Cool (not cold) Running

[snarlingcoyote]

It will be about 50 when I run today. I live in Gulf Coast Louisiana and have been perfectly comfortable in a running skort and cotton tee when I've gone out and it's been in the mid-60's. Still, this will be a little cooler and it will be damp, but at least not wet (I do have a rain jacket for that contingency!). I have the long "yoga" pants (really some nice athletic capris) that my mom got me for Christmas and paid way too much for - will wear those under my skort, because I do not now, nor will I ever have the backside to wear those on their own. I was thinking of just throwing on my rain jacket or putting on a cotton thermal top or a long sleeve cotton tee.

Without spending any money (after the shoes and the new sports bras and some better socks and an armband for my phone I'm out of money to spend on running gear) what works best for running in perfectly lovely, but ever so slightly cool and a bit damp, weather? I have a couple of hoodies, several long sleeve cotton tees, a thin thermal long sleeve tee, some rain jackets (two non gore-tex, one gore-tex), and a couple of windbreakers.

 

[ATLJR]

I know you said you didn't want to spend money, but what I have found is a nice dry-fit shirt is well worth the investment. It doesn't have to be the name brand although my Nike is my clear favorite, but it is worth it's wait in gold. Cotton is not runner-friendly because it traps moisture in the fabric not only making you uncomfortable, but causing you to overheat on longer workouts. Dry-fit is designed to take moisture and/or sweat away from the body where it quickly evaporates from the porous material.

I live in Georgia and have been running in 50 degree weather the past few weeks and have been more than comfortable with my long sleeved dry-fit. The other benefit of dry fit is psychological. it simply feels better than cotton. I look forward to putting on my shirt and in it's own way it gets me in the mood to get out the door and run even on days I am not really feeling it.

I know places like Target and Wal-Mart off their version that is very cost effective (usually anywhere from 19.99 to 30.00). Under Armour, Nike, Reebok, etc can run around 50.00 new for a long sleeved shirt...I found my favorite Nike shirt at a TJ Maxx for 30.00.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I don't like those kinds of shirts. I don't mind the wet sweat. Trust me, I know how sticky you can get, but I much prefer sticky to the way those shirts feel. . .like I'm going to break out in a rash over my back and on my tummy. (DH doesn't get it either. He wears those kinds of shirts on his kayak in all sorts of weather). charged cotton is okay, so might invest in that. Next month.

Luckily, it's not as cold as the forecast predicted. Should be nearly 60 this afternoon and sunny, so I'll be out in my skort and tee.

 

[Desiree]

Also in BR. I find that just a cotton long sleeved tshirt usually works. And then sometimes another tshirt on top of that. My hands really get cold moreso than the rest of my body in weather like this so I usually bring a pair to wear for a bit and then put them in the pocket of my track pants.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Also in BR. I find that just a cotton long sleeved tshirt usually works. And then sometimes another tshirt on top of that. My hands really get cold moreso than the rest of my body in weather like this so I usually bring a pair to wear for a bit and then put them in the pocket of my track pants.

Thanks! I hadn't thought about gloves, but will definitely bring them if chilly.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Also in BR. I find that just a cotton long sleeved tshirt usually works. And then sometimes another tshirt on top of that. My hands really get cold moreso than the rest of my body in weather like this so I usually bring a pair to wear for a bit and then put them in the pocket of my track pants.

Your advice was spot on. Wednesday was warm enough I ran in my tshirt and skort, but Thursday I wore my jogging pants, my skort, two cotton tshirts and wore gloves! I don't know what I would've done with the gloves. I bought three more pair when I hit the thrift today, just to have.

Thank you, that advice about the gloves really helped.

I'm running tomorrow, but depending on what the weather is like in the afternoon (have a conference to attend to 3PM), I may well throw on a windbreaker and put a pair of holey thick tights on under my running pants.

 

[Desiree]

Yay! Glad that worked for you!