We protect our skin with sunscreen, but what about our eyes? During winter runs and activities, our eyes are exposed to harmful UV rays because of the glare from snow. You guessed it, I’m going to get all worst-case-scenario on you and warn that the snow could cause snow blindness. It’s a sunburn of the cornea that may not be felt until hours after your run. Symptoms can be bloodshot, gritty, and teary eyes, and increased pain and sensitivity. In severe cases the this can cause eyes to swell shut or even result in permanent vision loss.
Okay, calm down. That’s probably not going to happen. The common situation is that you are running in the winter and squinting your eyes to block the bright white light from the snowbanks around you. This uses energy you could be putting into your run (and it causes eye wrinkles!). Additionally, on cold, windy days, a good pair can shield your eye area from the wind as well. When you bundle up with a hat and scarf or neck gaiter as I show in the photo, your entire face is protected. So don’t forget the shades next time you head out for a winter run.
Don’t have a pair? You’re in luck!
Fit Milwaukee is giving away 3 pair of sunglasses. They are lightweight, have three sets of interchangeable lenses, and wrap around the sides of your face for protection (and they look pretty cool too). Popular with golfers, but perfect for running, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, sledding, or any wintry activity!
To be entered to win, just leave a comment on this blog post. Let us know what activity you’ll do while wearing shades. Make sure to put your email address in the form (it won’t show to the public on the website, but we can contact you if you are selected). Then Fit Milwaukee will randomly choose three winners on Friday. We will post the winners on Monday.
Good luck, and protect those eyes!
I like the yellow lenses
XC Skiing, Snow Shoeing, Hiking… And of course SLEDDING!!!
Winning sunglasses would be great! I seem to have lost my sports pair and it’s pretty un-fun running without them.
Good idea! I never thought about it, but I definitely need some running sunglasses for when I start running outside more (once I get my Garmin so I can see my stats). Shouldn’t wear my “fashion” ones while bouncing around in the snow/sun!
Cool! Running. Biking. Sledding @ Kletsch.
the sunglasses are pretty sweet! I would probably use them for running….
Believe it or not, my primary use would be for winter cycling. When not riding, the more traditional winter activity would be snow shoeing.
**They look like the perfect winter shades, large enough to offer decent eye protection, a dark lens for bright sunny/snow blind days and yellow lens for overcast, low light conditions. The yellow lenses can sharpen up contrast and help you pick out more details no matter what winter activity you are doing.
Oh, those are wicked awesome. My only sunglasses are prescription, so it would be great to have some “stylish” glasses good for biking, walking, hiking and EVENTUALLY running.
I wear my sunglasses at night
so I can
so I can
Watch you weave then breath your story lines.
And I wear my sunglasses at night
so I can
so I can
Keep track of the visions in my eyes.
Seriously – these would be PERFECT for my motorcycle, sledding with my 10-year old, and driving downtown to my office…
Totally would wear those stylish shades XCtry-skiing, downhill skiing, sledding, ice skating, and probably even just walking into work… considering how many bags i carry it qualifies as a sport.
Oh wow, no wonder I’ve been bumping into stuff a lot lately! Silly snow…causing blindness and wrinkles and frostbite. I could totally use a good pair of sunglasses for marathon training this winter/spring. I have the neck gaiter and hat, but my eyes are stupidly left unprotected.
Thanks, and great post Anne!
I could use some sporty shades!
Would love some neat shades for biking, hiking and walking. Squinting way too much with all this snow.
FitMilwaukee has got giveaways going now! Nice work! Fitting for me because I just lost my running sunglasses at the RACC 5K last weekend!
Definately need some new sunglasses, mine are dying a slow death.
I’d rock these in the upcoming 15k!
Awesome! I would totally use them for running this winter – they would help keep my eyes from tearing up in the cold!
FitMilwaukee, nice shades! I love yellow inserts and have wanted something like that for evening workouts. Crosses fingers.
I swear this will be the year I appreciate outdoors sports in the winter and get off the damn trainer or treadmill. So I’ll wear these to my how to snowshoe class…..
I’m not too extreme, but these would be nice for those ultra-sunny days down Lafayette Hill and on the lakefront running/walking my dogs! Good thing I have slow basset hounds – they’re as slow as I am!
Great tip, thanks Anne!
Your training insights would be great for our new runners and walkers. We would love to have you help out with a training clinic for our upcomming CCFA Team Challenge Napa to Sonoma 1/2 marathon training program.
I would so use these sleek little things while cross country skiing!
I would totally use these while running outside during the winter, and maybe during the summer too!!
Biking and Hiking!
I’d totally wear them while on my winter wilderness camping trips/hikes and while out running… I love the yellow lenses!
and I will call these my INVISIBLE glasses with super powers!
Count me in! Great for super sunny snow days (say that 2x!) at the dog park and playing outside with my toddler!
I plan to wear them while I’m outside training for my next half-marathon! Call me crazy, but as someone that was born and raised on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I’ve never really worn sunglasses, so this contest will help me one of the cool kids in Milwaukee!
Love the sunglasses and would wear them running outside in the winter
I love sunglasses! I use them hiking to keep the branches out of my eyes even when it is shady (I’d love interchangeable lenses). I use them cycling to keep my eyes from drying out and getting bugs in them even when it is dusky (did I mention my love of interchangeable lenses?). Last, I WANT to use them for running which is a brand new activity for me. I’ll be in Canyonlands National Park all summer. This is the desert and I’ll need quality specs! Pick me!!!
Oh Lordy, I wish I would’ve read this sooner! I bought some Ironman glasses a while back for running and I didn’t realize how incredibly heavy they were! So I can’t really wear them running at all because they hurt too much. I want some sweet interchangeable lenses! PS: You guys look pretty badass in that picture. That’s not Tracey is it? Looks more like one of your sisters?
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading Sunglasses in Winter? You Bet. (A Giveaway!) Fit Milwaukee I will certainly come back to read future posts. Be Seen on TV UK
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading Sunglasses in Winter? You Bet. (A Giveaway!) Fit Milwaukee I posted it on my Facebook to hopefully give you more readers.I will certainly come back to read future posts. DIY Legal Documents On-Line