Zensah Long Sleeve Compression Shirt Review + Giveaway!

December 2, 2009 | Filed in: Uncategorized

Happy December dos! So this month I’m going to try to have a giveaway a week because you know, I’m trying not to be the grinch! So to start off the month we have a Zensah giveaway! And hello horrific iPhone pictures! Thank you for joining us on this review of the Zensah Long Sleeve Compression Shirt review today! So most people go ‘taper crazy’, I’ve talked about how I don’t go taper crazy because I’m like thank the Lord I’m not running 239472984732 miles and I can’t ever do anything else with my life. Especially right now, I’m all about creeping under my sheets for as long as humanly possible in the mornings, and I’m am relishing in the fact that my legs still feel like they are stuck in the mud. This morning I definitely didn’t get up early to run and it was glorious. The final countdown to CIM continues on. Oh well, I have a sweet Zensah shirt to tell you guys about, so that is exciting!

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So a little while ago I received the Zensah Long Sleeve compression top and was asked to do a review on the shirt. I usually review products that I love on here and this shirt was no different! I really don’t need incredibly cold weather wear out here in California but when you get up at 5 am to run, it’s still pretty brisk out in the mornings. If there is one thing about me, it’s that I DO not like the cold, like I DO not like the water. I could be part cat. I get cold really easily and I HATE being cold. I know I better not complain too much though because I’ve seen some crazy pictures and heard stories of people running in extreme conditions so I’m thankful for no snow or frozen grass!

So back to the shirt! I really like the fact that it doesn’t have a tag and doesn’t have it’s logo all over the entire shirt or some weird, freaky design. I opted for black because A. it’s slimming, and B. white tight things just don’t look good on my body. So it’s seamless which is amazing, and moisture wicking, which shouldn’t all running shirts be? Amazing.

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The brand is right on the neck area and is screen printed on. One of my FAVORITE things about all thing Zensah is the fabric. Their fabric is really rich and soft. When I say soft it’s by far the softest material I have in all my running clothes. I love their arm-warmers and LOVE their sports bras. They are my number one go-to’s when it comes to sports bras, perhaps I will do a more in depth review of their sports bras soon, but you can check out Aron’s Review of the Zensah sports bra here. So, I received the L/XL shirt in black and tried it out the next morning. One other thing about it that I NEVER like my stomach to show at all. I was nervous if I got the smaller shirt it would be too short and I love long running shirts.

The L/XL was large and it is very, very stretchy. I swear you could probably stretch this little shirt over an elephant. Another good thing is that there are no seams on the shirt. It’s SO soft and a great base-layer for running if you are living in a colder area, or a great long sleeve if you are running in an area like myself where it’s chilly but not too cold. I really like how warm it kept me. Also, since I got the L/XL, the sleeves are WAY long and I LOVE that! I love it because I can pull it over my hands and wear it almost like mittens! Maybe that’s just a feature that I like, but I love long sleeves, and with the stretchiness of the fabric it works out perfectly.

Excuse the pile in the bottom right hand corner, I took those clothes to the thrift store. :) Another great aspect of the shirt that I really liked was the fact that it was snug in all the right places. It never rode up and didn’t chafe even after I wore it three days in a row.

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Now this may sound disgusting, BUT, I must be honest here. I usually can wear a dri-fit shirt once, sometimes twice if I do lower mileage. Dri-fit and these type of materials that I usually run in perhaps start to stink a little faster than normal tees. So I wanted to see how long the Zensah shirt would last. I ran 4 miles three times in this shirt and it didn’t really smell bad at all. Granted I wasn’t sweating since it was cold out and it wasn’t a long distance where I was going to get really sweaty, but I was surprised how it didn’t hold in the stink like other dri-fits and nicer material shirts I have.

So overall, this shirt was a big time win for me. I really, really like the softness of the material, the overall fit and the comfort are great as well. It really kept me warm and I was never chattering my teeth and not enjoying my run. The bonus non-stink factor is pretty sweet and the stretchiness is pretty amazing!

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Zensah also wants to give one lucky commenter a shirt as well! You can get TWO entries to this contest. All you have to do is leave a comment about one time when you were freezing cold and had to run.

IE: ” Well hello Danica, I was freezing cold this morning when it was -24 degrees here in Canada and I put on three sweatshirts and a beanie and went out for my run and I fell on frozen grass and sprained my ankle.”

I like to read funny things…. Also, for a 2nd entry, you can tweet about the giveaway. You can follow my twitter here, and Zensah’s twitter here. Please include both @chicrunner and also @Zensah in the tweet saying you saw the giveaway on my blog, or you wanted the win the shirt, whatever you want basically. It’s open for both guys and girls and they will let the winner choose the size and color.

I will pick the winner next Tuesday after CIM, if I’m still alive!

So get to commenting so you don’t have to run in the cold anymore!

xoxo

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So.. I live in Nashville and it gets pretty chilly, like I had to scrape some windsheild ice this week. yuck!

The only time I have to run is early morning, so it’s the coldest part of the day. I don’t have a great hat so I end up starting with this super ugly scarf I don’t like wrapped all around my head to keep my ears warm. Pretty soon it gets sweaty and even colder from the wetness, eek, and I have to tug it off. Then you know my hair looks awesome and I have a nasty sweaty scarf to carry the rest of the run.

Lovely. haha. Thanks for the contest!

@abbylbarnhart

Great giveaway! I hate running in the cold… so I try to avoid it at all costs. The last time I wore a sports bra, t-shirt, long sleeve hoodie and a running jacket. I was freezing the entire time, but then I walked into my grandparents’ house and they keep the heat on about 78, so I just about melted in all of those clothes! LOL!

Hi Danica,
I have a funny morning run story. I live in CA too, so it doesn’t get too cold, but I am a wimp when it comes to cold weather, so anything below 70 degrees is freezing to me! Anyway I went running one morning and selected a different route because I had ran into a sketchy dog on my usual route the morning before. To my surprise I wasn’t chased by a dog on this cold morning, no no no – instead I was chased by 3 wide awake roosters! Yeah so odd, when I got a block away I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. Have a good one.

I wish I could share a good “I was freezing while running” story but if it is THAT cold, I won’t run.

I will say that I freeze my butt off when I play broomball and am always looking for good coldweather gear for that. What’s broomball, you didn’t ask? :-) It’s like ice hockey except that you don’t wear skates (just sneakers). It is quite entertaining.

Well, living in Arizona, i know people will think my “cold” running is a joke. However, last Saturday morning at our group run, it was quite brisk and still dark out for the first 1/2 hour. Combine that with my short sleeve shirt and capri tights, my nose was running like Tiger Woods from his home at 2:30am. (Too soon??) Anyways, good review! Even if i dont win, i think i will go check that shirt out. :)

Boy I sure could use a shirt like that to wear while I prepare for the 2010 Boston Marathon, or the 2010 Big Sur Marathon, or the 2010 Surf City Marathon, or the 2010 Ironman. You get the idea, Gimme Gimme Gimme. Oh, I don’t think we’re the same size but we can figure that out after I win :-)

How fun! Sweet giveaway Danica!

I live in Pittsburgh and it’s starting to become cold. Normally at this time, it’s snowing. We’re lucky this year I guess :-) I can’t think of anything too funny but on my most recent run, I was so fricken cold that I added running gloves to my holiday wish list. My fingers were shivering and I kept blowing on them to no avail. Sadness.

Thanks again!

I also tweeted your giveaway! (I’m @TropicalHappy on twitter)

My tweet: TropicalHappy
Great giveaway by @chicrunner and @Zensah: long sleeve compression shirt… http://www.chicrunner.com

I LOVE Zensah! I have no cold-weather running clothes, so every time I run in the cold my whole body freezes and snot pours out. Does that count? :)

sooooooo it doesn’t get that cold up here, but when I run at 5 am I like to wear tights and long sleeved shirts so when I faceplant my body doesn’t get all scratched up! haha I WANNA WIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!

I tweeted this too!

I live in Utah close to the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. This week when I ran in the evening and it was 23 degrees plus wind-chill! I wore my thermals that I ski in and a running shirt over that as well as my beloved Monkey Man from Mountain Hardware. A beanie and gloves. I was still shivering when I got home. Good thing it was a short one.

Fantastic giveaway! I really want to win because it is actually getting COLD cold in Texas. It’s snowing in Dallas & might snow here in Austin, wtf?

