Winter is a beautiful time of year – yes, beautiful. Those crisp, fresh days have a different kind of charm to spring or summer, making this a great time of year to get outside, get running, and to explore your surroundings.
Yet, in our poll over half of you admitted to running less once the clocks moved back in the autumn. To motivate you to head out and tear up those winter trails, we’ve put together these 19 ideas. They’ll have you throwing back the duvet in no time, and will help you to maintain your running mojo through winter and beyond.
You might think it’s tougher to get yourself out that door when it’s dark and cold – throw in a little wind and rain, and it’s even more of a challenge – but, in the end, the rewards make it well worthwhile.
All you need to do is wrap up warm and take those first steps outside, and focus on the benefits. Even small mileage will keep you ticking over, feeling fresh and alive when co-workers are moaning about the long months.
Winter runspiration: 19 useful hacks
1. Set yourself a challenge
Creating new goals for the year ahead will provide a fresh source of motivation. Most runners struggle with consistency at one time or another, which is why challenging yourself to run 1000 miles over the course of a year is a fantastic way to stick to your training. Every year, thousands of runners join Trail Running UK’s challenge to hit 1000 miles in training,signing up to Run 1000 Miles is free and so is access to the incredibly supportive Run 1000 Miles Facebook group.
2.Find your why
Adventurer Sophie Radcliffe is a fantastic symbol of perseverance and determination when it comes to exercising outdoors. Her tip is to ‘find your why’. Why do you do what you do? What is that deep-down fuzzy feeling about running that makes you want to get out the door on a normal day?
Pinpoint your reasons and always keep them in the forefront of your mind. Sophie says, “My motivation is simple; my ‘one life, live it’ philosophy is all about living life to the full, challenging myself to explore my limits, and creating a positive impact with my time on this planet. Running is an incredible way to explore the world, make new friends and feel full of joie de vivre!”
3.Make a choice
Another top tip from Radcliff is to make the choice between who you are and who you really want to be. We know, it sounds corny. Then, make sure you commit to being the best version of yourself, and make it a priority. Our bet is, that person probably runs off road in all weathers…
4.Pick a race to train for next spring
Having a big race to aim for or distance to aspire to can be a great motivation to get you out the door. Whether you’re inspired by the challenge, are running for a charity, or just want to get your money’s worth on race entry, pick your ‘A race’ and keep it in your sights.
“In the last three winters, I’ve had a multi-day ultra awaiting me the other side of Christmas (the Spine twice, then The Coastal Challenge), and the fear of what they held for me made it much easier to get out the door,” says Damian Hall, outdoor journalist, GB ultra runner and Inov-8 ambassador.
“Also, when you’re a parent you’ll see the huge amount of time you had for self-indulgence when you weren’t one. I’m desperate for time to go running and can only really go before 7am and after 8pm. Training time is very limited, so a bit of bad weather isn’t going to stop me.”
5. Mini races
Having a big goal in the spring can sometimes feel far enough away that you think it’s okay to skip training… you know, just for today. Don’t. Sign up for smaller local races or show up to a local parkrun to keep you moving forward. Building your running fitness is all about consistency, and making small goals can really help this.
6. Talk to yourself
Previous Trail Running editor Claire Maxted suggests some self-chat. “Talking to yourself is not madness, it’s motivation. Stick little Post-it notes and inspiring winter running photos around the house in key places. Write ‘You’ll thank yourself afterwards’ and stick it to the TV if you’re tempted to sink into the sofa.
Or, have a go-to mantra for when the going gets tough. During a rainy long run, just remember it’s ‘one step at a time’ and before you know it, you’ll have racked up the miles. Find out what phrases work for you and keep them in your head during those wet and chilly training sessions.
7. Treat yourself
Vow to make yourself your favourite breakfast or coffee when you get back. Then, throughout your run, you know you’re going to have a great treat when you finish.
