Running into Spring/Fall

We're headed back into a time of year when almost everyone is in transition, weather-wise. In the northern hemisphere, it's warming up and below the equator, it's cooling down. That makes this a test of your abilities to figure out what to wear running. And, it's a time when advice from someone else is probably the least useful. A few (probably obvious) tips for managing the winter/spring and summer/fall transition:

• Look outside - I know, duh! But, I've been surprised too many times when my weather app said sunny and dry and it turned out to be windy and rainy, and once, in New York, snowing.
• Layers are cool - ok, so maybe you end up totally overdressed. But you can always tie long sleeves around your waist and carry gloves.
• Show some leg - a lot of runners wear shorts into the 30s (0 C), as long as the wind is calm and it isn't snowing. Layers on top and shorts on the bottom can help maintain your temperature balance
• Get wet - nothing makes me feel like a kid more than running in the rain. To stay comfy, avoid cotton, long pants or woolly caps; they'll just end up dragging you down. Wear old running shoes so you don't ruin your favorites and plan on taking a warm shower as soon as you get home.
• Cover your head, hands and core - I've said this a bunch of times already, so I won't go on and on. Just a reminder that warm head, heart and hands can make the difference between suffering and sailing along
• Find an alternative - some late winter snow storms or early fall monsoons are just too much, even for a seasoned runner. If you're like me and don't have a gym membership, make sure you have alternatives - I've taken to jumping rope in the car park. It's sort of outside, doesn't bother anyone and I get to stay dry, safe and warm enough.

Be safe, have fun and happy running!