Cold Weather

       It is that time of year again, the time of year when the temperature drops and the squirrels disappear in their burrows to hibernate the cold away. Unfortunately, we as runners can’t just hibernate in the winter and hope to pop out in the spring as a conditioned and fit athlete. However, it is hard to find the motivation to run in the winter. The cold temperature, the ice on the sidewalks, the dark of the night that seems to fall at 5:00, these are several common excuses that runners have, and there are certainly many more, and they are valid, but how can we push ourselves to overcome these obstacles? 

       The first and probably most important thing to do is dress warmly! This is quite obvious, but many people on my team, and I’m assuming around the world, use this as their number one excuse to skip out on training in the winter.  However, if one just steps in to their nearest Dick's Sporting Goods or Sears, the first thing they will probably see is a bunch of sweatshirts and running tights for their choosing. They come in many brands, from Nike to Under Armour, and are produced in about a million colors and styles. Choosing  a fashionable outfit the will let your body breath and keep in the heat is easier than you think, so fortunately, or unfortunately, you can knock that excuse off your list! The good people at your nearest sporting goods store have you covered.

      As far as the darkness goes, I would suggest trying to stick with a daily schedule where you run at the same time everyday so that you don’t get in the habit of procrastinating your run to the point where it is too dark. For me, I always try to run within 30 minutes of getting home from school, this ensures that I don’t put it off and I can keep a schedule that lets me get my run over with, allowing me to enjoy my night (or do four hours of homework, but you know, whatever).

        The ice is a more tricky issue to solve, because you don’t want to feel as if you are endanger on a run and quite frankly, getting injured is not worth the run that day. If you are someone who has access to a treadmill, the winter is when I get the most use out of mine, I would suggest turning to it when the outdoors just seems a little too uninviting. So whatever you decide to do on that formidable winter day, just remember that most winter issues can be combated, but the most important thing is that we all stay healthy, active, and safe this winter!