How is it already the last Friday in January? On the one hand, I feel like so much has happened since the holidays. On the other hand, where did the time go?! Let’s take a minute to get some running confessions out there, shall we? Running through winter is always interesting, so let’s get right to it!
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Table of contents
Running through winter when sick
During the last week in December I was sick, and ran through it. I ended up regretting my decision and even wrote a post about running when sick. Now I seem to be fighting something once again, and struggling with whether or not I should run. You would think I would have learned my lesson, right? Apparently not.
Not following a schedule
Between the holidays, weather, traveling, and I don’t even know what else, I feel like my workout schedule has been all thrown off. There are weeks that I end up running 5 days in a row. I know I do better when I spread out my workouts so I need to try to get back to my normal routine.
Enjoying the treadmill
Dare I say I have actually liked running on the treadmill? You are probably not surprised since I have been running on it all the time. But there was a time a few years ago when I would have done anything to avoid running on a treadmill. I’m not sure what changed but I think it has to do with living out in the suburbs where the running conditions can be pretty bad for a while after it snows. It’s also much different being able to run on a treadmill at home versus going to a gym.
Not used to the hills
When I do run outside, I realize how out of shape I am on hills. I think it’s because I’ve been keeping the incline low on the treadmill and my shorter outdoor runs have been in mostly flat areas. I know I need to work on my hill strength again!
Not knowing how to dress for running through the winter
With the weather being all over the place, plus more frequent treadmill runs, I have no idea how to dress when I run outside. If it’s really cold I know to just wear as many layer as possible. But anything between 30 and 50? I’m lost these days. Plus, it usually warms up significantly if I’m doing a long run so I always end up a little too warm by the end.
I guess the good news is that we are almost through January, which means we are one month closer to spring! I just hope February goes by as quickly as January did, since that is usually a tough month to get through!
Have you been running outside this winter?
Do you run hills regularly?
How do you feel about running through winter?
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5 Reasons To Run Jingle Bell
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Gearing Up for a Spring 5k
When I’m not training I keep my same frequency of runs but shorten them up a bit. I don’t blame you for loving that new mill. Isn’t it so convenient? On the days it hit 40 here it still feels colder because of all our snow cover, which, I hope we will melt today. Thanks for linking!
It really is just so convenient to hop on the treadmill! Hope it warms up for you and the snow melts.
I’d probably be more inclined (pun not intended) to run inside if I had a spanking new treadmill. I’ve whined plenty about my old mill. It’s ok. Hopefully we can put most of the cold behind us!
It definitely helps that its a new treadmill. But it’s still good that you have yours as an option for those really cold or icy days!
When I wasn’t training in November and December, I tried to run 4x a week, even if they were shorter runs. I’ll admit that it was nice not following a schedule, but after 2 months I was ready for a change!
I agree, its nice to not follow a schedule for a bit but then I start craving that structure again!
I ran the other morning and I was so overdressed! It was 34 degrees and I was already sweating 1 mile in…no bueno! Have a great weekend!
It’s so hard to know what to wear some days! Hope you have a great weekend too!
I runfess that although I do only run outdoors I have been wimping out a bit in the frigid temps and opting for indoor strength training on those days. I definitely do run hills because we live in a hilly area so every run involves hills!
I don’t blame you at all for taking your workouts indoors on those really cold days!
I need to do more hills for sure! For some reason those always get skipped most frequently by me, even though I live in a hilly neighborhood!
I don’t follow a schedule usually when I’m not signed up for a race and usually go off of what feels good to keep my base pretty solid.
We’ve totally lucked out in Arkansas with our weather this past month, but when it has been extra cold, I’ve headed for the treadmill! I didn’t hate it either! 🙂 I’d rather not have to worry with ALL those layers and be able to really sweat out a few miles on the treadmill!
Have a great Friday!!!
I have quite a few hills near where I live but I usually manage to avoid them:) And running on the treadmill on those really cold days is a really nice option…plus it cuts down on laundry!
