Muddy conditions, dark skies, and cold temperatures can make winter running seem terrible. Of course, running in the cold won’t feel as natural as when it’s sunny and warm. However, before you decide to use the treadmill for your daily run, think about the fact that running in the cold will boost your mood, keep your metabolism going strong, and help you reach your business goals.
Even though running outside in the winter can be a great way to stay healthy and prepare for spring training, many runners decide to move inside to exercise during the snowy and colder month. In this article, we will explore the benefits and reasons to run outside in the cold.
- Avoid Overheating
A big advantage of running outside in the cold is that you don’t need to stress about suffering from any heat-related illnesses such as overheating. You must put on a few layers of clothing while you’re running in the winter. If you start to heat up, you can just take a layer off. We suggest wearing pants and jackets with pockets to put your gloves and hat in if your hands or head get warm.
- Prevent Feeling SAD
Many people suffer from Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) when the temperature plummets and the days get shorter. Symptoms and signs of SAD include:
- Feeling worthless or hopeless
- Experiencing cravings for carbs, weight gain, and overeating
- Having problems with sleeping too much
- Feeling sluggish and having low energy
- Losing interest in activities that you usually enjoy
- Feeling down or sad most of the day, almost every day
Running helps release hormones that increase positive mood states during the winter months and help fight depression. Exposure to sunlight also increases vitamin D production, a key component in neurotransmitters that regulate mood, such as serotonin.
- Avoid Transition From Treadmill to Running
Running outside is somewhat harder than running on a treadmill, and when runners need to re-adjust to running outside after running on the treadmill all winter, they might experience shin splints or sore leg muscles. You will feel more prepared for any early spring races if you run outside during the winter instead of running on the treadmill.
- Keep Your Metabolism Going Strong
Even though your body’s energy expenditure is increased with shivering, when you’re running, your body’s core temperature won’t be able to drop enough for you to start shivering. Studies have suggested that a significant decrease in body heat can trigger a phenomenon called nonshivering thermogenesis. Nonshivering thermogenesis activates a special tissue called brown fat and causes an increase in metabolism.
- No Need for Sunscreen
One of the best reasons to run outside in the cold is that you don’t have to bathe yourself in sunscreen like you would during the summer. Since your body is completely covered in layers of clothing and the sun isn’t shining as strong, you shouldn’t worry too much about sunscreen. Putting some SPF on your face is enough to cover you during your winter run.
- Confidence Boost
When your family members and friends hear that you’re running outside in the cold, they are always impressed and astonished. Not many runners are willing and brave enough to run outside when the temperature is low. Among many other benefits, getting through a run in the cold will be great for boosting your confidence.
- Beautiful Scenery
You can gain an entirely new perspective on the route you usually run, thanks to the snow on the ground that can completely change the look of the scenery. During warmer months, leaves on the trees can sometimes block the view, so in the winter, you can get a much clearer view in front of you.
- Stay Active
A treadmill at home can be boring, and getting yourself to the gym can be a challenging process. However, running in the cold will never be boring. Running in the cold is convenient, free, and will help you stay active during the months you would rather binge-watch every series on Netflix. This will be extremely beneficial, as we tend to eat more and move less in the colder months.
- Avoid Crowds
Typically, running routes are crowded with cyclists, walkers, and runners during the summer. However, you won’t be facing the issue of sharing a running route with others during the winter. Paths and parks are pretty clear during the colder months, so you won’t need to worry about making your way around other cyclists and runners.
- No Need for Gyms
Once the winter months come, many runners and other types of athletes will be heading to the gym. As a result, there will be very long waits for treadmills and other types of workout machines.
Moreover, you will also be exposed to a lot of germs inhabiting the gym since it will be the flu season. Even if you’re taking extra care of yourself and making sure that you’re washing your hands and wiping down machines with wet wipes, there’s still a chance that you will be in contact with germs at the gym. It is much safer to run outside during the winter months.
Final Thoughts
Even though the benefits of running outside in the cold are obvious, everyone needs a little reminder when it’s freezing outside and you need to put on a couple of layers of clothing to get outside.
We hope that our article has helped in convincing you of reasons to run outside in the cold!
