ASICS JEWEL WINTER RUNNING TIGHTS, £50 asics.co.uk

You may scoff at the idea of joining the oh-so-serious exercising troops in leggings, but they are sleek, more functional than tracksuits and will keep out the wind chill. Super-warm, breathable, and with a high Lycra content to hold in your wobbly bits. Reflective piping will keep you safe on the roads.

BADGER BALM SORE MUSCLE RUB, £3.95 naturalcollection.com

Whichever sport you are doing, exercising outside during winter can result in cold, creaky joints and aching muscles. The ginger and cayenne pepper extracts in this muscle rub will warm and soothe joints and muscles, either before, during or after exercising.

NIKE PLUS SPORTS KIT, £19 apple.com/uk

This easy-to-use gadget turns an iPod into a personal trainer. Put the tiny sensor in your trainers, which connects wirelessly to a device plugged into your iPod, and you can then choose what you want to measure - time, distance or calories - and it will create a workout for you. As you run, your iPod will tell you distance, time, pace and calories burnt. It's cheaper than the gym. Research by the Countryside Recreation Network suggests that exercising outdoors has more benefits than working out in the gym.

OLAY COMPLETE CARE DAY CREAM, £5.86, 50ml boots.com

You should always wear face cream with an SPF to protect your skin from the sun, and to form a barrier against UV rays, bacteria and dirt. This cream is thick, easily absorbed and it smells good too.

HILLY REFLECTIVE JACKET, £31.99 hillyclothing.co.uk

Keep out the wind and rain with this running jacket.

Its lightweight fabric ensures that you stay dry and warm, with air vents at the back for extra ventilation. The reflective trims will also keep you highly visible and safe as you hit the road for your evening run.

PERSONAL ALARM, £7.95 c-p-p.co.uk

It is a good idea to wear a safety alarm. Incidences of crime are low in the UK, but according to Home Office crime statistics, 900,000 people were attacked by a stranger in 2006-07 in the UK. This device can be worn on the wrist, and the 130dB alarm can be heard half a mile away.

ADIDAS ADIS FZ HOOD, £45 shop.adidas.co.uk

You know the drill - you start off freezing, warm up, then overheat and start sweating. Trying to keep warm without overheating is a constant battle when it's cold, but adidas has come to the rescue with Clima technology. It pulls sweat away from the skin for quick evaporation, enhancing the body's natural temperature regulation.

RONHILL WINDGUARD GLOVES, £14.68 sweatshop.co.uk Exercising outdoors with icy fingers is pretty miserable. These windproof gloves, in toasty thermal fleece, will help to keep your paws warm without sweating. They also have reflective piping for night-time safety.

RUNAID WATER BOTTLE, £3.24 (large) ontherunsports.co.uk

Although you may not get so thirsty when exercising in winter, it is still important to keep hydrated. This bottle is designed specifically for runners to grip easily.

GORE SKY RUN HAT, £24.99 gorerunningwear.co.uk

You lose a significant amount of body heat through your head, so wearing a hat's a good idea when it is frosty or wet. This snug hat in thermo-stretch fabric has a soft inner layer, a waterproof outer layer and earflaps to protect you from the wind.

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