how to dress for running in the winter rain?

[Veronica]

I usually go to the gym and run on the treadmill those days.

Actually, I have run a few days in the rain. I wear tights, wool socks, a wool jersey and a capilene bra top. I wear a wool hand band over my ears. I have a great bicycling jersey from Ground Effect that I like to wear when I'm running. It's wool, but has a wind blocker front and a really long zipper. My other wool running jersey is from Ibex. Both have thumb holes and I'll tuck my fingers inside at first, but then I usually get too hot. The Ibex one also has a hood, but I don't wear it for long.

Veronica

[Jolt]

I actually just did a run tonight in 57-degree light rain--a little warmer than what you're talking about, but not a huge difference. I was just in wind pants and an Icebreaker tank top and was quite comfortable.

[Becky]

I've run in those temps/conditions in a long sleeve top, a wind vest, and shorts. I wasn't cozy, but I wasn't freezing either after the first 5 minutes....right where I like to be.

[GLC1968]

V - I have a treadmill in the basement, but when most of the winter days will be rainy - running on it gets really old!

OK, you guys are confirming what I thought - that I'll just get warm enough to kind of suck up the wet factor and if I stick to wool, I'll stay reasonably comfortable.

Would a hat help (maybe keep rain out of the eyes) or just make me too hot?

It will get colder, too. Most of the winter, it'll be in the low 40's but since we shouldn't see temps quite that cold for a bit yet, I'm planning for warmer.

[Jolt]

Yes, a baseball cap is helpful to keep rain out of your eyes. It shouldn't make you too hot in those temperatures.

[KnottedYet]

I love to run in the rain.

(I also love to ride in the rain).

Wool socks, wool tights, wool shirt. Vest if it's cold enough. Long rain jacket. Nylon baseball hat with blinky-light.

Usually I don't need gloves, as I get very warm when exercising. If I do need gloves I wear wool.

[Grog]

I read the title of your thread and I thought: clothes?!

I pretty much only run in the rain. I run in the winter season and, as I live in the same corner of the world as you do, it means running in the rain or showers or drizzle at least half the time. When it stops raining, I hop back on my bike.

10 Celsius or 50 F, I will wear 3/4 pants (not full tights, too warm for me), a longsleeve, light wool shirt and a hat. (I always wear a hat.) Socks don't matter much unless I'm going to be running for more than half an hour (go for wool) or it's cooler than 10C (go for wool).

Between 5 and 10C (40 to 50F), I add a vest, sometimes light tights, and I wear a warmer hat (but still baseball-cap style). If it's closer to 5 than 10 I also put on a light pair of gloves, which I often take off after a few minutes, but I can use them to wipe my nose.

Between 2 and 5C (34 and 40F), I will go for light tights, and a light jacket which may or may not be a rain jacket. Add a wool hat that covers my ears.

Around freezing point, which doesn't happen very often, I'll might add plastic bags around my feet if it's really raining and I'm going for more than 20-30 minutes, and wear thicker tights, the kind I'd wear for cycling at the above-mentioned temperatures. I did a 2-hour run in a combination of rain, snow, and sleet, and eventually my feet got wet but it was a riot nevertheless.

The trick is to put your shoes on and kick yourself out of the warm house. After a minute or two, it feels fantastic.

Have fun!