Fall is in full swing and so begins the morning routine of dragging yourself out the door to start your run in the freezing darkness. It's mornings like this I ask myself why I willingly put myself through this crazy routine. My body begins in a dazed mechanical motion and slowly warms until I find myself enjoying every breath, every foot-strike, every movement. It's usually about the time the sun begins to peek over the horizon that I remember why I run. I feel fortunate to be one of the few to greet the sun while finishing a run, driving home from the pool or beginning a good hard canyon ride. The sun and I have become good friends over the years; maybe one reason I dread the winter. About the only thing I look forward to when winter creeps in is the sweet new gear I 'have' to buy in order to keep training. (Seriously, how can any significant other dispute the need for more layers?)
The Saucony Protection Glove has become my new morning companion. Soft and insulated, they come in bright colors with a reflective strip on the back of the hand and are wind and water resistant. The best part is the USB rechargeable LED light that clips to the right glove. It offers both steady and flashing beams, and can hold a charge for two hours. The back of the thumb is a plush cloth wipe and as a bonus there are magnetic fasteners on the wrist so you don't lose one in your bag. The label mentions that the light will last for up to 10,000 hours, which we can only assume is correct since we didn't have the time to put it to the test. As you know running in the darkness has it's own dangers and the light is a welcome addition for any runner who prefers to keep off the list of statistics. We tried using it at first as a true flashlight but with the movement of running, we quickly found that dark trails or roads will still require a headlamp, but the extra light was still very welcome.
While they're not meant to work for sub zero temperatures, they come out just the right insulation for fall and mild winter. However, if your hands run hot while you workout, they just might work for super cold days as well. As far as I'm concerned, anything that will keep me training outside through the winter is a welcome gift and they would make a great stocking stuffer for your own running enthusiast.
Retail: $50.00
For purchase information try your local shop or go to: www.saucony.com
