Winter.

As a runner, it’s the time of year you’ve probably been dreading. The clocks go back, the light begins to fade and the weather is inevitably on the turn. Summer is nothing but a distant memory and it becomes increasingly harder to find any kind of motivation to train. But fear not, help is at hand!

Here are my top tips for surviving the winter and embracing the cold…

It’s ok. I get it. You’ve just finished work and you’re absolutely shattered. It was dark when you left the house this morning and it’s dark now as you’re leaving the office. It feels like you haven’t felt the sun on your face for months and it’s cold outside, really cold. When you open your front door the only thing on your mind is settling down on the sofa in front of a warm fire, whilst watching television and eating the dinner you’ve been dreaming about all afternoon. It’s only 6 o’clock and you have an uncontrollable urge to head upstairs to slip into your pyjamas. Besides it’s just started raining outside and your favourite TV programme is calling out your name from the SkyPlus box.

‘What if Daryl from the Walking Dead dies in this week’s episode whilst I’m out training? How will I ever forgive myself? I suppose I can always run tomorrow instead. Yeah tomorrow, I might even do a double session. Now where did I put that XL bar of Dairy Milk?’

Sound familiar? Trust me when I say that this is my dilemma pretty much every day of the week during winter. I always say the hardest part of training is actually getting changed and leaving the house because it’s the easiest time to give up and make excuses. I have to play some serious mind games with myself in order to get a session done. One of my best tips is to not set your central heating on a timer for when you get home. It’s best to make your front room as cold and uninviting as possible so that you’ll want to go outside just to stay warm. Plus think of all the money you’ll save! It’s a win, win situation. I’m thinking like a true Yorkshireman now – Dave Woodhead would be very proud. A quick turn around is the key. No more than 15 minutes to get sorted and changed before you head straight back out for a run. Have all your clothes and kit laid out ready to go, drink coffee standing up and DO NOT sit down on the sofa…REPEAT after me….DO NOT SIT DOWN ON THE SOFA! Now go and enjoy the tropical weather outside, your house is bloody freezing!!!

Photo taken by Robbie Jay Barratt

I’m probably the least qualified person to dish out head torch recommendations. I am, after all, the guy who turned up to a night race on the Amalfi coast in Italy, wearing a £5 ‘Ebay special’ head torch with 2 used AA batteries borrowed from the TV remote in my hotel room. Admittedly not the best idea I’ve ever had.

Read more here… Italian Adventures: Part 1

Pictured above: Nervously waiting for the start of the Praia San Domenico night race with my £5 head torch.

During the winter months a decent head torch is an essential part of your running kit. When you’re pounding the pavements during the dark nights, you need something to light your way and make you shine brightly. Thankfully I do know someone who knows what they’re talking about…

Fell running guide to head torches

Make the sensible choice (like I’ve finally done!) and invest in a decent model.

For most people, running alone in winter is a daunting prospect. Dark lonely roads and paths can be scary places, especially for women. It’s the best time of year to run with a friend or better still, in a group. Not only will it help you feel safer, it will also give you more motivation to train. Joining a club is a great way to meet new people and discover new runs. You’ll be surprised at just how many amazing places there are to run in your local area. Over the years, my friends have introduced me to hundreds of new training routes and I get VERY excited whenever I find a new trail (yes I really am that sad!).

Plus at Christmas there will undoubtedly be plenty of festive club runs and excuses to eat lots of food after you’ve finished training. If you’re really lucky, there might even be someone at your club who’s into a bit of Stravart. Check out our Calder Valley team attempt of a Christmas tree on Stoodley Pike last year…

Pictured above: The CVFR Christmas club run 2015 led by Ian Symington.

The best way to get motivated is to buy some new running gear. Is there a better feeling than slipping on a new pair of inov-8’s and heading out for a run? I don’t think so. Go on treat yourself, it is nearly Christmas after all.

It’s also important to remember that treating yourself doesn’t always have to be expensive. Try letting a new pair of running socks or gloves ‘accidentally’ fall into your shopping trolley. Or if that’s still too much to spend then keep it cheap and simple. All is takes to float my boat is a bacon and egg sarnie at the end of a long run, washed down with a cup of strong Italian coffee. Tough training sessions should always be rewarded.

Pictured above: From road to trail. The inov-8 Roadclaw 275 is a shoe for all seasons.

I’ve previously blogged about the super powers of merino – it’s simply the best. I’m all for saving money (as you’ve probably already gathered!) but when it comes to base layers there is no better alternative. I even wear merino underpants. However, by far the best bit of running clothing I own is still the inov-8 long sleeved hooded merino base layer. It’s expensive gear, but worth every penny. Try Aldi for cheaper alternatives or check out Sportshoes who always have some great discounted prices (I usually have a discount code, so if you want one just get in touch).

Whatever clothing you choose to wear, don’t make the same mistake as I did last year at Lee Mill Relays…

Bad Education

(Warning! Reading this blog make leave you feeling very cold. Probably best to wear some merino clothing whilst you read it)

Setting yourself a challenge is the best way to motivate yourself during winter. You could set a personal weekly goal for mileage and climbing, or for the entire month. You could even try running every day. The Marcothon is a perfect challenge for athletes of all abilities. The rules are simple, you must run every day in December. Minimum of three miles or 25 minutes – which ever comes first. The challenge starts on December 1st and finishes on December 31st. And yes, that includes Christmas Day. It’s not a competition, just a personal challenge.

Photo taken by Robbie Jay Barratt

Another great idea is to challenge a friend or compete as a group. See who can do the most mileage in a week or month and the winner has to buy the drinks (believe me, there’s not much I wouldn’t do for a free cappuccino!).

Personally I set myself a target of 50 miles a week and aim to climb between 8,000-15,000ft when I’m in full training mode. I use Strava to track my progress and I always join their monthly challenges for distance and climbing.

The winter months are just about the only time I allow my body to recover. After a season of hard racing I like to get back to training and enjoy running on local trails. However, I like to use cross country races to stay fit and I love racing at Christmas. There are a number of really great races to take part in, some with optional fancy dress. These events are always well organised and VERY enjoyable.

Photo taken by Robbie Jay Barratt

Here are my top recommendations for reasonably LOCAL races over the festive period…

(see the Fellrunner site for more details and other races)

1. Sunday 27/11/2016 Lee Mill Relay (6.2 miles/1115ft climb – FELL RACE) @ 10:00am
2. Saturday 17/12/2016 Hurst Green Turkey Trot  (5 miles – TRAIL RACE) @1.00pm
3. Sunday 18/12/2016 Stoop (5 miles/820ft climb – FELL RACE) @ 11:30am
4. Monday 26/12/2016 Whinberry Naze (4 miles/751ft climb – FELL RACE) @ 11:30am
5. Tuesday 27/12/2016 Coley Canter (8 miles – TRAIL RACE) @10.00am
6. Saturday 31/12/2016 Auld Land Syne (6 miles/984ft climb – FELL RACE) @ 11:30am

Plan your next adventure.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a park run or a mountain race in Italy. It’s good to have something to motivate you and train for. The next time you’re out running in the cold wind and rain, just remind yourself why you’re doing it and think about your goal. Whatever you decide to aim for, it’ll be worth all the effort when you get there.

It’s not all bad. Running in winter can be amazing. Embrace the weather, make the most of the weekends and if it snows, then lace up your trainers and get out for a run. Think positive, enjoy yourself and don’t forget to do it with a smile. Tis’ the season to be jolly after all 🙂

Photo taken by Steve Frith

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