Once I had to run in the cold on my long run and I got so snotty and gross that my hoodie was covered in my yuckiness when I stumbled home. I think my husband was concerned/grossed out.

I tweeted here!

Sadly it gets pretty cold up here in Seattle, yesterday I went for my run @ 11am and it was 38 degrees. I also hate to be cold, so I was all bundled up in my tights, long sleeves, gloves, and head band that keeps my ears warm. I’d probably run in a snow suit if it wasn’t so bulky…like that dorky kid on A Christmas Story.

I was training for my first half marathon and I had to run 8 miles in 0 degree weather. It was actually -8 with wind chill! I wore tights with running pants, gloves, a hat, a base layer, shirt, and jacket. The only thing that made it bearable was that it had just snowed so it looked gorgeous outside.

I WANT THIS!!!!

who says it doesnt get cold in cali?? i guess you will see this weekend :)))) hehe

it was in the 30s yesterday morning when i went for my run. i took kylie and then had to drop her off at home and pick up emma. it was warm inside the house and my body cooled down and i had to go BACK OUT in the cold to finish my run. BRRRR i was soooo cold!!

Congrats on the awesome magazine write-up!

I’ve recently started regularly reading your blog and I love it. I found you through Punk Rock Tri Guy!

I have enjoyed your marathoan journeys and I have to tell you my EPIC FAIL marathon is your best marathon; Long Beach. I did it in 2004 and it is my personal worst; I had really been looking forward to it as I went to high school in San Pedro (many, many years ago) and was looking forward to coming back & doing something from my “roots”. Oh well……

I live in Oregon, so 8 months out of the year it is cold and wet; so good clothes and gear is essential! I did a track workout one January morning and it was 16 degrees, but dry – I have never been so cold in all my life; even mile repeats couldn’t warm me up.

Sweet giveaway! I live in the mountains of NC and it is getting chillay up here. I usually get up at 6 to run before my classes when it’s usually about 30 to 40 degrees outside. By January it will be down to 20 to 30. I just invested in a pair of long running tights for the winter but alas am still rocking an old hoodie to keep me warm up top. I do feel quite silly with that damn hood bouncing around my head when I run.

Ha Ha, I am always cold in Philly, in the winter. Also I am horrible at layering and my bubbies are always freezing because I wear a stupid cotton tank top under a tech tee. And my butt is freezing, but this shirt probably won’t help that. You would think my butt fat would keep it toasty!

I would LOVE the Zenzah long Sleeve Tee. I am a runner in Minnesota and I love the lakes but it is always colder by the lakes than by my house, so no matter what I am always colder in the middle of my run around the lake than when I start!

Great giveaway! Mary

It was this morning. It was raining cats and dogs. It was cold. I was cold. I ran 8 miles. I got wet.

Ummm this morning it was super cold here in Sac (be prepared, it was 33 degrees) and as it turns out I had a sock in my arm warmer I didn’t even notice until um, 2 miles from my house? DORKY.

Supposed to snow here soon and you don’t want me to be an icicle out there in the cold now do you? ;)

Yeah giveaway! I was sooo cold yesterday when I ran. I run after work and forgot to pack my tights. My legs were red by the end of the run. Not good. So I would love anything that would keep me warm and toasty!

I had a route I used to run near Richmond Park in England. It always took me 9 minutes to get from one part of the route to another. This one time it was so cold and so windy I was literally fighting the wind with every step. The wind was blowing straight at me so to breath I had to breath in a swimming rhythm turning my head every third step to breath. The problem with this was that the cold had made my nose run and everytime I would turn my head to breath the snot would blow across my face. By the end of the run I was a total wreck and to top it off my 9 minute segment took me almost 13 minutes to complete.

BTW, thanks for hosting the giveaway.

Sweet giveaway!! I need a Zenzah long sleeve to go with my awesome Zenzah sports bras.

But no really, since moving to Texas I’ve become super wussy and really need the perfect long sleeve for my morning runs.

Oh, and there is a chance for snow this week so hello it’s like the Canadian arctic here!

Perfect question for today! Yesterday I had the most amazing trail run and was so excited to run again today. It is 15 degrees today though and snowing here in Denver. Even the running at the gym today requires cold weather gear.
YOu look so cute in your running gear, inspires me to get my butt to the gym today.

It hasn’t been freezing cold in a few weeks in Asheville, but it’s supposed to be freezing cold this weekend as I do my last (long) run before my marathon! Two St. Paddy’s Days ago, I ran a 10k and it was so cold I had ice form on my hair, and my iPod stopped working. It wasn’t a fun race! (And, really, it wasn’t that funny.) :)

This morning was COLD for my workout – only 29*! This is the coldest it has been this winter and I was thankful I threw on that extra fleece before I headed out the door (one long sleeve shirt, thinner fleece, and heavier fleece jacket). I usually get too warm, but not today!

Living in the middle of Germany, I always have to run in the snow in the winter. We have about an inch now. I do not mind it too much. I actually kind of enjoy coming back in the warmth and get the “glow”. Layering and buffs are the key. Thank you for the opportunity. Shipping costs to Germany for Zensah products are quite high. Maybe I am lucky…

I just moved from Texas to Virginia, and it’s starting to get pretty cold here. It’s also been raining too! Last week I still made it outside, but on Monday I wound up inside on the treadmill. Thanks for the review on this shirt — it’s going on my Christmas list.

I actually really like running in the cold, it’s the only weather I can run in and not look like I just took a shower in my own sweat. But I DON’T like running in the cold when I’m soaking wet. I ran the Baystate marathon in October in a Nor’easter! – cold, wind, rain, even a little snow. It was miserable at the time, but now that it’s over, it’s just a good story :-)

I ran in Denver over the holiday weekend and figured I’d be ok with capri’s, my zensah sleeves & t-shirt. Yeah… notsomuch. I froze my @ss off. This Florida girl should’ve known better! I figured it’d be cold, thus the capri’s, but it wasn’t as cold as it was for the Chicago Marathon and I wore shorts! So yeah, came home a popsicle and coughing my lungs up from the thin air. My dad was laughing his head off at me… gotta love it!

So I’m a Texas girl…who now lives in northern Illinois. As you can imagine…running in the winter is hard for Southern blood! Last Super Bowl Sunday I did an 11 mile “fun run” with my running club. There was ICE in the parking lot where we started. ICE! And then we crossed a bridge over the Illinois River where we were running through slushy snow. NOT FUN! This Texas girl was thinking “why the hell did I think this was a good idea? It’s too cold out here!” And THEN when we were done there was a hot tub at the lodge where we finished and little did I know the tradition is to take a group picture in swimsuits IN THE SNOW after getting out of the hot tub. Barefoot. In the snow. In wet swimsuits. Insanity. Some extra crazy runners were even doing snow angels in their swimsuits. Not me! No way!

So yeah…I’m training for a half marathon (Surf City actually!) in February and I’m obviously going to have to train in the Illinois winter and I could SOOOOO use this Zenzah long sleeve! *bats eyes*

I want that shirt. I don’t have a funny story. I am cold when it is 70 degrees outside so I need it. Haha. Oh Ok, here is a story, a couple of years ago I ran the Surf City half marathon when it was raining cats and dogs and the wind was blowing cows and horses. I only had a long sleeve Nike shirt on and I was so cold I cried. Not because of the running but because I was freezing cold and wet. So please give me! :D

I live in Portland, so it’s not terribly cold all the time, but it does get chilly. I think the worst cold-weather running story I have is when I was going for my first 20 mile week post-kneehab & it was cold. And snowy. And windy. And I do not like the cold & wind. So I put on something like 3 shirts & a jacket & my underarmour tights and went out for my 5 miles. I think I stepped in every half frozen puddle in my neighborhood, and was so hot (see 4 items of clothing on top) with frozen feet by the time I got home that I was steaming.

I retweeted :)

I really am from Canada and I really have had to run in the -24 degree weather. No ankle spraining, but I just have one thing to say: friends tell friends when they have a snow beard…(yes ladies, it CAN get so cold that the little hairs on your face accumulate a little too much moisture and you end up looking like a patchy-faced santa claus)

Last year I ran the Frosty 5k on a path on the Riverfront…veryyyy chillyyyy! It was about 0* out. I have a picture of that race (thank the boyfriend who stood outside the whole time to get it!) and I SWEAR you can see frozen particles at my nose! I live in Central IL and it gets preetty cold here. I am training for a half in March and I am know it will be cold then! I would love to have a nice shirt to wear on my training runs and the actual race!!!

