Frozen solid without the gear

First it's freezing, now it's snowing. I guess I should just let Mother Nature have her way without whining too much.

My typical running outfit: capri pants, shirt, sweater, socks = frozen Lana

Photo credit: Tyler Cobb

In a new twist, I decided to be proactive and visited Salt Lake Running Co. on Highland Dr. today to ask about proper winter running gear. B.J. Christenson, a sales manager for the company, showed me around the store and offered various suggestions for how to stay properly warm and ready for winter running.

"I actually love running in winter," Christenson said. "It's less crowded."

• Cleats for running shoes—apparently cleats aren't just for major athletic sports, these neat little additions also help keep your shoes from slipping on snow or ice
• Zoot active compression shorts—these babies will really keep you warm. Ever heard the story about the runner who's wife caught him with his hands down his pants trying to warm up in the very very cold nether regions? (Yeah, I shuddered internally too). Well, these should help avoid that
• Reflective vests—worried about cars not seeing you as winter approaches and dark settles in faster? Yeah, I was too. One of the best things about running in winter is fewer runners, but you have to contend with cars driving on slippery roads, and possibly careening towards you. At least in this case they'll see you before they collide into you uncontrollably

Reflective vest. From Photobucket.com

                                                                       By aloweyballa

• Running gloves—say good-bye to frozen hands, or ones that overheat from gloves. Finally...bliss!
• Thermal hat—fleece or wool is ideal. Supposedly people tuck it into their pants if they overheat...
• Layering the upper body—most experts recommend several layers, one that keeps you warm, one that keeps out the wind and water/snow, and the last, a wicking synthetic layer to keep you dry from swea
  

"It's not scary to run in the cold, most people just don't want to," Christiansen said.

Want to hear more about these tips from the expert I visited, check out the video.

Sadly, I'm too poor to purchase most of these things, but that's what old-fashioned ingenuity and the typical college make-it-yourself or live-without-it techniques.