There are three kinds of people in the world: those who hibernate like a faux-polar bear, those who invest in absolutely unnecessary high-tech workout equipment for indoors, and the crazy ones who charge headlong into the frigid winter mornings for a run. Ah, the winter runners! But as everyone with a sense of self-preservation is cocooned in their blankets, one has to wonder, are these human icicles onto something? Or are they merely Popsicles-in-progress?

You see, running, like your eccentric aunt's love for cat videos, is a year-round affair, come hell or high water… or bone-chilling weather. Yes, the bitter cold can wreak havoc on even the sturdiest jogging passion, but it also sparks a roaring internal warmth, boosts your mood, and offers a chance to commune with the ethereal allure of winter.

There's a certain chill-factor to running, quite literally, where cooler climates might fine-tune your run. Forget the hot yoga nonsense, 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 13 Celsius for those metric buffs), is ostensibly an endurance athlete's sweet spot. Some cutting-edge research even points to cold exposure ramping up your metabolism – like a stubborn office thermostat, keeping your energy expenditure at just the right level.

Yet, let's not indulge the Polar Bear Plunge enthusiasts too hastily. We're not talking 'freeze your nips off' kinds of cold here. Extreme cold conditions often lead to a forced wrestler's dance with your body temperature, an intensified exertion that can bitch-slap your running performance. The body has to somehow keep the home fires burning while you, the arctic explorer, insists on pushing those boundaries.

Sketchier still, our dear friend Frosty the Snowman might hitch a ride with you during an intense cold run. Frostbite and hypothermia aren't the souvenirs anyone wants from a morning jog. Take a guess, how long does it take for frostbite to hand out its icy invite on a wind-bitten day with a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit? Give up? Just about 30 minutes. So remember, every run doesn't have to morph into an episode of "Survivor: Arctic Edition."

Like anything worth doing, running in the cold requires some thought. Sweatpants aren't gonna cut it, champ. Layer up, choose moisture-wicking materials, and for goodness sake, hold the godforsaken cotton! Merino wool might just become your new best friend.

The American College of Sports Medicine, presumably run by sane individuals, does set a limit. Steer clear of anything below minus 8 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point, even the White Walkers would probably call it a day.

So there you have it, the frosty fairy-tale of winter running, laid bare (but please, not literally). It's no walk in the park (or run, as it were), but when tackled with the right discipline, respect for the elements, and of course, a solid arctic-proof outfit, it can be a thrilling way to thumb your nose at winter's lazy solicitation. As always, stay warm, stay layered, and for phantasmal fig's sake, stay away from Cotton!