The first race I ran was a half marathon last year in June. I was expecting a warm, sunny start to the race, but instead it was cold and rainy. Let me re-phrase that — it rained so hard that my socks were soaked by mile 2, and the goosebumps on my arms and legs were visible during all 13.1 miles. BUT I survived. And I’m determined to run a full marathon in 2010. (Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll is currently at the top of my list.) Now let me remind you that I live in PA, and we had snow in October. I could REALLY benefit from this Zensah shirt! Thanks, Danica!

haha I love a good “stink” resistance review of running apparel. Ok, Last year I ran my first race ever, a 5k in Novemeber. I know, big deal. In Georgia it gets super cold and I am ALWAYS cold. I was still new to running and I hadn’t really bought any running clothes. So, I wore an old sorority t layered with two more sweatshirts and black cotton leggings that I wore in the week under dresses… gross? or just wierd. Anyway, the end to this story is that I left the race as soon as it was over bc I was freezing and two weeks later I got an award in the mail for 2nd place in my age group! What?? My husband tells me to be proud, but I can’t help but remember that there were probably only 2 people in my age group in that race….

Sounds like the shirt would have come in handy for my last race! Was most definitely underdressed and cold! I did warm up during the race, but it went through downtown Atlanta and it was super windy and shady so I was freezing by the end. Now I’m training for a February marathon with more days of cold runs ahead :)

I used to live in Boston and ran in the mornings before work, trying to avoid black ice. I didn’t have a lot of money, so I wore what I had to keep me warm. I had a pink Patriots beanie, a pink fleece made for kids, and black leggings that were a bit too long and accumulated ice as I ran. Oh, and pink cotton gloves. I looked like thrown up bubble gum.

I’d like to think I’ve matured as a runner since then!

Back last year about this time, I was training for the Little Rock Marathon. It was so cold some mornings that we literally carried hand warmers and foot warmers in order to keep our fingers and toes from freezing! They work wonders and guess what, we bought them in the hunting section of our local wally world. Now if we can just figure out how to keep our noses warm and the snot from freezing! :) Gotta love it! :)

I also tweeted! I’m @Nikki224:
i NEED to win this awesome giveaway by @chicrunner and @Zensah: long sleeve compression shirt! http://tinyurl.com/ykwv2pd

Running in the early AM in CA and for my half marathon in Vegas is just too cold for me. I would love it….

Not so cold here is SoCal but as you said the early mornings and night runs can get cold. Best of luck at CIM

blech, running in the cold – HATE IT. last winter i had a 10 mile run on a saturday morning. it was in the teens and snow on the ground. i wore a fleece hat and too many clothes and was sweating like a hooker at Confession. my hair was soaked with sweat then it froze into icycles. and THAT freaked me out so i stopped after 7 miles and swore to never run in the bitter cold again. so far, so good!

I was once chased my a snowman during a frigid run in December. I’ll never forget the look on his face when the sun came out and I replied, SUCK IT, MELTY!!

I had to run the other day and I promised myself I would. Unfortunately it was freezing out and raining at the same time. I braved the cold because I knew that if I could run in that awful weather, I would never have an excuse to not run! :)

Just tweeted!! :D

I’m always running in a tank and a hat. Can’t find the right shirt. My nipples usually arrive to the finish way before i do.

Plus, I could advertise in my small town, and they would prolly think it was a Dutch word…ZENSAH!

LOL thnx, chic!

It is no fun running in the cold here in the Northeast. This would be super handy!

For the Surf City half marathon, I carpooled with some friends who wanted to arrive a whopping 3 hours before the race start! With the ocean mist and breeze blowing, we were FREEEEEEZING our butts off! This shirt definitely would have come in handy!

Well…lets talk cold.
I was awoken at 4am the other morning to the dog whining about having to go out…so I dragged my sorry but downstairs to the back yard. I open the door and discover that we are now in Winter time here is Canada!! There is a frost on the ground…and it is cold. Buddy (the dog) is doing his buisness…and out of the corner, I see the neighbors cat…and before I can react…the race is on. Cat screaming…dog barking…me running…then slipping and falling on the frozen deck…all at 4am…in the dark…in the freezing cold!
The cat cleared the fence…and got away safely…the dog paced around trying to figure out how to open the gate…the neighbors where cursing at me…and I sat there thinking…IF ONLY I HAD A ZENSAH SHIRT TO KEEP ME WARM…

Great blog Danica!

Nice giveaway! So, every time I run in sub-freezing temps, my eyes tear and the tears freeze to my eyelashes. Let’s just say NOT FUN. So I take my glasses off and try and cover one eye at a time with my gloves to stop the tearing and freezing. And yeah, being blind with my glasses off and my eyelashes frozen together while running on icy pavement … not a good idea. I haven’t ended up doing a total face plant yet, but it’s probably inevitable. I went to the eye doctor the other day and was actually contemplating getting goggles or something. Then I realized that in addition to being a stereotypical librarian, I would also be a colossal geek, so I abandoned the thought. Oh well. :-)

Look at all the peeps coming out of the commenting wood works for this awesome shirt!!

And I am with Aron – it gets cold here in Cali peeps – Danica is just crazy!

I was cold on my run on Sunday. I went out in short sleeves like a moron and actually went home mid run to put on a long sleeve shirt because I just couldn’t warm up! I never read the weather right this time of year and I think long sleeves are going to be necesssary/mandatory for the next few months which will be awesome with the zensah shirt! :) Thanks Danica!!!

I am always running in the cold now! Let me give you some advice – don’t move to MD. No, better yet – don’t move out of SoCal. Trust.

SWEET! I went running this morning and was just thinking I NEED to get some cold weather workout clothes sooo bad! I have one pair of running pants that are so old and like two shirts (it doesn’t get cold often in south texas) BUT I’m training for a triathlon all winter long and don’t want my to freeze anymore!

I don’t have a good ‘running in the cold’ story. If it’s below freezing, I stay inside!
ND is cold!

Being from Georgia – like 40 degrees is freezing for me. So, I ran when it was freezing cold last night. LOL.

Either way I’m signed up for my FIRST marathon EVA in March, which means I get to train through the coldest months of the year – and believe me when I say I have nothing to wear!

Last night I did a bootcamp class outside and it was darn cold and windy here on the East Coast! We did interval running on some pretty steep terrain and then weigts in a garage. I wish I had ear warmers and gloves – orrr this awesome shirt ;)

Hey Danica,

The last time I can remember being TRULY freezing while running was at the CIM last year. It was my first marathon and I went out the first 5 miles with a “throw-away” shirt on over my running gear. When I discarded it at mile 5 I felt great, but by mile 10 I was FREEZING.

I’ve been told that the temperature at the beginning of the 2008 CIM was warmer than the finish… yipes! I just remember barely being able to feel my legs or arms when I finished. That’s the coldest I’ve EVER been on a run.

Now if I would have had the Zensah long sleeve shirt I would have been in MUCH better shape. :)

And now I’m training for the Hilo Marathon in March… I know, warm in Hawaii, but to train here in Sacramento in the chilly Winter months I know the shirt would come in handy.

Thanks for the awesome blog and BEST OF LUCK on the CIM this weekend. I’ll be out there running the Relay!

Laura

“IE: ” Well hello Danica, I was freezing cold this morning when it was -24 degrees here in Canada and I put on three sweatshirts and a beanie and went out for my run and I fell on frozen grass and sprained my ankle.”” – LMAO!!!

I love Zensah!!!

Okay, well, it’s November in Canada so it is pretty much freezing every time I run now and will be until March. I need anything I can get my hands on to stay warm!!!

Last year, I ran Seattle’s annual St. Patty’s Day dash 5K, and showed up in a long sleeve cotton tshirt and of course a green tutu. I learned my lesson on cotton shirts pretty fast when it started SNOWING at the start of the race. It was the most difficult run of my life, tougher than my first half marathon! Did I mention this was in MARCH, brrr! Need this awesome shirt. :)

I will tweet tweet about it!

