My Christmas-day tradition, as long as I can remember, has involved a long, slow run on Marquette’s snow-covered streets. I’d carefully stutter-step my way down the street – shortening my stride to match the icy, snow-covered roads – and marvel at the quiet. Marquette, the town where I grew up, is a picturesque little town located on the southern shore of Lake Superior. It’s a stunningly beautiful yet harsh place to live, the winters unrelenting in both frigid cold and lake-effect snow.
When I was younger, I’d simply wear running tights under a pair of giant sweatpants, and layer several running jackets on top of each other. A hat, the warmest mittens I could find, and sometimes a scarf across my face – the bitter cold has a way of pulling your breath from your lungs.
These days you’ll find me in….slightly more technical clothing, which is a definite improvement from the 90’s. Now I like long-sleeve running shirts with thumbholes and a lightweight packable down jacket (I’ll take sweaty over freezing any day), and the warmest-ever leggings. I don’t know why it took me so long to discover these things – several brands make them – but these running tights are thicker than average, and brushed on the inside so they feel fleece-lined.
Outfit Details
hat: camo cashmere beanie
running turtleneck: Free People Movement turtleneck (hello, thumbholes)
jacket: old UA Storm jacket…similar Patagonia puffer on sale at Overstock
mittens: First Snow Mittens
running tights: Lululemon Toasty Tech Tight II
shoes: Nike frees (with these smartwool socks)
Below are three winter running outfits that make me swoon. The formula, for each, is the same: thick, brushed tights, a long-sleeve top, a seriously cool (and functional) jacket, and quirky-yet-warm hats and mitts. Philly doesn’t get enough snow to warrant trail running shoes, but if I lived in Michigan, I would probably swap my Nikes out for one of the pairs below (they make trail running look so. good.)
1. New Balance Heat Hybrid Jacket, $179 (down-like panels and thumbholes – also comes in black or bright red)
2. Nike Pro Warm 3.0 Brushed Running Tight, $37
3. Athleta Cashmere Cable Knit Beanie, on sale for $47
4. Mukluks Snowflake Mittens, $32
5. Outdoor Voices Hoodie, $85
6. Adidas Response Trail Boost Running Shoe, $109
1. Patagonia Prow Water Repellant Jacket, on sale for $149 (you can see this jacket on Scotti, here)
2. UA Coldgear Legggings, $45 (love the unexpected army green – so good)
3. Black beanie with pom, $6
4. Cable Knit Mittens, $35
5. Nike Pullover, $110
6. Nike Roshe Flyknit, $120
1. New Balance Beacon Running Top, $120
2. UA Coldgear Printed Leggings, $48 (love how the side panels slims visually)
4. North Face Metropolis Heat Seeker Mittens, $60 (no matter how sweaty I am, my hands are ALWAYS cold, even at the end of the run. I might have to try these.)
5. UA Cozy Popover, $120 on sale (obsessed with this one)
6. Adidas Response Trail Boost Running Shoe, $109 (so freaking cool)
xo,
S
