This post is sponsored by Under Armour and contains affiliate links. All opinions—as always!—are my own.

I used to love running. Starting in high school, up until a few years ago, it was something I looked forward to doing several times a week. It was a chance to get outside, listen to some good music, and zone out—it was like a moving meditation for me. I never thought much about pace or mileage, and would just go until I felt like it. If I was feeling good, maybe I’d do five miles. If my legs felt sluggish, I’d stop after a couple.

Training for the Boston Marathon a few years ago completely changed that. And in the time since, I’ve barely run at all. I kept trying to get back into it, thinking that signing up for another race would be the motivation I needed to run again. But it never worked because I wasn’t realizing that committing to a race was the exact thing that sucked the joy out of the activity for me in the first place.

This month I’m partnering with Under Armour to turn my wish of rekindling my relationship with running into a will. I WILL find that joyful feeling again. In fact, I already am! I changed my mindset once I realized it was the therapeutic peacefulness of a run that I missed—not the races or even the physical workout.

Lately I’ve been going on a run for the sole purpose of getting some me time. It’s been wonderful!

Cold Weather Running Gift Guide

Check out my outfit details from this post, as well as some other Under Armour gear that’ll make outdoor running more enjoyable as the weather gets colder.

1. UA Sport Wireless React Headphones – A quality pair of wireless bluetooth headphones are high on my wish list. And if you’re looking for a new playlist for your next run, I’ve put together one on Spotify. It’s a mix of current songs, throwbacks, and a few Joe made me add. 😉

2. UA HOVR Phantom Connected Running Sneakers – These super comfortable sneakers have a neutral, cushioned sole. The soft knit upper portion of the sneaker almost feels like you’re wearing a compression sock. A note on sizing: Go up a half size! I’m usually a 9 in shoes but the 9 ½ fits me best.

The coolest feature about the shoe is that it syncs to the Map My Run app using UA’s Record Sensor technology. So not only will it track and store distance and pace, but it will even analyze running metrics like your stride length.

3. UA Storm Run Liner Gloves – Right around December is when gloves become non-negotiable for me if I’m running outside (anyone else have Raynaud’s?). When I shared these on Instagram I got a lot of questions about how warm they are so I thought I’d elaborate here.

They’re liner gloves, so about as warm as a thin glove can be. Perfect for this mild-cold November/December weather. Come January/February in Boston, I typically use hand warmers along with a thin liner glove. About 10 minutes in to the run when my body is warm, I’ll remove the hand warmers and just use the gloves. I much prefer that system to running with big heavy ski gloves because while they are great at first, my hands tend to uncomfortably overheat halfway through the run.

4. ColdGear Reactor Balaclava Outer Layer – This insulation running hoodie traps heat but will circulate it away from your body so that you stay warm without overheating. I love that the neck comes up to cover the lower part of your face—will come in handy in January and February!

5. Women’s Base 4.0 Crew Long Sleeve – This thermal fleece long-sleeve traps heat for lasting protection against the cold. The material wicks moisture and dries quickly.

6. Armour Mid Crossback Sports Bra – This is a medium-impact bra so would be best for A-C cups. If you want something with more support that works for a wider range of bust sizes, see #8.

7. UA Beyond 18oz Water Bottle – I have this water bottle in silver and it’d make for a great stocking stuffer!

8. UA Vanish High Sports Bra – This sports bra is good for high-impact workouts and has foam padded cups (not removable). Normally I don’t like any padding, but I gotta say it provides quality support when running/jumping around! This bra is also fast-drying so it’s good for cold weather.

9. Athlete Recovery Sleepwear Pants – Fellow New Englanders, you might be familiar with these sleepwear pants because Under Armour partnered with our boy Tom Brady on them. The pattern inside the fabric is designed for better rest and recovery. It returns infrared energy to your body to boost blood flow and increase the amount of oxygen that reaches your muscles. And science aside, they just look really comfy. 😉

10. ColdGear Run Storm Tights – These leggings are warm without being too thick. They dry quickly and wick sweat.

Do you have any goals for the end of the year? What’s your WILL?

xo Nicole

Photos by Nick Cosky.