Four weeks ago I did my 11 mile run to train for the half I JUST finished on Sunday (yay meeeee). Instead of doing it in my own city (Seattle, think mild and wet) I was in my hometown to visit family. This town is in the mountains and so I FROZE my butt off the first couple miles. Then I warmed up. Then I had to stop to pee. Going from sweating and warm to sweaty and FREEZING was the last thing I wanted. So there you have it.

Ok..so I have to tell you before I start my story I must tell you that I hate feet. I hate them, I mean seriously hate them. They gross me out so much that sometimes seeing someone’s nasty feet makes me want to vom.
So, on Thanksgiving, my Dad and I were running in our local Turkey Trot. It was the coldest day I’ve run this year, but thought I’d be fine in my usual get-up. Instead, I seriously freezing. Like teeth chattering cold. About 3/4 of the way into the first mile, my toes were still frozen & really started to hurt. It felt like my big toe nail was going to fall off. I started crying because I was so freaked out. So here I am, freezing by butt off, crying, and hoping my toenail is still attached. I didn’t notice how fast I was going, and I PRed! Best of all, my toe was fine!

I love Zensah products–currently sporting their compression socks (yes, really, at work.. I’m wearing pants, so, it’s OK).

Running in the cold example: well, it was raining last night, and I don’t mind running in the rain–I don’t enjoy it, but, eh, whatever. So, this morning, it’s not raining. But it’s cold, like, really, really cold. I get all bundled up in my tights, my l/s tee, my jacket, the whole nine. Ready to run. It’s f0-ing really cold. FREEZING. You know how I know this? Because it started to snow!! I don’t own “snow running” clothing. Did I mention this is Dallas? Not acceptable. Seeing as I have a ton of races coming up, and Dallas’s “winter” is December-Feb, I could use all the warm clothing I could get!

Let’s see, running in the cold … I really hate running in the cold and being cold in general, so I usually opt for the treadmill in the winter. My first marathon was in the cold! I couldn’t even feel my toes until like mile 8!

It was cold enough to snow last night in Seattle… so I def could use this! thanks! :)

My first chilling run was also the most memorable – it was my first marathon and it was in Chicago of 2005. It was at 5AM on race day when I found out why the place was called the “Windy City”. Being a southern California gal (not to mention growing up in the tropics and the middle east), “cold” was a word that I would just read about in books or magazines; “cold” was what I’d be if the air conditioning were turned up too high; “cold” was sticking my arms in those large supermarket fridges when I pick out a pint of Cherry Garcia; “cold” was — sorry, I digress. Back in Chicago, the long-sleeved “Dri-Fit” shirt hardly provided any respite as the chilly air crept into my very being. The throw-away cotton gloves (which were two-sizes-too-big) and the Tyvek jacket (which I had purchased at the Expo the day earlier) didn’t do much to keep me warm. I reckon I must’ve looked like the bluest Asian on the course that day! >_< If only I had known about these things called Zensah long-sleeved compression shirts! Then I know I would’ve been nice and toasty, albeit still finishing at 6 hours and still crying upon crossing the finish line. To this day, I have never done another cold-weather marathon but hope to reconquer Chicago again someday.

Best of luck with your upcoming race!

OMG let me tell you, I have run in ridiculous weather. Being from Upstate NY, I am quite familiar with freezing. The WORST was a turkey trot two years ago. It was 30 degrees and freezing rain through the first two miles, and then it promptly turned to ice and snow. So bad that when I finished, I looked like a bonified snow monster, caked with a thin layer of ice. Seriously. This is no exaggeration haha.

Awesome shirt! Thanks for hosting the giveaway.

I’m still fairly new to running, so the coldest I’ve been (when running) was on Thanksgiving. A great base-layer was the only thing that got me out of the car and to the starting line. It’s about to get cold and snowy here, though, so I’m sure there are colder days in my future.

Good luck at CIM!

Were you looking at my Christmas list; long sleeve running shirts are on my list. I live a couple blocks away so you know how cold it is. I won’t see you on the bike path until I get some warmer clothes

I live in Florida, so most of the time it’s not too cold but once I got caught in a storm..which ended up being pretty cold! I had just gotten new running shoes as well that quickly filled up and I was sloshing around. I ended up sitting at a picnic table under an umbrella..sad. I can imagine how pathetic I looked walking around sloshing with a frown on my face.

Two winters ago I spent a couple months in the Cascade Mountains (…long story) We would run on the road of 8 ft of packed snow and sometimes it was so cold the condensation and sweat coming off our bodies would freeze as it hit the air, making a layer of frost on the outside of gloves, headbands, craziest was EYELASHES!!! It looked like white lash-extending mascara.

The shirt sounds great!

Let’s see running in the cold…well, since I’m in upstate NY, yeah. I do that a lot. I had an 11 mile run last year in 19 degree weather. The tears froze on my cheeks. No lie!

Central Illinois here – and while winter weather does seem to be moving farther south along the calendar it gets mighty cold in January and February.

That shirt would make a nice addition to my limited running clothing collection.

Running in the cold isn’t that bad if there was no wind. The wind out on the open prairie really, really sucks.

Western Ny is way cold… I run along Lake Ontario – WHOA! It snowed yesterday with much more to come..I look like I’m out to rob a bank when fully dressed for winter running.

I hate the cold, too. Booooo cold weather.

I’m pretty lucky here in TN, too that it doesn’t get crazy cold. BUT, I did have to bust out my underarmour cold gear leggings for the first time this season on Tuesday morning.

Cool giveaway! Thanks!

I live in VA, but even here it can get pretty cold… one cold day in my Running for Fitness class we went to the track for a workout. And guess who was there but the men’s Track team. And they were all REALLY hot. (like, good-looking… not temperature… because it was cold out…) So my running teacher is doing laps with us and she decides to go grab her gloves which were in the center of the track, and she doesn’t see the little metal guardrail-thing… well, you can see where this is going. Faceplant right on the track, in front of the entire men’s track team.

And BTW, I get 2 wears out of my compression tops, too :)

I’ve ran in extreme weather conditions. I’ve even slipped and fallen on ice in the middle of winter. fail. I love long (non tight shirts) because i hate my stomach showing too! bonus! if i dont win you have convinced me to buy the shirt! for real!! yay

Here in OK, it may be 32 at 8 am and 70 at noon. Not long ago my fingers were frozen at the beginning on my run, but as it got warmer, they thawed out from the rising temps!

Good luck at CIM, and that shirt looks great! Wish I had one for my Vegas marathon this weekend… brrrR!

I live in southern Arizona which is the desert, literally. It’s not cold much here. BUT since I’m a new runner, I don’t have any cool running gear. So the other night I went running when it was around 40 degrees and my teeth were chattering for the first 10 minutes. I was wearing a running skirt thingy that’s not really for runners but I was wearing it because I don’t have any cool running gear….did I mention that already? and I was wearing a COTTON long-sleeved Eddie Bauer shirt. So I need some cool running gear, ya know? I’m planning to run a 5k next month so I definitely need a nice running shirt. Basically? I want you to pick me. Because I’m a new runner. And I need cool running gear. Also? I have nine kids. Seriously. So that should get me SOMETHING, right? So here’s the recap…..
New runner.
No cool running gear.
Need me some Zensah.
Nine kids.
Pick me!

Last year’s New Years Eve midnight run in NYC. Whoa. Coldest run everrrr. Single digits, not enough layers…hour walk home from the race. It took about 3 hours to warm back up. Can I have a compression shirt for this year’s race?!?

I visited my dad who lives in Northern Iowa and decided to get in some runs. I wore my water belt with 4 bottles on it but the little suckers froze solid!! I’m going to visit him over Christmas, so this shirt would be VERY useful.

Also, just getting into twitter, but i’ll comment there too!

http://adamrisu.blogspot.com/2009/01/124-run-yay-step-down-week.html

From the original post:

The run overall was good, if not a bit (a lot) cold. My water bottles froze up AGAIN, this time so bad that I could never get them open. So, that means that they froze up within 25 minutes. This isn’t TOO big of a deal since I wasn’t sweating a ton while running – but if I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to drink it, I sure as hell wouldn’t have carried it! After all, I’m not a Sherpa. Now that I say that, having my own personal running assistant / fanny pack would be sort of fun. They could carry my water bottles, maybe some Gu, towels, strap a radio with speakers to their back… Send me an email if you would like to apply. The pay isn’t good, but the working conditions are great (time with me!). I mean, if Kathy Griffin can have three personal assistants, I should be able to have one running assistant right?

i am eager to try Zensah products, as Maine gets VERY cold, and i hate the treadmill! we always run a 10 miler on superbowl sunday and most often the weather is horrible! two years ago i wore long underwear, snow pants, soccer socks, a tshirt, long sleeved shirt, hooded sweatshirt, winter hat and gloves! needless to say i didnt run very fast, but we have a good time doing it!

