A friend used to tease me that I only liked to run between 60 and 68 degrees which is about 11 days in Chicago! Seriously I run more than that...I ran below 20 last winter and even did a 12 miler in a brutal snow/ice storm last February.
As I wait to hit the streets for a quick 5 miler with a good friend this morning I have some good news....the days are getting longer. In the next 2 weeks we will gain over 30 minutes of daylight to our days, by January 31st the sun will be rising at 7:04 and setting at 5:37.
Now if that isn't enough to get you out for a run today...try these tips:
LET IT BE ABOUT YOU! - the only reason I get out there most days is because its me time. No one can bother me. No one needs juice or help finding their socks. The phone can ring, but I won't answer it (unless its the ER).
RUN IN THE SUNLIGHT- I am typically a 5 am'er. I get up, out of bed, hit the trail before my mind can convince my body otherwise. Lately I have been running later today I am getting my mileage in just after the kids are off to school but before I start seeing patients. I see that sun high in the sky and have forgotten all about the cold!
MEET UP WITH A FRIEND- Today the reason I am running...I haven't seen my friend Dana in over a week. We missed our Saturday AM run because it was -6 degrees...just not safe in my opinion. But today there will be some talk about upcoming races, our weekends and certainly our movie night coming up...and that is enough to make me get out there.
CHANGE YOUR ROUTE- One of the things I love most about winter running is getting off the Prairie Path. We run the streets mostly, but even got out to the Morton Arboreteum (which by the way was one of the most beautiful runs ever) We mix it up...in fact today, I have no idea where we are going.
ENJOY THE LOWER MILEAGE- Unless you are one of those people who is training for a spring race, you can dial it back. Run less days, less mileage and ENJOY every minute of it!
Don't worry if you keep up a good base and mix in some cross training (indoors of course where it is warmer) your running won't suffer all that much.
THAT CUP OF COFFEE TASTES EVEN BETTER- Enough said!
Hang in there...whatever your doing this winter enjoy it. I'll see you on the path in the spring!
Don't forget... Run Happy!
