I'm not sure anyone really enjoys training or exercising in the Winter. Summer months seem more appealing to many; it's a lot warmer, early mornings and did I mention it's warm?! Winter on the other hand is different. For a start, the weather doesn't tend to be as fabulous; rain, wind, even snow, don't tend to make working our the most appealing thing to do. And the pitch black early mornings - make me think "I'm going to stay in bed" instead of "time to go out and run!".
So here are just a couple of tips that may ease the pain some of us have with working out during these colder months.
New Year Goals. Set yourself a challenge for the New Year. It gives you a goal and something to train towards over the this season. It can be anything; a 5k, 10k, Spring half or full marathon! It's completely up to you, but having a date in your diary to work towards definitely makes it easier to get up and go. I'm planning on running the London Winter 10k Run on the 1st of February
Buy new kit. You know that super snuggly looking jacket you've been eyeing up for months? Go for it. I find new workout kit definitely helps to motivate me to exercise when it's cold, especially if it's chucking it down outside. I recently picked up some long sleeved tops from Karrimor and they've really kept me warm when I'm up early cycling or going for a run.
Stay safe. If you're out early and whilst it's still dark you need to make sure you're wearable appropriate clothing. Wear reflective clothing that means you can easily be seen by others. Stick to routes you know and well lit paths if you can. Make sure somebody knows where you are and that you have a phone on you. If you're heading out for a longer run or cycle have I.C.E (in case of emergency) details on you if something were to happen.
Start your resolutions early. Although I have never really have resoultions for New Year, I do know that an extremely common one for many people is to exercise more and eat well. So what better way to kick start your resolution that to begin early? By the time Janaruay 1st rolls arund you'll be in the swing of a new fitness routine and can sit happy knowing you've made a great start in having a healthy fitness journey.
Try something new. New classes, new workouts or even just a new route. Routine is a good thing. It adds structure to our days and can help keep us organised and motivated. But doing the same old exercise over and over again is a completely different ball game. If you're stuck in a workout rut it can leave you demotivated and unwilling to exercise. To combat this try a new class at the gym or simply run a new route and explore the area you live!
Get your workout in early. Although this isn't the easiest thing to do over Winter as the mornings are pitch black it can be a positive thing. If you do your workout in the morning it means you can spend the evenings after work just relaxing and knowing you don't have to go out in the cold. (Check out my tips on early morning workouts).
What are your tips for exercising during these colder times? Let me on Twitter @afloralcrown.