In case you haven’t noticed, it’s pretty cold outside. Here are a few cold weather tips from amateur runners in colder climates(and some close to home because, well, it is pretty freaking cold out there).

Bill McDonough has layering advice: “A thin, moisture-wicking base layer to start; with a warmer mid-layer; then wind and water resistant top layer,” he says. “But three places that can get overlooked are head, hands and feet. A warm hat is essential to conserve body heat, as up to 40 percent of heat can be lost through the “chimney” atop your shoulders. Hands, too can be a conductor of heat. Mittens are better than gloves at conserving heat and keeping hands warm.”

Don’t forget your feet, either. “Too many runners throw on their regular cotton socks when they go for a cold weather run. Not enough protection!” he adds. “Better choices would be a high-tech thermal sock, or a thin wool sock. Wool socks sound old-fashioned, but are great at wicking moisture and keeping feet warm.”

Here’s an interesting one — “‘”Bath run.’ Fill the tub with HOT water. Go out and run 4 miles as fast as you can, knowing that the slower you run the colder the water will be when you get home,” suggests Paul Fahey of Albany, NY. Other suggestions: Windproof underwear, layers with zippers and “warm” playlist including the Beach Boys and Dick Dale.

Here’s your doctor warning about hypothermia: “Temperature is a factor but it doesn’t have to be very cold for hypothermia to develop if the runner wears clothing that doesn’t breathe with cotton undergarmets that get wet from sweat and then is too fatigued to continue at the same pace then heat loss and hypothermia can rapidly occur,” says Dr. Laurie Glasser, a Jersey Shore runner. Warning signs include shivering muscle weakenss and loss of coordination. She also raves her pink camo Buff, which can be used as a headband, face scarf and neck protector.

“Mittens (and mittens over gloves) tend to keep hands warmer than gloves alone, as they allow one’s own body heat to warm the neighboring fingers,” says Michael Drabenstott, volunteer communications director for the St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon.

Take the entire weather scene into consideration, too. “It’s important to pay attention to weather variables other than temperature, such as humidity, sun, and wind.  On a 25 degree day I can be down to a t-shirt after 15 minutes if it’s calm and sunny — but might need extra layers or a jacket if it’s blustery,” says Jim Mott of Rochester, NY. “So a windbreaker is good to have handy.  But generally I avoid clothing that doesn’t breathe; too much sweating = wet clothing = chills if the outside temperature or your inside energy level drops.”

Brian of Brighton, Michigan has asthma, and cold air is a trigger. “I always wear a scarf over my nose and mouth any day below freezing,” he says. “I’ve tried masks but it just doesn’t work. A scarf wrapped tight around my face is best.”

Tim Magner lives near Lake Michigan in Chicago and runs outside year round. To deal with wind, he says, “start running into the wind so your sweat doesn’t freeze you on the way back.” He has good advice for little ones, too. “When going outside with kids, I tell them we’re dressing in layers like animals, e.g. beavers, polar bears and whales,” he says. Good advice for grown ups, too.

Chef Jill Houk, also from Chicago, has a good safety tip. “Dress to reflect. Even though the days are getting longer, we’re not getting much sunshine,” she says. “A headlamp, reflective strips and light-colored clothing helps vehicles see you on dark streets.”

Sasha Brown-Worsham, who blogs about running for Fit Pregnancy and runs in Maine, has shoe advice. “I keep two pairs of shoes in rotation during the winter because when one gets wet, it loses some of its stability the next day.” (She’s also thinking about running the New Jersey Marathon - that would rock!)

“You sign up for a winter marathon in Florida and promise your wife you’ll bring her if we can figure out child care,” says Michael Green of Philadelphia. He’s skipping town to run the Gasparilla Marathon in February. No worries about cold weather there — it’s in Tampa, Fl. The medal is a pirate. He’s going to Spring Training. Smart guy.

I’ve been mixed up my runs – on Saturdays, I’ll run on the treadmill. Sundays, I go outside. I’ve also been adding extra notes to my Dailymile.com log. I’ll include the temperature (and wind chill temperature) along with what I wore. That way, I’m creating a self-reference. What I wear in 20 degree weather might not be what you wear in 20 degree weather since I enjoy cold weather running.

Whatever your preferred running temp, bundle up. It’ll be cold for a while.