I need this shirt because it is COLD in Utah, and my favorite long sleeved shirt has this funky smell, even after soaking it in baking soda and vinegar and washing it in HOT water!! It’s time for a new cold weather favorite!

Danica,
You made a good choice going with the black. I have the white version and my nipples show through like they are practically glowing.

Still really comfortable though. I wear it a lot under a windbreaker on cool/windy days.

Man, I could really use a nice new long sleeve shirt! My most ridiculous cold weather run was during an outdoor track meet in high school. We got a freak snowstorm, and I had to run all my races with my school singlet stretched over a running jacket! Really flattering – wish I had a pic! Thanks for the giveaway!

I would LOVE this shirt. I just went out on a run in the cold rain today, and there will be MANY more of these as my marathon training falls smack in the middle of winter :(

Umm. I live in Canada so it’s ALWAYS cold out when I try to run this time of year! This morning it was -7 C (19 F) and up where I grew up it was -25 C (-13 F). COLD!! I could definitely use that shirt. Plus, it helps that it’s totally cute :)

I could use a great long sleeve running shirt today…b/c it might snow this afternoon..right when I plan on running. Lucky me!

I also get super cold. I am wearing my down jacket in my house right now b/c my bf doesn’t believe it is cold enough to turn the heat on..and remember the weather is calling for snow!

It gets really cold in TN, and one time I had to run 17 miles on a treadmill because it was too cold outside!

I also tweeted!

I live in Florida and am also not such a huge fan of the cold! This shirt sounds amazing! Thanks for the blog, I love it!

Much like our Art Culture and Seasons…people do not believe it but they exist! I hate being chilly when running in the LA mornings. Hook a sista up!

here’s my entry:

while a zensah shirt won’t necessarily help with this, i actually coined the term ‘wiener bite’ to express the discomfort of running in shorts when it is frigid out:

http://amazinghip.breakingthetape.com/?p=240

I run early in the morning before my husband goes to work so I don’t have to a) run on a treadmill at the gym or b) take the jogging stroller with my daughter and it’s getting pretty chilly running at 5am here. Granted, I am in Houston, but its been in the 40s in the mornings and I am NOT enjoying that!! This shirt would be perfect for our weather!! Great giveaway!

I burst out laughing at your example about it being -24 degrees in canada…
I’m in Canada, albeit not a cold part of the country, and last night I was NOT in a happy mood as I dug through my closet trying to find all my winter running gear…. and it was only 0 degrees out there… and that was before I even stepped foot outside my front door. So you can imagine my utter happiness as I started running in that freaking coldness. well, cold to me. not like arctic cold.

I guess I should let someone else, in a colder part of the country have a chance at the shirt… but no. I could totally use a black compression top…white just does not cut it!

Living in Illinois means dealing with the cold for a good chunk of the year. I used to be a wuss and do my runs on the treadmill. But after signing up to run a 5K race one March and having the weather be in the high teens at the start line (in March!!) I realized I won’t die if I have to run outside in the cold. Plus, as the people around me at the start line at a cold 10K once chanted, a cold race can be followed by a “hot shower, cold beer!”

Hi Danica! You are probably thinking that I wouldn’t have a very good “cold” story being from Florida, but I have Very low blood pressure which causes my hands always to be FREEZING if I get cold. People make fun of me, because as soon as the temperature drops below 50, I am donning the long sleeves and long pants!!

I’m probably going to freeze my upper body off in our teen temps tonight, so I probably won’t need the long sleeve, but perhaps I could bury my frost bitten top half in it if I win. ;) I tweeted ya too!

I definitely could have used a better long sleeved shirt on my the really rainy 11 miler I ran a week ago with Kerrie. I couldn’t get warm and had to take a really long bath! Awesome shirt!

I could have definitely used this shirt yesterday morning on my run when it was 29 degrees!! Great giveaway!!

I’m a new runner so this will be my first winter to try to run in the cold. I did try the other day to run in the cold, but ran straight to my gym instead as soon as I got outside. I could use some warmer gear!

Hey Danica,
I live in Northern Michigan so I do a lot of cold weather running (I resort to the treadmill when it’s icy though). A couple of winters ago, I was going on a ‘running date’ with a guy I met through a singles website. We had met one time before and made arrangements to run a winter race near my home. Of course, race day it is below zero temps but I refuse to bow out because this guy is an ultra trail runner from Ohio. Did I mention the race was at night time in a dinky town on back roads??? It was -4 degrees and he’s so competitive, he’s running to win, so I race by myself (so much for a ‘date’) – 15 miles on icy, snowy trails with only a headlamp. I had on long underwear, tights and another pair of tights, four shirts, hat, face mask and two pairs of gloves. I actually did pretty well, second in AG – he had a better time but bonked at the end! Needless to say that was our last date LOL!

Unlike some people I really LIKE running in the cold. I love it when the fog is all around the streets and all is misty and crisp.
I am not a hot weather/sunny runner. I love not having to wear sunnies(I am Australian!) and I like the fact that I am not dripping sweat everywhere!

So, I just signed up for my first marathon.. in ALASKA :) It won’t actually be that cold for the race, because it’s in June. However, I will be training all winter long.. by the lake.. in the wind.. in Chicago! Needless to say, I freeze my tush off regularly on the lakefront path, so warm gear is a must!!

I practice avoidance of the cold in winter because I don’t have the right gear to run, so I stick to the treadmill. But if I had this shirt it sounds like I could brave it finally!

The coldest run I ever went on was last winter in NJ. The temperature was 7 degrees and the wind chill was even colder. I actually ran in snow pants and waddled my way through a 5 mile run.

Maybe if I win this I can START running again in the cold. I’ve been too chicken to try it.

so it has def been chilly here in the morning and this would def help in the warmth department!!! Thanks for the great giveaway!

I shudder when I think of the January days I get to look forward to in Wisconsin. If temperatures struggling to get out of the single digits isn’t bad enough, add in some wind and those are prime days to hit the treadmill. This shirt might help it feel a degree or two warmer. :)

My name is there, but the comment is MIA….hmmmm. Let’s try again.

Awesome giveaway!
I’m from Northern Wisconsin so running in sub-zero temperatures is normal. During the months of Decemeber-February I hardly make it through a run without slipping on ice, but it’s become more of a hilarious thing between my friends and I. We get a kick out of it.. getting frost bit is normal too…haha. But I refuse to run inside!!

Love the review! I met my running group this morning and it was 32 degrees – I also hate to be cold and was layered up in a tech t, long-sleeve zip-up shirt, and a lightweight jacket, and I was still a little cold. Nothing compared to running through the winter in Boston though, when ice covered the running paths for weeks!

I live in PA and I actually love running in the cold. The snow and nighttime are so peaceful. Last year I went for a 10 mile run (entirely unplanned) in the dead of winter. When I came back, my husband told me that it was -6 degrees out! Crazy! I needed a hot shower to thaw out my rear end!

So, it’s not really cold here often either and I probably don’t need the shirt often but I’ll take it anyway. :) Mainly I want to say that there is NO way you need an L/XL! You are too cute! That is all. :)

I live in NS, Canada and do lots of cold-weather running. I hate being cold so I’m always super-bundled…love my layers! Love the runs when you get back to your nice warm home, strip off those layers, de-thaw your eyelashes which have all frozen together, and have the time to sit in front of a woodstove to relax and stretch…. perfect. :)

Its just starting to get cold here so the shirt would be great!

It’s not really as cold here in NorCal as it is in other parts of the US — but I get cold super easy and I hate to be cold SO every run in the winter is cold to me! I do remember doing a run in the rain one time and I was freezing like never before (and I thought it was suppose to be warmer when it rained …)
Awesome giveaway! I just made my first Zensah purchase recently (shin sleeves) and I’m anxiously awaiting their arrival tomorrow!

