In my few years of experience I've discovered something great about running... And that is that the best time to get a solid run in is during the cold weather months. Depending on where you live, you may find it easier to run in heat, but to truly get your mind set on the run and not on the bothers around you, the best way to go is cold weather running.
It may sound a bit crazy, but waking up earlier when the roads are quieter and less travelled makes for a great run as well. The feel of cold wind rushing against you will not only give you the physical drive to want to move for the sake of warmth, but the mental drive to keep moving forward; a sense of accomplishment. Especially knowing that you're walking out the door just as the sun is rising will give you something to look forward to.
I remember my first winter run last year and watching the sun rise over a fiery red sky. I have never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life. A warning to those who are first timers to the idea of leaving first thing in the morning: prepare yourself for that first breath of cold air. If you don't take time to stand out side for about 5 minutes, you could end up finding your way straight down on the sidewalk coughing up a lung from the soreness in your throat. Take it form me, It happened the first time I went out for a cold weather run. The shock of finding yourself winded in such a way is truly just about enough to bring you down to the ground, so proceed with caution. I recommend creating a routine of stretching and warming up with a light jog before heading out on either a heavy trail run or a long road run.
Aside from preparing yourself physically and mentally, the simple fact of the matter is that you must be weary of the clothing type you choose to wear before heading out. In an article from Runner's World.com by Amby Burfoot, he recommend doing the following to keep your body warm: "To stay comfortable in frigid weather, wear a microfiber shirt as a first layer, followed by a breathable windbreaker, gloves or mittens, and a hat. Begin by running into the wind, not with it, which will keep you from sweating too much. Sweat is bad in winter, as water robs heat from your body up to 25 times faster than trapped air does."
Now, from personal experience, always remember to wear brightly colored clothing if you intend upon getting out for a run early in the morning, especially if it is an early morning run.
A cell phone will come in handy if you plan for a long run out in the frigid weather to be prepared for any help you may need if you find that you have been hurt badly in any way (i.e slipping on ice and taking a spill). As a safety precaution to those who plan to run on the roads, and I hear horror stories of runners doing this in the winter all the time: if you're going to wear your headphones while running in the cold, never ever put on earmuffs or a hood sinched up so tightly that you can't hear and on coming traffic. Plow trucks are the main thing that you have yo be careful for, so pay attention to the road at all costs.
And finally, remember to eat a sensibly breakfast. Green tea or black coffee is the best thing to get you up and going and munching on an energy bar or having toast with peanut butter makes for a solid meal (at least in my experience) before a cold weather run. Jelly Belly Energy beans are also a great way to stay focused and alert for your run.
At any rate though, happy running and stay safe!!!
It may sound a bit crazy, but waking up earlier when the roads are quieter and less travelled makes for a great run as well. The feel of cold wind rushing against you will not only give you the physical drive to want to move for the sake of warmth, but the mental drive to keep moving forward; a sense of accomplishment. Especially knowing that you're walking out the door just as the sun is rising will give you something to look forward to.
I remember my first winter run last year and watching the sun rise over a fiery red sky. I have never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life. A warning to those who are first timers to the idea of leaving first thing in the morning: prepare yourself for that first breath of cold air. If you don't take time to stand out side for about 5 minutes, you could end up finding your way straight down on the sidewalk coughing up a lung from the soreness in your throat. Take it form me, It happened the first time I went out for a cold weather run. The shock of finding yourself winded in such a way is truly just about enough to bring you down to the ground, so proceed with caution. I recommend creating a routine of stretching and warming up with a light jog before heading out on either a heavy trail run or a long road run.
Aside from preparing yourself physically and mentally, the simple fact of the matter is that you must be weary of the clothing type you choose to wear before heading out. In an article from Runner's World.com by Amby Burfoot, he recommend doing the following to keep your body warm: "To stay comfortable in frigid weather, wear a microfiber shirt as a first layer, followed by a breathable windbreaker, gloves or mittens, and a hat. Begin by running into the wind, not with it, which will keep you from sweating too much. Sweat is bad in winter, as water robs heat from your body up to 25 times faster than trapped air does."
Now, from personal experience, always remember to wear brightly colored clothing if you intend upon getting out for a run early in the morning, especially if it is an early morning run.
A cell phone will come in handy if you plan for a long run out in the frigid weather to be prepared for any help you may need if you find that you have been hurt badly in any way (i.e slipping on ice and taking a spill). As a safety precaution to those who plan to run on the roads, and I hear horror stories of runners doing this in the winter all the time: if you're going to wear your headphones while running in the cold, never ever put on earmuffs or a hood sinched up so tightly that you can't hear and on coming traffic. Plow trucks are the main thing that you have yo be careful for, so pay attention to the road at all costs.
And finally, remember to eat a sensibly breakfast. Green tea or black coffee is the best thing to get you up and going and munching on an energy bar or having toast with peanut butter makes for a solid meal (at least in my experience) before a cold weather run. Jelly Belly Energy beans are also a great way to stay focused and alert for your run.
At any rate though, happy running and stay safe!!!
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