Anchorage Daily News

Runner Goldman Miller of Valdez has run through the extremes of winter weather.

When she lived in Kaltag a few years back, she trained for Anchorage's Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon in temperatures that reached minus-60. Now on the edge of Prince William Sound, she runs in much warmer weather -- but wetter and windier conditions too.

"Running in really cold temperatures can look pretty uncomfortable, but it usually feels just fine if you layer," said Miller. "Once you get warm, you stay warm. I've been colder here than in the Interior."

Like many Alaska winter runners, Miller struggled to find a way to keep her hands warm without turning them hot and sweaty.

"I have a nice pair of Outdoor Research mittens that probably works best," she said. "They have coated vinyl on the bottom side, and they block the wind pretty well. But when I was in the Interior, there were times after about a mile that I'd have to take my gloves off."

For years runners braving the cold had to make do with gloves designed for skiing, hiking or general cold weather use.

But for the last few years, running-shoe makers have ramped up production of running-specific gloves that warm the hands at the cold start of a run and attempt to adapt as the hands heat up a few miles later.

Most of these gloves are thin instead of bulky (the better to stash in a pocket), featuring rubber palm grips for dexterity and soft areas on the thumb and forefinger designed for wiping wet noses.

But in some parts of Alaska, particularly on sub-zero days, they simply aren't enough for runners prone to cold fingers, and the old Pearl Izumi split-finger lobster gloves -- clunky and heavy as they are -- are a welcome refuge of warmth.

After all that's all any runner wants.

"We found that the No. 1 thing a runner wants in the winter is warm, dry hands," said Lou Fliszar, vice president of sales for Manzella, a maker of sports gloves, told the New York Times.

Company research led to a line of running Manzella gloves made of materials claim to wick water and block the wind.

Two years ago, Cari Tschida, a marathoner and the athletic director for the Calhoun Beach Club in Minneapolis, tested five pairs of gloves and mittens for Runners World magazine while running 2 to 12 miles in temperatures ranging from 13 below zero to the low 20s. His evaluation:

1) Brooks HVAC Gloves: Ideal for a range of temperatures, this glove uses strands of silver, which supposedly help keep your hands at a constant temperature. We were skeptical, but it kept our tester warm. $34; 1-800-227-6657; brooksrunning.com

2) Asics Winter Run Hybrid Glove: Although the polyurethane-coated hood of this fingerless glove is a bit bulky, it keeps fingers out of the elements without sacrificing dexterity. $28; 1-800-678-9435; asicsamerica.com

3) SmartWool Synergy Glove: A great option for milder days, the Synergy features a blend of SmartWool and nylon, giving you the traditional warmth of wool, plus the added wicking ability of nylon. Gripper dots on the palm. $30; 1-800-550-9665; smartwool.com

4) Adidas UltraTech Running Glove: The thin UltraTech is good for chilly mornings. It has a soft material over the thumb (perfect for the occasional nose wipe) and three reflective strips to keep you visible. $22; 1-800-966-7697; dickssportinggoods

5) Saucony Ulti-Mitt: OK, it's true. The flashing LED light on the right mitt is kind of cool, though you probably need one somewhere else too if you run near traffic.

This winter running glove has options. Wear it as a finger glove or convert into a mitten on colder days. The thumb and forefinger can be easily uncovered for more delicate tasks. This mitt also features a convenient stash pocket to store runner essentials.

Ultimately, like many gear decisions, running gloves come down to what works best for you.

Rita Wade puts on the Susitna 100 and Little Su 50 endurance foot, ski and bike races with husband Brooks in February and is a veteran of those races. Like Miller, she leans toward an Outdoor Research system if it's particularly cold.

"There are other brands out there, but they were probably first," she said.

Wade uses a polypropylene liner, a fleece-type mitt and a Gore-Tex shell.

"It works for me, and I have cold hands," she said.

Laura McDonough, who's won the women's foot division of the Susitna 100 eight of the nine years she has raced it, likes poly-pro liners under a pair of fleece gloves this time of year when temperatures can dip into single digits.

"Having the two layers gives you a little flexibility," she said. "Most of the time, my hands warm up pretty quickly."

But gloves aren't the only way to keep fingers warm.

"One thing that people need to understand -- you lose about a third of your body heat through your head," Wade said.

"A real good hat that covers up your head is even more important."

And not everyone needs expensive high-tech gloves either.

"I really enjoy using the little brown garden gloves you can get for about $2 a pair at just about any store in town," said Joe Alward, the West High track coach.

A long-time runner, Alward has won local races as short as 800 meters and as long as the Mayor's Marathon.

"If I lose them I don't stress about 'em," he said.

"They work great for me all the way down to about minus 5 degrees. Anything lower than that, I use an old pair of Toko gloves. They are warm. I've tried wool and some of the newer stuff but I really like cotton for some reason. Call me old school."

Reporter Mike Campbell can be found online at adn.com/contact/mcampbell or call 257-4329. The New York Times contributed to this story.

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