Shorts or legs...

OK, we have had lots of jolly cold weather recently and lots of very hot and sunny weather over last summer. A simple question... when should you move from long-legs to shorts/skorts, and from shorts/skorts to long-legs? Is it as simple as when you feel right, or can you hurt knees etc by wearing shorts/skorts when it's cold?

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

With a wind chill of -5c at parkrun on Saturday, there were ladies in shorts, leggings and tracksuit bottoms. I think it’s how comfortable you feel, and how hot you get when you are running. I won’t be back in capris until at least spring . I think it’s good to put something warm on after your run if it’s cold though.

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

That is what I would have thought, but coming from a cycling background where you make sure knees are covered when its below about 10 degrees, I thought I should check. I will be marshalling a Dartmoor run on Saturday and the runners often wear shorts, but I have never been sure of the wisdom.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

My legs are so white at this time of year, they are best kept covered. 😂😂

How lovely to do parkrun at Dartmoor- I need to check it out on the website. I love Devon. I’d definitely wear lots of layers for volunteering at this time of year.

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

Not a Parkrun. This is the Wild Night Run - look it up. 10 miles in the dark across some barren land, lanes and tracks. It's all part of the Wild Night Run series. One day I will compete in this or its little brother, the Mild Night Run (5 miles).

If you are feeling really tough/brave/down-right stupid, then there is The Crossing. A 36.5 mile cross-Dartmoor ultra. Last year's winning time was an incredible 4 hours 28 mins.

There are some gorgeous simple runs on the moor and at the coast. Drop me a line if you are heading this way and I can point you in their direction.

[Shakywakey Graduate10]

I stay in shorts all year round . My legs don’t seem to feel the cold 😄

It’s my top half that I layer up on

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

If you are cold wear long..if not wear short... simple as that...

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

I'm happy in shorts, but I thought I should check in case I was helping to 'bugger' my knees by wearing shorts. Thanks for the advice.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

There is a lot stuff written about this... but as long as you are happy with a really good warm up to get the muscles ready to go..and obviously, in really cold weather.. consider where you are running, and for how long... and what may happen if you are injured and have to stop etc...? That may need to be taken into consideration... and as for Park Run marshalling on Dartmoor... Definitely cover up... well !!!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

I've often thought that when I see runners in shorts in very cold weather surely their muscles are cold and would take much longer to warm and therefore they're at bigger risk of injury. I don't know if this is actually true or not but I wear long leggings in the cold and go shorter as the weather warms up. Although I did wear capris in December in a race and found I was speedier than usual 🤔🙂

There's a runner chap at my Pilates who wears shorts the whole year round and he runs ultras but says he doesn't feel the cold! I guess we're all different so do what you're comfortable with.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

I went for leggings as soon as the temperate dipped below about 8 degrees and won't be out of them anytime soon! I do have two thicknesses with a really thick pair for under 4 degrees. My legs might emerge from hibernation around May🏃⛄️⛄️

[misswobble Graduate10]

I recently had to undo the ankle zips on my long run tights to let some heat escape 😁

I won’t run in capris til weather warms up a-piece It’s filthy on my runs so I like to keep my lower legs covered. I’m in winter weight tights at the mo, which I love Yesterday was well warm though 🥵

My skort is for sunny days where i’m Not likely to run into someone I know 😎☺️

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Running on Dartmoor at night in winter? I thought only Royal Marines did that for fun. 🤣🤣

[MarkyD Graduate10]

If you are running more than 5km (and not taking walking breaks) then my rule of thumb is:

>10 degrees C: shorts

< 10 degrees C: tights.

If in doubt, under-dress (it is easy to warm up when running than cool down). And if you have to take off a layer, then you have to carry it.

[Hidden in reply to MarkyD]

Thanks. So true about carrying things. It's bad enough trudging along with the dog's lead in my hand, let alone discarded clothing too. By tights, do you mean Ronhill Tracksters etc, or something thinner?

My previous running 'career' was done in lovely warm Spring and Summer weather, and then life got in the way for a few years. Now at W2R2 and feeling happy with it.

[MarkyD Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Good to have you back & trust that you've recovered.

Yes, I mean Ronhill Tracksters (actually, I run in Nike equivalent).

[Hidden in reply to MarkyD]

Thanks. I have lots of Tracksters, so I just need to dig them out, dust them down and hope they fit! If I need them with Spring just around the corner...