If you maintain a regular jogging routine, the cool weather of fall and winter can be challenging. Cold air makes it less comfortable to run outdoors but you don’t want to let it keep you from exercising outside altogether. Here are 6 ways to keep warm when jogging in the fall and even into the winter:

1. Warm up inside. Before you head out into the cold, warm up indoors. Stretch, run in place, and do jumping jacks. Warming up will decrease the likelihood of injury from cold muscles. When your muscles are warm, they are more flexible which helps prevent cold weather injuries. When you feel warm and ready, head outside.

2. Get cold weather gear. Head down to the athletic store and stock up on warm weather running gear like thicker socks, moisture wicking under layers, a hat, gloves, and outer layer gear that’s designed for cold weather.

3. Get hand and feet warmers. Most sportswear stores sell packets that will heat up for a short period of time that you can place in your gloves, pockets or even your running shoes . When it’s cold out, your extremities will be the first thing that feels cold as your body tries to conserve heat so keeping your hands and feet warm is essential to cold weather preparedness.

4. Run at the warmest time of the day. If you’re the type of person who tends to run first thing in the morning or at night when it’s coldest, consider switching to a daytime run. It tends to be warmest outside mid-day. Try running at lunch, at least until it warms up outside.

5.  Cover your skin. When you’re dressing yourself to run outside, make sure you cover as much of your skin as possible. This will help keep your body warm as you expose yourself to the elements.

6. Mentally prepare yourself. Finally, it’s helpful to psyche yourself up to run in the cold. Listen to uplifting, energetic music. Repeat a mantra. Whatever you need to do to get yourself into a good mental place to run- do it. Then, get running!

Finally, don’t forget to hydrate- even if you aren’t sweating. Also, use your best judgment and don’t run when it’s too cold- that is, if it’s cold enough that it might be unsafe to run. Remember to consult with your primary care physician before starting an exercise program.