I am a winter runner, and I’ll never go back.

Five years ago, if you had asked me if I ran during the winter months, I would have laughed and complained about the cold, wet, grey and muddy west coast winters that year after year stopped me from running outside from November to March. 

Each year, like clockwork, the air would turn cold, the bright orange and red leaves on the trees would dull, fall, and turn soggy with rain, and the trails I normally run on would become soupy; running outside turned into the most dreadful of activities I could possibly imagine. I was what we might call a fair-weather runner. Can anyone out there relate? I was hopeless and no one could convince me that a run in the rain, in the winter, is actually enjoyable. Until, one day on a whim, I was wandering around town and found myself in my local running shop. I wandered from the shoe section to the nutrition section, to the gear section, and was about to leave when a purple jacket caught my eye. 

The jacket had a billed hood and a longer backside than the other jackets. It was tighter around the wrists, was thicker, had mesh and zippers under the arms, and even reflective stripes running along various areas. I plucked it off the rack when the owner of the store came by and asked if she could help. Typically, I’m not the chatty type and don’t generally like asking questions in stores, however, something came over me that day that had me transfixed by the jacket, the store, and the woman who might just know something about winter running that I didn’t. 

I told her my tale of not liking to run on roads and hating to go to the gym, and when the rainy winter season comes around year after year, my trail running stalls. I asked if she ran in the rain on any trails nearby. The response I got would change my attitude toward winter running forever. 

“Yes,” she told me, “but you should know trail running in winter is all in the gear”. She then went on to explain the difference between the tread and design of a shoe, the pants, socks, shirts, jackets, gloves, and even headwear that are essential to not only running in the cold rain but to actually enjoying it. I’d always had generally good gear, but my idea of good gear often stopped at a great pair of shoes. I had never thought about the rest of what I should have in order to love the run. 

After our talk, the owner showed me around the store and gently picked out a few items she thought I might like, explaining what they would do for me if I wanted to get my run back in the winter months, then she left me to my thoughts. I had to decide whether running outside in the winter was something I actually wanted to do — the ticket to my enjoyment was right there in my hand and it was up to me to cash it in. I did, and I never looked back. 

With the right shoes, gear, and attitude, I’ve been winter running on muddy trails for the past few years now and I will never look back. It wasn’t just the gear that made a massive difference, though, the quality of what I purchased has been what I notice most. It cost a little more but has lasted 10x longer than cheap gear and never fails to make winter running fun. I find joy and excitement in knowing that I am safe in great trail shoes, comfortable in insulated pants, gloves, and a toque, and dry in a solid jacket. 

I now look forward to the winter season as I get to gather up my winter gear and get out there to run on my terms, beating the elements at their own game.

I am a winter runner, and I’ll never go back. 

#itswhywerun