blogs at http://muffinmadness35.blogspot.com/.