Maintaining a regular running schedule is hard enough, but throw in some parties, shopping, food preparation, out-of-town guests, and other holiday craziness, and running suddenly drops to the bottom of your to-do list. It also doesn't help that the cold weather in many parts of the U.S. makes for less-than-desirable outdoor running conditions. If you're already finding yourself slacking a little, here are some tips to make sure you're not starting all over again come January:
Schedule your runs. Your calendar gets more packed during the holiday season, but you should try to make running a priority. Take a look at your week and write down when you think you'll be able to squeeze in runs, just like you would other appointments. If you have runs scheduled, you're more likely to get them done.
Redefine your workouts. Prepare to be flexible about the time and distance of your runs, too. Remember that a 20-minute run is better than skipping your run altogether, so don't miss your run just because you won't have time to run what you had originally planned. Even running a couple of miles a few times a week will help you maintain your running habit through the holidays.
Run a holiday race. There are lots of fun races during the holiday season, from jingle bell runs to resolutions runs. Find a race near you and put it on your calendar. Having an upcoming race will keep you motivated to continue running. Try to recruit some friends and family, too, so you can have a fun holiday outing together.
Get the family to join you. If you're visiting with family and you're concerned that you'll seem selfish or rude for taking time to run, ask if anyone wants to run with you. You may have to run a slower pace than you're used to, but use it as a recovery run. Even if no one else in the family runs, you can head to a local trail or track and see if anyone wants to walk while you run. Going for a run or enjoying the outdoors together could be a great bonding experience.
Determine your roadblocks. If you can anticipate your excuses for not running, it's easier to overcome them. Get solutions for how to beat your excuses for not running.
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Timely entry! Oh, I’ve been making 2-3 runs a week max for the past two weeks rather than 5 a week and at lower mileage. I don’t want to go out in crazy windy sub 30 weather… even to go to the indoor track! If I don’t head out first thing in the morning, by 5:30 AM, it’s usually a lost cause.
Head for the basement!
Yes, you can jog in the basement. Move items out of your way to get a circular trail. Jogging for 15-20 minutes should help to keep your endurance up. No, you will not be able to go fast, but a slow jog is better than nothing at all.