Running in the cold?

I am headed up to Wisconsin for the holidays and have a few questions about running in the cold.  I will be in weeks 2 and 3 of the couch to 5k program while we're up there.  So far I have been doing the walking/running on a treadmill in a nice comfortable gym.  I'm too cheap to pay $50 for a 2 week membership while visiting, but want to continue with the couch to 5k, while there.  So...that means I'll be running outside.  Temps are averaging around 20 degrees (yikes!)  Any advice for moving from inside to outside, and from warm to cold temps?  I'm concerned about the cold on my lungs, I do get quite winded, and am not prepared for the cold weather (with or without running!)  :)  That said, I am excited about going and can't wait to get on a pair of ice skates!.

Deb,   I'm from Central New York and prefer running outside vs the treadmill any day.  My group ran 8 miles Saturday with temperatures that climbed from 3 to 10 degrees.  These are the things that I keep in mind when I'm running in the cold: - Extend the warm up.  When it's cold, I take a little extra time to warm up my muscles.  You may find that you need to increase your walking ratio and slow your pace when you're running in the cold.  I don't know the science, but my heart rate is higher when the temperature is sub-freezing. - Wear layers, along with a hat, gloves, and reflective vest.  You don't want to overdress, though.  I like to wear a half-zip top that I can unzip a little when I need a little ventilation.  Saturday I wore a face covering so I wouldn't get frostbite on my nose. - Be flexible in your training schedule.  I watch the Weather channel and pick the best day for my runs.  I don't mind the cold, but I'm afraid of slippery roads.  I like to make sure the plows have had time to clean up any slush and salt icy roads. Congratulations on maintaining your training schedule!  Enjoy the holidays! Cassie