We all think about what shoes we run in and the effect they have on our bodies but how often do we stop to think about the consequences of what we wear when we run? In the colder, winter months it's especially important to make sure you wear the correct apparel to help keep your body warm and dry. What you wear can also have a direct effect on your training - if your running longer distances or you sweat a lot you need to make sure you keep vital parts of your body warm and dry so that it can perform at its best or else you'll be making your body work harder than it needs to and nobody wants that!
Obviously you want to avoid getting cold in any way, shape or form as when we do our muscles do not receive a sufficient blood supply which can affect our performance. There are various fabric technologies that can help with this. First of all there are wicking fabrics designed to manage moisture; usually these are made by combining an internal hydrophobic fibre with an external hydrophilic fibre that creates a mechanical push-pull effect which draws perspiration away from the skin. The perspiration wicked away from the skin is then absorbed into the fabric and evaporates into the air. This way the perspiration doesn’t cool on the skin and so keeps your body dry and reduces the chances of you getting cold. One step further is thermo-regulation fabrics, these actually help to control temperature due to the high wicking properties on the inside of the fabric, wicking perspiration away quickly and efficiently preventing the body from cooling down and in addition they offer insulation against the cold. Then there are compression fabrics these work by exerting pressure on certain parts of the body which accelerates blood circulation resulting in increased oxygen supply. Wearing a garment made from a compression fabric not only improves your performance but also helps your muscles recover faster, and more effectively than they would normally.
So it’s best to start off with a high wicking long-sleeve top when it’s cold, then as it gets colder invest in a gilet, windstopper® gilets are particularly good or a two in one jacket where the sleeves can zip off can offer great value as you have both a gilet and a jacket in one product. When it's even colder Brrrrrr! wear a Windstopper® shirt or thermal top underneath a gilet. Alternatively if you prefer to keep your arms warmer wear a long-sleeve top underneath a jacket. Then when it's really, really cold wear a long-sleeve thermal or Windstopper® top underneath a jacket! If the conditions are particularly wet then it’s worthwhile investing in a Gore-Tex™ jacket as these are completely waterproof and come with a guarantee. Not forgetting our bottom half! There are lots of full length tights that feature compression fabric or offer a high degree of wicking.Of course you can accessorise all of the above combinations with a pair of gloves and/or a hat or headband depending on your needs and the weather conditions. Don’t forget you not only need to keep warm but also be seen! Check out our range of reflective gear and make sure you run safe.