I like the look of winter. I love the frozen trees and the occasional snowfall that makes my backyard look like a snow globe. I could sit inside my house by the heater and stare into the frozen outdoors for hours. Although watching from the inside makes the season look so pretty, I hate stepping outside. Winter is the season where I can be seen sprinting to my car because the moment the cold air touches my skin, I am frozen for an eternity. I live in my winter coat for most of the season. For this reason, winter training is a struggle.

I have a love-hate relationship with treadmill training. Yes, you get to stay warm inside, but it gets so boring. I can’t express this enough, so boring. One mile on the treadmill is fine, but on long run day, seven miles feels like seven years. I mean I can only watch so much of the Food Network until I become uninterested. When I have the decision to run inside or outside, I search for motivation to be able to pick the second option.

Luckily I’m not the only one with this issue and there are plenty of sources with winter running tips. From achieving a mental goal to tips for dressing warm, this site has motivation to accompany any chilly day. I am a big fan of the reward of a warm shower following my runs, so that will definitely become a factor in the decision of toughing out the outdoors or staying in. Ultimately, I think the decision should come down to what is best for your training plan at that time and what would have the best impact on your goals.

Getting outside for a run may be tough, but the first few steps are the hardest. After that, the rest of the run will fly by. Whatever decision is made, as long as some type of training is getting done, the day can be a success. In all, I think winter running comes down to the time you are willing to put in. As my dad tells me, “What you put into it, you will get out of it.” and I think that really speaks volumes in the case of winter running. No matter if you are running outside in the snow or inside on the treadmill or even putting in a little time on the elliptical, whatever you do, if you find time, the results will come. I think, in times like winter, these are important reminders to keep in mind.

Ainsley