It's cold outside, but that is not an excuse for runners in Schuylkill County.
Barb McGinley, head track coach for Pottsville Area High School, was one of several residents who went for a run early Tuesday.
"I've been running for 34 years," McGinley said. "You just have to dress for the weather."
According to the National Weather Service, the high Monday was 32 degrees and dropped into the low teens overnight.
"I prefer to be outside," McGinley said. "It's just more enjoyable for me than being in a gym."
McGinley said the key is wearing layers.
"The gear they have today, it's much more comfortable. It keeps you warmer and the material takes away the moisture," she said. "If you dress appropriately for the weather conditions, you should be OK."
Bernie Stasko, ATC, head athletic trainer at Schuylkill Rehabilitation Center in Pottsville, said cold air can trigger chest pain for certain medical conditions and asthma attacks for people with exercise-induced asthma, but most people can benefit from running outdoors in the winter.
"In the summer, the diaphragm can take in more air," Stasko said Monday. "When it's cooler, you tend to take shorter breathes and it allows you to control your breathing much better."
Stasko is also a runner and said he likes to keep his route outside all year.
"It's my way of destressing," he said. "It's my down time."
However, there are a few things people should know before putting on their sneakers to exercise outside.
"As a general rule of thumb, dress as if it's 20 degrees warmer," Stasko said.
For example, Stasko said if it is 45 degrees outside, dress as if it is 65 degrees.
"You're going to sweat and you don't want to sweat too much and your clothes get wet," he said. "If you are in the cold too long with wet clothes, you can get hypothermia."
Hypothermia is a condition when body temperature drops too low to maintain normal metabolism and body functions. Moderate to severe signs of hypothermia include shivering, clumsiness or lack of coordination and slurred speech or mumbling.
"You should wear thin, warm layers and avoid overdressing," Stasko said. "You should also make sure you protect your hands and feet. You lose a lot of body heat from your hands and feet."
To prevent snow from getting his feet wet, Stasko said he puts plastic bags between his socks and shoes.
"The other things you have to worry about is frostbite, especially with your hands and nose," Stasko said.
Signs of frostbite include a slightly painful, prickly or itching sensation; red, white, pale or grayish-yellow skin; and hard or waxy-looking skin.
"If you have frostbite, you want to gradually warm up," Stasko said.
Someone showing signs of either hypothermia or frostbite should seek immediate medical assistance.
Stretching and hydration are also important because there is an increased chance for muscle strains in the cold, Stasko said.
"When you start running, run into the wind because when you start you are at your strongest," Stasko said. "On your way back, the wind will be at your back."
That can help prevent chills on the return route, he said.
Since it gets darker earlier in the winter, Stasko said runners should wear reflective gear and bright colors.
"Obviously if it gets too cold, you want to do your running inside," Stasko said. "Slipping is also something you should worry about. Anytime that there is any chance of ice forming, I always recommend going inside."
Temperatures will continue to drop this week, according to NWS forecasts. By Thursday night, temperatures will dip into the single digits overnight.
But a bitter forecast won't keep everyone inside.
"If you run in the winter, it doesn't seem so unbearable," McGinley said. "Instead of waiting it out inside, you can become part of it."