How to dress for spring running, if anything is certain, it's the uncertainty of spring weather

If anything is certain in the spring, it’s the uncertainty of the weather. Cold, windy mornings can give way to sunny, warm afternoons. It’s often cold enough to make rain especially miserable, and in many places, snow remains a serious possibility until late spring.

It’s easy to remain either underdressed or uncomfortably warm from wearing too much clothing. The following tips will help you make the best choices for what to wear on your springtime runs.

Create your own ‘feels like’ temperature

Your body produces a lot of heat when you run, so add about 10 degrees to the ‘feels like’ temperature of the weather report. For example, if the weather says it’s 12 C outside, but feels like 8 C, you can assume that once you’re warmed up, it’ll feel more like 18 C, so plan to be comfortable at this temperature. If it’s raining, only add about five degrees to the forecasted feels-like temperature.

Of course, some people are much more sensitive to the cold, so understanding how your body reacts to various temperatures is important.

Layers still apply

You may think that the days of layering are over when the spring arrives, but don’t be too hasty. No matter how seasoned you are with spring running, you’ll still likely over or underdress some of the time. If you decide to wear a T-shirt but the weather’s dicey, tie a jacket around your waist in case you’re not warm enough. You can always take it off again if you get too warm.

Get a windbreaker

As we’re making the transition from winter to summer, the winds in many parts of the country can get pretty gusty and can make what should be a warm day feel a lot cooler. A lightweight windbreaker will help you control your body temperature, and if you get one that’s waterproof, you can also prevent those spring showers from soaking you to the bone.

Try some half-tights

Too cold for shorts but too warm for tights? Half tights or capris are the answer.

Get a hat

Nothing’s worse than going for a run and having the rain pelt you in the eyeballs the entire time. A ball cap will keep the rain off your face so you can actually see where you’re going. (Glasses-wearers especially appreciate a ball cap when it’s raining.)

Double down on the shoes

Having more than one pair of shoes is a good idea regardless of the season, because it can prolong the life of your shoes. In the spring, having a second pair serves a double purpose, because if your shoes get soaked or muddy one day, you have a dry pair to wear the next day while they’re drying. If getting two pairs of shoes isn’t an option for financial reasons, remove the insoles and stick them in a sunny area of your house (or better yet, outside in the sun) to dry more quickly.

posted Thursday April 28th
by David Smart