Every year around this time life starts to get crazy. Between holiday shopping, baking, get-togethers (small groups please), finding time to fit in a run can be hard. Especially when you add all the things you’re currently doing, like working, homeschooling, and the everyday goings-on of life. Running through the holidays might come to mean running around town trying to find the perfect gift for grandma.
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Running Through the Holidays
The irony of all of this is that running is a great stress reliever, so it really helps keep things steady during the holidays. When we find that we are so busy we can’t find the time to fit in our usual runs, that can cause even more stress. Don’t despair though. I’ve got you covered. Here are five tips to help you maintain your running fitness over the holidays.
5 Tips to Maintain Your Running Fitness
Of course, the holidays are not the only time we get busy. Work, family, and other obligations can make it challenging to find the time even for something that we love as much as running. These tips will help you keep your running fitness not only over the holidays but year-round as well.
1. Run Early (or Late)
By getting your run out of the way early in the morning you can avoid the buildup of other errands and interruptions that may cause you to skip your run. Running later in the day, after work or other chores are done, can not only help you keep your running fitness, it can also help you run off some of the stress of the day. Either may mean running in the dark or on a treadmill, but at least you’ll be getting it done.
2. Run Shorter
So you just have a half-hour? Don’t give it up, simply get out there, run a couple of miles, and be proud of yourself for getting it done. Runs don’t have to be long to count.
3. Schedule Your Run
Whether or not you’re currently following a training plan, schedule your run just like you would any other appointment. That will help you prioritize it.
4. Break it Up
Even when you’re busy, it may be possible to find blocks of time to fit in a run or two during your day. In addition to your short morning run, you might fit in a quick one at lunchtime or after work.
5. Give Yourself a Break
Don’t beat yourself up if you have to skip a run (or two) during the busy holiday season. If you can keep up two or three shorter runs during the week you can keep up your running fitness. And if sometimes you can’t even get that, forgive yourself. Sometimes family trumps running. January will be here soon.
These women’s running shoes are great for running and relaxing.
How do you find time and motivation to maintain your running fitness over the holidays?
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These are great tips! Fortunately, my marathon training for Boston will only start in January, so I think I will go with your last option: I’ll take it easy!
But I’ll keep up with the shorter runs, I enjoy them a lot.
It’s nice when you can just run short and easy and not have to worry about big mileage. Enjoy it!
I agree with these tips! I try to give myself some flexibility around the holidays but if I want to run I know I need to get it done early.
Of course, you always run early. 🙂 Yes, it is nice. Plus you’ll be in recovery mode, right?