I was training for my first marathon and was due for 12 miles on a 8 degree winter day in NJ. Thanks to dedication (or sheer stupidity)I bundled up in 3 layers of sweatshirts, 2 pants, a scarf, two beanies (I have a big head) with wool gloves and yard gloves over those wool gloves. 1 mile into the run my eyelashes and eyebrows were perfectly frosted. (who bleeping sweats in 8 degree weather? oh, I do). By mile two my frozen eyes managed to force a blink and got stuck together. Needless to say that was the end of my run and I am happy to report that my eyelashes re-grew!

Good luck at CIM and I hope you NEVER EVER have to experience cold weather running :)

This looks really cute on you! I like it! I was freezing cold last year at the Philly marathon. 28 weeks pregnant and had layers on, was planning to run and ended up walk jogging the half. Was like -5 real feel.

So I live in the South and it’s effin hot here most of the time. Not going to lie (what the h is wrong with me) BUT…January/February is coming, and we have been known to get a light dusting or two. SO I NEED ME SOME ZENSAH PLEASE! :) (Pretty please)

(wtf I’ll never win with that comment. Ha!)

i have to say – i’ve only been running for 2 months, so my stories are limited. but so are my clothes. i don’t really have any good running clothes… or apparently enough sense to go buy some. a couple weeks ago i realized i could see my breath and i was running in shorts. and a t-shirt. so clearly this zensah shirt would do me a world of good!!

thanks for the giveaway!

I try not to run in the cold. I hate running in the cold. Every time I go back to my mom’s in PA I tell myself that I am going to run but I never do b/c it is sooo cold. I did force myself to run Monday and today in the cold rain. The only good thing about running today is I came home and made baked potato soup so it was worth it :P

haha – very funny example :) I’m actually IN Canada – I used to run in the winter all the time, as cold as -20C. My running buddy used to mock me because I sweat A LOT and my entire face would be white with frost, as would my toque. And my shirt. And usually my eyelashes would freeze and stick together when I blinked. Good times.

That shirt looks super comfy and warm! I live in Boston and it’s starting to get cold. I also HATE to be cold so sometimes I use that as my excuse not to run…which is lame. Except that excuse makes me lame for about 3 months so I need more cold weather clothes to help me suck it up! :)
Good luck at CIM!!

Well, D, my cold story is the story of coldness-yet-to-come. I will be freezing my ass off this coming Sunday at around 6am.

Gimme this shirt.

I have too many cold weather running stories, but here’s my favorite one. It was February 3 years ago, before I invested in real winter gear. Let’s just say that I get a little moody if I don’t run for a few days in a row. The Husband suggested that if I wanted to save our young marriage I should go for a run. Well, I took his advice. However, when I got back from said run I was in a much worse mood as my thighs were numb from being cold. I hate being cold. I cried I was so cold and mad that he suggested I go for a run. Fast forward a few years and I’m still married ;) but I now run in the cold so I definitely could use an additional layer of insulation, cause being cold still makes me mad.

I live in (sometimes) cold Indianapolis Indiana…home to the Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts; not that I’m happy about our 11-0 status or anything. Okay, back to my story. So my story took place on December 1, yesterday! It was decently cold here. I have only been running about 9 months so my experience running in cold weather is somewhat limited. Make a long story short my jacket and gloves were overkill, so I’d LOVE the shirt. And just to add some comic relief to this otherwise boring comment, I was running with my (big) dog Roxy last night when a COYOTE pretty much followed us for about 4 miles and prevented any entrance back to the road to my house. Definitely kept the heartrate up and we made it outta live. Seriously, who else gets hunted by coyotes on their runs??

Love the blog…you take up at least a solid 10 minutes of my workday!

Well living in the arctic tundra that is Michigan requires quite the combination of gear in order to be comfortable in the winter months. Last winter when it was below zero and decided to go out for a run, I got so focused on putting on nearly 10 layers that I forgot a sports bra! Big Fail that day.

I am also from CA, and a few weeks ago, I took a business trip to MN. My first day of meetings didn’t start until Noon, so I decided that I should go for a morning run. However, the temp was a mere 28 degrees…And while I had tried to pack for the cold, I only brought capris, a long sleeve T-shirt, and gloves–no hat. Nevertheless, I completed about 6 miles. I couldn’t feel my ears or calves for most of the run, but I decided the cold was like an ice bath, and surely my legs would feel GREAT the next day. (And they did…but I decided to run on the treadmill instead of outdoors :) )

Taper yay. You’re going to do great at CIM–I can’t wait to see all your pictures and videos!

So, let’s see…I lived in Boston and one morning it was so cold I had on long johns, sweat pants, two pairs of socks and two fleeces. I ended up slipping on an ice patch =( and called it a day.

I also tweeted about the giveaway (carrotrunr). Thanks!

I’ve only recently started running, as in about a month and a half. I’m originally from Wisconsin and went to school in Minnesota, so I used to be alright with the cold. I moved down to grad school in Florida and went home for Thanksgiving last week. I was really scared of running in the cold, 32 feeling like 25 degrees, but it ended up being one of my best runs ever :)

I love pulling long sleeves over my hands like mittens too, that way when you get warmed up you can just let go and not have to worry about gloves.

I could sure use that shirt here in Salt Lake City for my run in the morning when it’s going to be 16 degrees. That is if I end up going…

The coldest run I’ve done was my first marathon. It was in “Sunny St. George” so I expected it to be warm, but I did bring a light jacket just in case. Well, the jacket wasn’t waterproof so it didn’t really cut it when it rained for pretty much the whole marathon. I was so miserable, cold and soaking wet when I got to the finish line, and there they were handing out ice cream sandwiches! That was the last thing I wanted!

I ended up with stress fracture after that race, and it was in October so I didn’t really run last winter. It will be interesting to see how it goes this year.

I had to run in the cold back in October – it was only 34 degrees – in October. I went out with shorts on because I didn’t own running pants! Soooo cold!

Almost every day — I live at 5000 feet and it snows all the time! But! I love running and it’s worth it!

Three years of running and I”m still learning how to dress “just right” in the winter. I ALWAYS overdress…it’s aggravating. Great giveaway. Pick me! Pick me!!

Oh girl, don’t get me started about cold weather running…I live in North Dakota! We have about 5 months of winter with about a wind chill of about 20 degrees below zero (on a decent day). My personal favorite is the frozen snot on my face during a run…good times!

Pasadena marathon in March — POURING rain before we even started! In one of my prouder moments, I stole a trash bag from a Starbucks near the start and never looked back.

Hi Danica – you’re cool; i win? No? Damn.
You know where I live so you know it can get really gnarly here. My first race this year was run in sub-freezing weather and my tongue froze from the gatorade…it was quite gnarly!

Hope you have lots of fun in CIM!

Okay, granted, I’m running in Socal too. But those freakin’ freezing mornings will catch you off guard, yo! So one time (really, a few) I ran without enough coverage. I warmed up enough, but once I was done, I had patches of red and purple skin all over…and the reddest nose ever. Totally hot.

I live here in Southern CA so anything under 50 is COLD to me. On Tuesday morning I saw it was 47 degrees so I wore a short sleeve tech shirt, arm warmers, long sleeve tech shirt and gloves. Anyone in a cold climate would laugh at me! I’m fine with being a wimp.

The last time I ran when it was cold I put on mittens, a face mask, a long sleeve shirt and jacket, leggings, and ear coverings. I have trouble with my lungs when I get too cold.

So once I went for a run in Syracuse. I think it was a 14 miler (definitely over 12 miles). The Gatorade in the bottle I was carrying froze. FROZE. I think it was 15 degrees with a negative wind chill (as a side note, I stepped in slushy puddles and even though my socks were soaked at the end of the run, my toes were not cold at all. Amazing socks :)

As I live in AZ it doesn’t really get too cold here. Other than the fact that it is “winter” now and my warm blood freezes whenever I hit the outdoors to get my run on. :) Again being in AZ I don’t really have long sleeve workout clothes so this Zensah shirt would be awesome! I do own a pair of Leg compression sleeves from them so I know how awesome their products are.

Well as you know Danica I live in the north east and it gets kind of cold. So this on time in the middle of december I decided I wanted to do a track workout. It was about 0 degrees F and so I headed to the high school with my spandex on and then pants over those with my under armour top and then sweat shirt and gloves and hat and all that stuff.

So i get to the track and there is snow on it. So i ran my workout on the track with snow and it was SO HARD! I could not get any traction! Needless to say next time I will bring my shovel!