Girl, if you are SICK, don’t run!!! Learn your lesson, woman!!
I find with cycling I’ve been riding five days in a row. I don’t realize how exhausted I am until after the fact!
I know- I think it’s just been lingering but after we got back from Florida Rob got sick, so I’m not sure if this is something new or what. I finally decided to take a few days off until I feel better!
I’ve had malaria the last two weeks so I’ve been off training too. I’m starting with walking this week and then running the following week. So I’ve been so disappointed about the start of January and I’m looking forward to starting afresh in February! Hope you are feeling back to your normal self soon!
Oh wow, I hope you’re feeling better! That’s a rough way to start the year. But you will come back even stronger after some time off!
I don’t have to worry about a lack of hills because I live on one…every run either begins or ends on an incline LOL I can simply run laps around my block (2 laps = 1 mile) and get a couple hills on each lap.
I think that would annoy me haha! If I run a mile from my house in either direction I hit some hills, but I can stay really close to home and its relatively flat. Its nice to have the option some days to avoid hills.
Running hills is certainly so different! Glad you are feeling better and back on track with your schedule
If I’m going to continue with treadmill runs I really need to make it a point to include some hills once in awhile!
I would run on the treadmill so much if I had one, so I don’t blame you! I have only run lately when it’s nice out, and I’m not looking forward to my next cold run at all. Have a great February!
It’s so convenient, especially in the winter. I think that now I really appreciate those times I do run outside, especially when the weather is good!
I knew you would fall in love your treadmill. I would never go on it while at the gym, but use it all the time at my house. Every time I run outside, I make it a point to run these two hills that I hate, but it’s good training, and you can’t get that on the treadmill.
Thats good the you include hills so frequently! Most of my routes have them but lately I’ve been staying pretty close to home when I do run outside.
I badly wanted hill training ahead of last week’s hilly half, but the weather knocked that out. Mile High Run Club helped that not be a total fail, but I’m with you on the hills.
Weather weird too, I brought an extra top layer knowing I’d get too warm and it was one I wouldn’t mind parting with (random TJX purchase when it was cooler than expected last spring) and in my Half brain I carried it the whole rest of the way. Weird. Here’s to spring soon
It’s so hard to keep up with the weather these days!
I pretty much only run outside, which means IF I’m not following a schedule I tend to NOT do it if the weather is really crap… I have to run hills simply because it’s a bit hilly where I live (+ bridges) but sometimes I’ll run the long way around just to avoid them!
I haven’t been training for anything the last several months; however I have been going to the gym and cross – training regularly. Luckily I have a running husband who is training all the time so it’s a constant reminder not to just sit around and get out of running shape. So I have had a schedule but not a running one.
Thats good that you have a schedule! And it definitely helps to have as husband who works out too.
Not knowing how to dress on such kind of weather is always a struggle, Lisa. How do you stay motivated to workout on the treadmill?
I think it helps that right now my treadmill is new, so it’s still exciting. But sometimes it can definitely be boring! I have iFit which lets me see a street view of google maps while I run.
That is great you are loving your treadmill! It was a good investment 🙂
I can never figure out how to dress lol
Sick is a hard call. I often run and it seems to sweat it out, but you never know what bug you are fighting off!
So far the treadmill has definitely been a good investment! I feel like I tried to run through this for a bit but now I can tell I need to back off. Ive just been so tired and out of it!
I’ve done most of my runs outside but it was mostly because of the 40|80 Challenge. I was not crazy about the prize but it did get me outside. I would love to have a treadmill. I have access to one at the gym but sometimes I do not want to make the drive to it. It is difficult to dress up with this weather. I think I pretty much have it figured it out for me. The most I’ve worn are 3 tops, 2 pants, 2 socks, and 2 gloves when it was between 0-20 degrees. Between 20-30 degrees it is two layers (one being a wool top), 1 pair of pants, socks, and gloves.
I think those layers sound pretty similar to how I dress when its cold! I just hate overdressing on some of the warmer days, but I also want to make sure Im going to be warm enough, especially when I start out!