Running during the cold, winter months may not be top of everyone’s list for things they look forward to about winter, but you can make the most out of it with these top tips!

A great way of keeping fit, running is the easiest exercise that we can do – something that we can undertake wherever we are. Conditions can be tough, but there is no excuse to stop running.

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Motivation

One of the main things that stops people from reaching their full potential can be motivation. When your alarm rings at 6am and it’s dark, wet and cold outside, many people will be tempted to hit the snooze button and put it off.

Unless you’re a highly motivated individual, it’s likely that this might happen at least once during winter.

Finding the motivation can be tough, but setting goals for yourself or recruiting a friend or group to go with can help immensely. When you’re not only letting yourself but somebody else down, it can be that extra push to get you up and out of your nice, warm bed.

You might not personally know someone that runs similar routes or at similar times to yourself, but by getting in touch with and joining a local running club, you will be able to find people who share similar interests that you can even compete against – a good way of pushing yourself to improve.

You could also reward yourself with something that you enjoy, whether that’s an extra snack for your lunch or that pair of running shoes you spotted online last weekend.

Wear the correct gear

Making sure that you are dressed appropriately can impact your running a lot, both in terms of your performance and enjoyment. With the winter bringing plummeting temperatures, rain and snow as well as earlier evenings – what we wear changes considerably from just a couple of months previously.

When you’re planning what to wear, many people make the mistake of layering up too much. The extra layer or two may benefit you when you first step outside, but once you begin running you’ll soon warm up and be too warm! Layer smart and you’ll feel the benefit.

Merino wool baselayers are always beneficial which combined with a midlayer and a lightweight jacket should keep the top of your body warm once you get going. Running tights will keep your legs insulated too. Don’t forget other parts of your body too – gloves, a hat and socks should all be worn.

Running in the dark can be dangerous wherever you’re running, and with the sunlight coming and going all too fast during winter, it’s even more important to ensure that you can see what’s in front of you – and that others can see you. Using a torch is an option which you can use but this could prove to be dangerous if directed into the road. Make sure to wear brightly coloured clothing, with reflective properties if possible.

With one of your main senses – your sight – restricted as its dark, don’t choose to not use another. Many of us like to listen to music as we run, but when it’s dark it’s best to rely on all of our other senses to alert us to any potential dangers.

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