I did a 5K in September in Upstate NY. I am a lazy runner and never pick up my race packets/bibs etc. before a race so I am usually stuck sitting around twidiling thumbs before a race. So I bundled up. Gloves. Ear Warmers- I’ll say Ear Muffs because it is just more fun then Warmers.. Three Shirts.

About 1K into the race I was on fire!! I couldnt handle the Muffs. Think Wicked Witch of the West- “I’m MEEEELTINNGGG”. Think Menopause Hot Flash. Think Walking on Coals barefoot.

So I did what any ECO friendly runner would do on a Nature Trail- I chucked my Ear Muffs into the woods. Thinking Ill come back for a lovely stroll post-race cool-down. That. Or a nice woodlin creature can make a nest out of the Muffs.

About a second after the Muffs hit the ground a guy behind me SPRINTS into the woods, scurries around and gobbles them up. Thinking to my self that he must assume I dropped the Muffs accidentally..I whip out my Ipod to thank the fellow runner/good-deed do’er. Turns out- his ears were a tid-bit chilly..He VELCROS on my Muffs and proceeds to run about a step ahead of me for the rest of the race. I am stuck glaring at the back of this guys head thinking “no he din’t”

Never thought I would have a Seinfeld-worthy Moment Mid-5K but there we were! Stolen Muffs! Who does such a thing?!

Needless to say, next race I am going sans-Muffs no matter the weather- and will count on a Zensah Long Sleeve to keep me warm and toasty.

Lesson learned!

So, living in Southern Louisiana, we don’t deal with too much of the cold weather running. BUT I’m running my first half marathon on Saturday morning….and the weather forecast is suddenly calling for low 30s and a “WINTRY MIX”–no joke, it was 70 degrees last week.

Sounds like I might have some cold weather running stories on Sunday!! Sheesh. :)

Tweeted: twitter.com/thefolksinger

I FREEZE at any temp below 50ish. And living in North Alabama means that we definitely get those temps about half of the year! So needless to say I’ll be freezing on my run tonight. Will be in the 40’s. Brrr…. I’m not ready for winter!

I would love the Zensah top! It was 3 degrees this morning when I got up! WAH! Colorado = cold in the winter. And I tooooootally agree about the whole stinky-dry-fit thing! What’s up with that?!

Ha! I just moved from the warm, humid south to the artic tundra of North Dakota, so basically every run from October to May is freexing! Mostly, I run around the YMCA track a gazillion times like a gerbil on a wheel (10 miless =100 laps)! I don’t have an awful running in cold story, but once before heading to the Y to run indoors, I helped my husband shovel the driveway, and my eyelashes froze completely! It looked like I had on thick, white Tammy Faye mascara! Insanity!!

The coldest run was a HM up in Healdsburg CA and oh my goodness I could not feel my toes/fingers/thighs for the first three miles! It was the funkiest feeling ever; trying to run while my inner thighs had no feeling. I ended up going out way too fast because of this, but man! I would have loved something cozy to wear!

While training for Philly marathon last year, I had a 20 miler in 20 degree weather. I’m not lying that towards the end, I was not only drooling, but I couldn’t talk because my face was frozen.

Good luck this weekend! When I run in the cold, every part of my body hurts and like clenches up from it – I hate it so much! For some reason, my jaw is the worse. When I’m done running, I can’t even talk because my jaw is stuck in place and hurts so bad. I would love something to warm me up running in the cold!

Last winter, there was more than once when we had to get up on a Sunday at 5:30am and shovel our car out of the driveway in order to make it to our 8am run clinic for a long run. I have post shovel pics to prove it as well.

“Why hello Danica …” lol

I just moved to a much colder city. I own ONE, count it, ONE long sleeve running shirt. It’s not even a discreet color, it’s periwinkle purple, so wearing in the park everday is a treat. I’m still addicted to wearing booty shorts though. Did you know, when the temp is less then 40 degrees, you’re butt can actually reflect that temp nicely? Steam was coming off my ass in the shower post run. No joke.

Can you enter me now, I’m going to tweet about it in just a sec (@rachael_taylor)
mkay thanks bye!

Last year I did 15km in -32 F (after the windchill). My eyelashes were icicles. Which I actually thought was pretty cool. So, um, pick me!

I ran the “Fairfax Four Miler” on NYE last year, and that was the day that DC winter came in full force: 20 degrees, and the wind gusts were so strong it knocked a few power lines down, so the route was changed last minute. (Horrible route, freezing run, so this year my NYE will be spent in Rio instead.)

The beginning of high school track season in Michigan usually means dealing with snow for the first month of the season. I remember running a meet in the middle of April and when school got out for the day, there was 6 in of snow on the ground! I was ill prepared for the meet (I had only my school-issued warm up suit and a jacket). I remember it took my hands about 2 hours at home to unfreeze from the running position.

Last year I visited my in-laws in Ohio at the end of December. I was determined to keep running through the holidays, so several mornings I bundled up and hit the snow-covered pavement despite the single digit temperatures.

When I get cold, it isn’t so much when I am running but when I am on the bike. When you start riding at 7:30 in the morning, 60 degree weather quickly turns into 50 degree weather because of the wind on your body.
Cold!

I once tried to run in the snow when I was in college in NC – except I didn’t really have any appropriate cold weather work out gear so I went in huge sweatpants and a monster fleece… I looked like a yete!

First of all, I have some SERIOUS bad ass runners who read this blog!! Wow guys! You are all hardcore! I can’t wait to pick the winner.

The stories have been cracking me up all week. Thanks!

Cold running.. I like the fresh air in your lungs and that feeling of the cold air going into your lungs! Last year I went out to run with some coworkers & my boss who was training for a marathon. It was cold and windy-probably 20ish. I was in Underarmour cold gear, couple layers up top, hat, gloves and here comes my boss in running shorts, a tee & gloves. YEAH…. not expecting that one.. Pick me!!

My first marathon was this year’s Chicago, which was 27 degrees at the start. I was appropriately dressed, but there were so many people in singlets and arm warmers. The craziest one was a woman who was running in capri running pants, a hot pink sports bra and no gloves and no hat. Yes, I said SPORTS BRA – this woman did not even have on a tank top! The worst part was that it wasn’t like she was moving fast enough to really warm up; she was back with the 4:45′ers, like me!!

Hey Danica! I hardly ever get to read your blog anymore since I started teaching, but I’ve missed it so much!

J and I just started training for another half. I have to leave by 6am for my job now, so we’ve been getting up at 4:30am to run. This morning it was 23 degrees! That’s not actually my story, though.

Last year, when we were training for our full, we started training at the first of January and the race was in April. We trained through the coldest months of the year! There were some pretty frigid runs in there, but the worst was one morning when we had to get up super early to go. Unfortunately it had snowed and iced the night before, but we pressed on for our 16 miler. Not only was it freezing cold, but there was ice all over the roads. So, we just tried to keep our footing and hit the grass when possible. I honestly have no idea how we made it through that one without breaking something. I was tense the entire time, afraid I was going to hit a patch and go sliding.

Anyway, thanks for doing the giveaway, the shirt looks awesome! And good luck with your legs!

The first time I had to run 8 miles I was super nervous. It didn’t help that it was super cold (especially for MS & rainy). I could have used a shirt like that!

I tweeted! (@ramblinglexi)

um, many a time during the winter months, i would run home from the bar. often in the snow. and in heels or some type of non-running shoe. i sort of became known as the girl who ran home. by herself. from the bar.

I’m like you; I HATE the cold. I also USED to live in Southern California before I had the brilliant idea to move to Pittsburgh (read: cold!) so now whenever I run outside I think about the warm Valley and try to ignore the pain in my ears and fingertips. ;-)

Yeah, I am not too fond of running in the cold as well. Just yesterday I went out and it was in the high 30’s low 40’s! I would much rather run when it is in the 60’s because that is perfect weather in SO ILL! So i am up to trying someting new that can keep me warm. :)

Our family (husband, 2 kids & me) did a 5K together last Christmas (12/27). Running with kids is a whole different ballgame! You have to keep things interesting and fun to distract them from the actual running. Anyway, here in upstate NY it’s freezing in December so we were all so layered up we could barely move (picture A Christmas Story). It was so cold that our kids (ages 9 & 10 at the time) didn’t even want to get out of the car for the race. At one point during the race, my son actually laid down in the road and refused to get up – not sure how laying down was going to help, but that’s what it’s like running with kids..gotta love it. It was a real fun race (NOT!). Actually, it couldn’t have been all bad because we’re going to try it again in a few short weeks..that compression shirt would sure come in handy :)

Last winter I ran here in Boston before the sun came up on one of the coldest days on record – when I came home there was a layer of ice over my fleece (from my sweat) and my hair had frozen!