World Champion Skyrunner Emelie Forsberg says, “If I have a bigger goal, I try to keep it fresh in my mind. I want to be good for that goal, so I just try to follow my plan even though it means hours and hours of training in the dark. It’s a reward in itself when you come home after a long, hard training session! I also treat myself with many hot chocolates.”
8. Get out with friends
Bad weather and darkness can fade into the background when you’re chatting away with friends. Join up with your local club or drag a neighbour out on the pre-work run to keep your mind busy. As runners, we tend to be solo creatures by habit, but don’t underestimate the worth of sharing a good run. There’s nothing better than the camaraderie of a club to get you outside on cold, dark evenings.
9. Cross-train
Winter provides a good opportunity to try something different to running. Get out on the road bike or mountain bike, go to the pool, or get in the gym. Cross-training targets other muscles that runners don’t always use, resulting in an overall performance gain. Plus, supplementing your run training with some strength training will help you become a more robust runner, and less prone to injury.
10. New clothes
Winter’s a wonderful excuse to get yourself some bright new gear. If you feel good about yourself when you’ve put on those new running leggings that you’ve been ogling, you’ll want to get out on the trail and show them off.
Or that winter running jacket – you won’t be able to wait until it rains just so you have an excuse to wear it. Salomon athlete Ryan Sandes recommends, “Buy some new cold-weather running gear. I always love testing out new kit. This will get you excited to head out into some bad weather. Also, if you have good clothes that keep you dry and warm, then running in winter can be lots of fun.”
If nothing else, owning the right pair of winter trail running shoes for training in adverse weather is essential. Our running gear section is full of expert gear reviews to help you choose the right bit of kit for you.
11. Get your dog involved
If you have a dog, get it out on the trails with you, or offer to take your neighbour’s instead. Their happy natures will make you smile even on the dreariest of days. Why not invest in a canicross harness and learn how to run safely with your loyal companion.
12. Plan a trip
Get your friends or family on board, pick a prime trail spot and book a holiday cottage between you. Enjoy some glorious new trail running routes as you explore the area, and make memories with your loved ones. It doesn’t get much better than that.
13. Read about inspirational runners
Pick up an inspirational book or get online and follow your favourite runners on Twitter and Instagram – don’t forget to follow Trail Running UK onFacebook and Instagram while you’re at it. Seeing their posts will buoy you up. We recommend Running Beyond by Ian Corless, which is full of epic ultra, trail and Skyrunning race inspiration.
14. Explore more
Winter is a good time to explore local trails. The undergrowth is low, and your runs may be shorter – a great time to stay at home and explore all those small paths you’ve ignored in place of pursuits further afield in warmer months.
15. Listen to your favourite podcast
Even if you’re not looking forward to getting out of bed and into the dark, you’ll look forward to listening to the next part of your podcast or audiobook. We like TalkUltra for all the latest ultra and Skyrunning news.
16. Keep warm
There’s nothing worse than getting out of a warm bed into a cold room. Set your radiator to come on half an hour beforehand, so your room is toasty – pulling back the duvet will be much easier. You could also set your phone alarm to come on gradually for a more natural wake-up. Others swear by a natural daylight alarm clock, which aims to stimulate a natural sunrise to gently wake your body.
17. Embrace the mud
Make it muddy – it’s always more fun, so embrace the dirt whenever you can. You might be put off your favourite summer trails by an increase in dirt and puddles, but don’t let that stop you from having some off-road fun. Rather than tip-toeing around muddy patches, just get dirty. It’s pretty unavoidable in winter anyway so you might as well enjoy yourself.
18. Use an app
Track your training using an app. It’ll keep you motivated as you watch the kilometres build and your fitness improve. Apps like Strava can also compare your performance on the same routes over time, and give you an effort score based on heart rate. Stay in touch with running buddies from all over as you give each other kudos (aka likes) and share images of your mud-tastic exploits.
19. Peruse Live For The Outdoors
Head to our gear and training pages to read up on all the latest run kit reviews and fitness advice. Whether you’re looking for guidance on how to run your first ultra marathon, or want to know what trail running shoes for hard-packed surfaces are best, we’ve got you covered.