Holiday running

With all the travelling, shopping, Christmas tree decorating, cooking and partying over the holidays, it may not be quite as easy to get out for those training runs. Unfortunately, it is just this time of year that we need those runs to work off the inevitable excesses of the holiday season. So here are a few tips to get those runs in:

1. Do it early. This is always good advice, if you can get your run in as soon as you get out of bed, any events happening during the day are not going to interrupt it - it's done! Also, over the holidays people tend to sleep later, so you might be able to get most of the run in before everyone wakes up.

2. Just get out there. Whatever time of day or night you have avaialble, just go out and run. Don't worry if you can't fit in the whole 10 miler you have planned - six miles is better than none. Also, I find that inertia is the biggest problem, and once I am out the door, I often run further than I expected.

3. Be flexible. Just because you always run at a certain time, doesn't mean you have to stick to that when you are off work. If you are cooking a Christmas brunch, fit in your run after the brunch but before the main dinner preparations get started.

4. Schedule a run with a friend. Scheduled runs make you more inclined to get out there. Take advantage of the holidays to schedule a run with a friend you haven't been able to run with for a while because of different routines.

5. Finally if all else fails - cross train. Cross country skiing is great cross training if you are stuck in the country. Skating and shinny hockey should keep the calories from mounting up too quickly.

6. Start a supplemental training routine. If running is difficult, core strength work and dynamic stretching are two things you can do anywhere and don't need to take too much time. If you get into the habit of doing these regularly over the holidays, you can continue when you get back to running regularly and your running will certainly be all the better for it.

Hopefully you will be able to make it through the holidays without too much downtime and be ready to get back to training for those races in the New Year.