I bought a pair of winter running pants that I thought were going to be great for the cold Boston winters. Turns out that they don’t wick well enough and ended up turning sticky/freezing on my legs – yikes!!!

I was away on a business trip to Wyoming and being indoors all day long listening to presentations was driving me crazy. The schedule was packed and there was literally no time during the day to slip out and get a run in. The only available time was early in the AM when it is dark outside and pretty chilly at 35°F. Anyway, being from CA, I didn’t carry any “warm” clothes, so I put on my dri-fit running gear. I put my running shirt over my singlet and went out for a “long 45 minutes” trail run and frooze my butt off. I didn’t warm up the entire run. I had chills running through my body, my nose was running and my eyes were watering non-stop. I got back to my hotel room after the cold miserable run and had to sit under the shower for a good 30 minutes or so to get warmed up. Other than that I was glad to get a run in.
Cheers
Raj

So the other day it was like -15 and I took my puppy (Daisy) out to do her business. It was dark and cold but I thought it would be cold so I didn’t put on a coat. Silly I know.

I also didn’t put her on a leash because she’s usually pretty good. Also silly of me.

Well she decided to bolt on me. So while totally underdressed and FREEZING I had to run after my puppy.

Nope it wasn’t for negative splits. It was to get my puppy. But I say it still counts as a run! :oP

Hey girl!
I actually have an “I am cold in Canada” story… it was my 23rd birthday, -25Celcius outside, and we were running 24km, the farthest I had ever run!
I wore long johns under my tights, old school track pants over my tights, my ski socks, layer oupon layer of shirts, my fab cheetah neck warmer, and a hat and two pairs of mitts.
Then I went out that night for my birthday and was the last to leave even though I was sooo spent from running that morning. Homegirl’s gotta party, right?

Hey! I sure could use a nice toasty compression shirt…Last year I went running with a friend and it was in the 30’s outside…well..not too bad, except for the fact that we didn’t know that it was supposed to rain that morning and we started getting pelted by freezing rain. I was SO cold and my hands were basically hand-shaped icicles..They hurt so bad, I thought they were going to fall off..BUT the worst part was… I couldn’t turn the warm water on to warm my hands up when we got back home and I started to get that “oh-so-funny” feeling of my blood sugar getting low..I couldn’t get into my shirt pocket to get my snack and so I was trying to tell my friend to get it for me, but I told her it was in my sweater…So, she is looking frantically around for my sweater, when I don’t have one…trying to put my feet up so I don’t pass out…Geez! She finally figured out my nonsense and had to feed me my protein bar…So maybe, if I had a nice toasty compression shirt, I could tuck my hands inside and you could save me from passing out! Wouldn’t that make you feel good? HAHA!

Last winter I was training for the New Jersey Marathon. One 3 day weekend I kept putting off my long run, until the last day I realized I had to go. I woke up to…snow! What’s a girl to do but bundle up and get her procrastinating butt out there for 15 miles. It was so cold I was crying at certain points. I stopped in a bodega and realized I had no money – I explained my story to the owner who took pity on me and gave me free hot chocolate. I think that was the only way I was able to force myself back out in the cold to finish the last 5 miles. Brr I’m cold just remember it!

I started running after I moved to California, so my first cold-weather run (ie under 45 degrees) was in Chicago a few weeks ago. Oh my…I’ve never worn three layers of shirts on a run before! Thank god I live in San Francisco.

[...] hopeful for. But as for now, you can go read the “cold weather running comments” and enter to win the Zensah shirt, which I DID end up wearing yesterday and am SO thankful I did. I am going to announce the winner [...]

Last year I got the crazy idea to start running again – it was December. So, I had four months of winter training in South Dakota before my first race. I had run in the cold before but not on a consistent basis so it was a definite learning process when it came to deciding how to stay warm and still be able to move when it’s -20 out!

I come to appreciate warm, well-designed cold weather gear and can never get enough of it! Bonus if you can wear it on multiple runs before washing!!

Ack!!! My coldest running experience was this weekend! I ran a half marathon and it was 33 degrees and raining (for the first hour the rain would not stop). It was really really fricking freezing. And I have only lived in AZ/So Cal before moving to NC. Ughhhhh. My poor southwestern bod didn’t know what to do.

So it’s 19 wonderful degrees here in Oregon and I have a horrible cold… actually a cold that turned into a sinus infection. I would love to go run outside when I feel better because I loathe the dreadmill but I am worried that once I get over this cold/sinus infection/earache, running in the cold will just let my head turn into a giant snot factory again :( long sleeve zensah shirt could help warm me up and be a nice start to my cold weather running gear!

also tweeted @waddle_on

I swear I already commented, but apparently I just dreamed it!

Last year I wussed out and did much of my winter training on the treadmill. One day I took the day off work and tried to run outside. After dodging slush and ice and rock-hard bits of snow I decided I hated winter running. But then I bought a pair of YakTrax, was able to run outside along side freaking cross-country skiers and decided I liked winter running. Just as long as it’s not in a blizzard!

I ran a 5K this weekend and it was 29 degrees… in Texas! It was my fastest 5K yet, but it was also the first time I ever had to run to the side of the route and gag up a pile of snot, which had dripped from my nose down the back of my throat. I told my friend I was fine, and was actually just trying to intimidate the other runners. :)

thanks for the giveaway! i saw “keeps you warm” and immediately had to check out your post. i live in michigan (translation: ice, snow, bone-chilling wind). anytime i can find a cute, long, and stretchy shirt to fight off the brutal cold–i’m there!

I started running last winter with my dog Onyx…wanted to get her into shape as well as I. Needless to say, running in 20 degree weather here in NC didn’t work out too well for her…she’s till a bit chubby but she’s the best!!

Now I just focus on my training. Cheers!

I guess I use the cold excuse any morning I am getting out of my cozy bed no matter what the season, but just recently I woke up to run on the first really cold morning of the winter it was 20 degrees which isnt bad for Buffalo winters-Too bad I didnt throw on enough layers and made it to only mile 2 when I realized I couldnt hit my I-pod buttons because my fingers were frozen. I would love to win and keep warm in snowy Buffalo!

Well, it doesn’t get as cold here in GA as it does in a lot of places, but it still would be nice to have a little better (warmer) running gear for those mornings in the 30’s.

I don’t have a lot of cold running stories (just started seriously running a few years ago and I live in Santa Monica)…but I do have some funny cold figure skating stories…

I am commenting about “one time” when I was cold while running. I live in Minnesota so 5 months out of the year I am usually cold while running :) I think this shirt would look smokin with my yaktrax!

Cleveland Ohio = cold year round!!! I’m thinking my coldest run is going to be this Sat for the Reindeer Run. Soooo… I guess thats actually a “future cold run story”. ;)

Nashville’s in the South right? It shouldn’t get too cold there…that’s what I initally thought too…but think again. I forever am trying to figure out what to wear on cold runs in the morning. I always seem to either end up looking like Ralphie’s brother on A Christmas Story or the village idiot in shorts and a t-shirt who think she can just brave the cold. Brrrr…Now that it’s chilly and I have made a vow to stay training outside, I would love this shirt. Then maybe I would be able to feel my arms in the wee hours of the morning :) Not to mention it looks good too. I’m with you Danica, hate the short running shirts. Thanks so much for doing this Zensha and Danica!

Ran the other morning and it was 34 degrees in Sacramento. Motivation enough to start the pace off quick. That said, pick me please!

I live in Spain and while Spain is known for lots of sunshine, that is not the case where I live (It snows and can get down to 14ºF during the winters). It’s difficult to find running gear in my town and internet shopping is limited in Spain (nearest running store is about 140 miles away). The Zensah shirt would come in handy. And if I like it, I’d be willing to travel to find a store that carries the brand. So pick me, please!!!

great shirt! i’m out in NY and it gets very cold here, so this shirt would come in very handy!

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