Want to Keep Your Running Streak Going All Winter? Here’s How

Don’t ditch all of your hard work in a snowbank!

As I looked out the window at the 4 inches of cold, white, wet snow, my willpower and motivation ran in the other direction. Away from the door and back to the couch. The first snowfall of the year stopped me dead in my tracks. That was October 13. Winter comes early in this part of Canada.

If you had a great running season and got out there consistently, then the last thing you want to do is lose all of that progress and sit around getting slow all winter. I don’t want to be full of regret and cookies and cocoa in the spring. I want to have a pep in my step because I managed to keep my running dreams alive!

But for those of us who have winter to contend with, it isn’t easy. Especially if you live in The Great White North like me. It’s already below freezing every morning here. I don’t want to leave my running to chance. Here’s my plan to keep going right through the cold weather and come out the other side still able to run and meet my fitness goals.

Let’s start with the easiest, quickest fix. The physical side of cold.

Get the right gear

I want to be as comfortable as possible out there, and I want to be ready to go no matter the conditions. I need a few more items to keep warm, so I will be shopping for gloves, toques (stocking caps for you southerners), a new windbreaker, and a couple of sweaters.

The best items for me are thin and windproof. I don’t do bulky clothing.

My biggest purchase is going to be new shoes with extra grip. I will probably pick up a pair of Merrell trail runners to replace my worn out go-to shoes.

Have a backup plan

What if it’s just too darn cold? Is it worth going out to run when it’s -30 C for a week straight?

No, it isn’t. That’s where The Dreadmill is going to come into the picture.

It’s uncertain if gyms and fitness centers will be open, due to the world situation out there. I’m going to assume that I will be able to go use some facilities this winter. Right now there’s a gym with a fairly decent drop-in plan that I can use nearby.

Maybe you can get access to a treadmill or have one in your home. In that case, the really crappy weather can’t stop you!

But here is the biggest challenge: the mental and emotional stuff

Gear and convenience are great, but what will really keep you training is your mind. You can have everything else, but if you don’t have goals and determination, you won’t step out of your house. So how do you stay motivated?

One of the best ways to keep on track is to set goals, and then keep them in mind. This has to be personal and specific. Do you have certain events in the spring you would like to participate in? Are there personal bests you are working on that you would like to beat? How about friends you like to run with that are going to keep up their activity levels all winter? If you don’t want to get left in the dust then you might want to get out there and run through the cold.

If I can remember that I want to enter a specific marathon next year, then keeping up with running is a little easier.

When I think about my friend Luke inviting me to run in some events, or help him train with pacing and long runs, I want to be able to say yes. I can’t say yes if I sat around all winter and gained 10 pounds, while he kept up the training.

The reason these goals need to be specific and personal is because they need to bring up some emotions in you. Without feeling, they won’t mean a thing.

Write that goal down!

Got a couple of goals in mind? A personal best that you want to get under your belt? A race you want to get in on? Friends you want to run with?

How about just general health goals? Going into the holiday season in great shape could mean that all of the food and drink won’t go straight to the waistline like every other year…

Once you have something in mind, write it down. Get that on paper and post it in your home where you will see it, maybe on the fridge or above your monitor in the office.

Accountability can be your best tool to get things done

A great way to keep up your motivation levels is to tell people what your plans and goals are. Then you will feel accountable to them and are more likely to follow through.

This could be as simple as letting your friend know that you will run with him or her. It could be pre-registering for an event and posting the date on Farcebook. It might be letting your family know because you put it on the fridge door.

My motto is go big or go home. So I’m posting my goals right here for everyone to see. Now I’m accountable to all of you!

My running goals for winter 2020

In 2021, I want to enter and complete a marathon. My longest run at this time has been 10 miles (16 Km) and I’m steadily improving. To meet this goal, I will run through the winter regardless of the weather. I will continue with the Maffetone Method training and use slow running to build endurance.

If it’s too cold to run outside or I just can’t manage the distances I need, then I will run inside on a dreadmill.

I will complete a minimum of 3 runs per week, every week.

I will enter and complete a virtual race once per month on Runkeeper. This will be separate from my regular runs.

I will let my friends and family know about my running plans.

How about your goals?

Where are you with your personal fitness goals? Are you going to keep the ball rolling regardless of weather, election results, etc? Or will you let the outside environment stop you from achieving what you want to? It’s up to you.

Here are a couple of articles I wrote about my running journey as a novice runner starting after 50: