Cold is goooood

I too am a winter running supporter - so much better getting in some good base mileage over the winter months. Cold crisp air - quiet streets, its bliss.

Its my friends and family who get on my nerves trying to put me off.

1 "its too cold out there - you'll catch your death"

2. "its too dangerous for a women to be running alone in the dark"

3 "You'll get knocked over - drivers cant see you"

4. "you cant see where you are running"

They get on my wick with it

I like my warm bed a lot too LadyBee, it's a bit of a needs-must thing at the moment. I have to say it was not a very impressive running performance, it was the actually getting out there that was impressive....

Well done Wendy, sounds like you're improving. 

Winters fine if you are lucky enough to get out in the daylight, but if not it means pavements and busy roads which is my idea of hell - give me the warm summer evenings and off road anytime ..although a lovely bright sunny autumn/winter day is lovely but they usually happen when im stuck indoors at work

Hopefully we might get a a full moon and some snow ..now that would be good ! 

Granted there are some safety concerns to running in winter but they're nothing that decent street lighting/ a torch, reflective clothing and common sense can't fix. Unless it is icy....

Dula Heritage...that sounds very annoyin. The "but you're a woman" argument especially. My rule is that I won't run (alone) anywhere I wouldn't walk at the same time of day.

I did my first run in tights and gloves today and loved that nip in the air.  I got home and was warm as toast, but not bathed in sweat.  I am really enjoying crunching through leaves at the moment, as I had six long weeks in the gym this time last year, and basically missed autumn.

To be honest one of the (many) things I really love about running is the different seasons.  I don't like running when it is very hot/humid, but I love the long summer evenings, the crunchy leaves, the rain, the crisp frosts, the sunshine, the stars.  I love the smells of flowers in the summer evenings, dampness in the autumn, and just feeling the different air temperatures.....  I ran in a thunder strorm once and that was great (but a bit scary).  I have run when  it was dark and snowing, and loved looking at the snow flakes swirling down in the light of the street lights.  I had a great run once when I saw a stunning double rainbow.......
I HATE the gym!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big yay to cold but sunny, big NO to cold & wet... 

Cant wait to try out all my new long sleeved tops & fab running jacket, have only been managing to get to the gym just lately so no need for layering...  But this sunday could be MY day...

Orion R Beanie wrote (see)

Just toooo cold today for my poor nose

Wish I just had a sore nose.

Yesterday I annihilated my nipples in the freezing rain, I thought they were better today so I went out again...  someone remind me again why god put nipples on men?

Yesterday - my first 'off road' run in ages - loved it. Finally dry enough (after the wet summer) to run in the woods.

The evenings are really drawing in now, so it's going to be running in the dark from now on (apart from the sunday am run). I agree with Dual Heritage - my other half thinks the dark, temperatures below 10 degrees, a slight breeze or drizzle are reasons not to run - nevermind he spent 15 years playing rugby in all sorts of weather!

Back on subject - prefer running in Sept / Oct and early spring - love temperatures between 12 - 15 degrees. If it's too cold it takes ages to warm up, and any warmer than say 17 degrees and I find it a bit too hot to run fast / for too long.

That said, my best run this year was last Easter when there was light snow in parts of uk - ran along Hastings prom just as the sun was starting to set and the snow flakes were falling.

I love winter running and fleece-lined tights and gloves make morning runs at 5.45 so much more bearable.

On the running safety for women, if I am running alone, I always take some sort of ID with me in case I am injured or in an accident.  I also wear a hi-viz vest and have a light on the back of my rucksack for running in the early mornings/evenings as I had a few close shaves last year with cyclists on the pavements of London which can also be used as cycle lanes. 

Runner-bean, I couldn't have put it better myself. One of my favourite things about running is the chance to get outside and really appreciate my surroundings and the changing seasons.

I also like running in cold weather. If it's warm in summer I find that I just get too hot and bothered, whereas I'm always lovely and toasty when I go out in my gloves when it's cold. At this time of year there are some lovely sights too; the colours of the leaves on the trees at the moment are stunning.