on Dec 14th, 2009The Runner’s Guide to Surviving Christmas
Guest Blog Post: Louise from mumswhorun in Hitchin offers some great advice on how to keep up your running this Christmas…
Whether you’re a recreational runner or a serious athlete, the Festive Season is a difficult period to contend with – daylight hours are all too short, your free time is at a premium, and there are so many reasons not to put on those running shoes. However, follow these tips to see you through the next few weeks and all need not be lost…
*Lower your expectations: let’s face it, now is probably not the time to be setting new targets and challenges. So be realistic – do what you can when you can and don’t fret over missed sessions.
*Adapt your schedule: use this period as an opportunity to introduce new elements to your run. If you are usually a slave to your stopwatch, leave it at home and run at a pace you are comfortable with today rather than against the clock; try running up and down hills for a set period of time; try a fartlek session, where you identify random landmarks at a set point ahead and sprint to them, jogging or walking slowly in between times. Or, if you intended going out for an hour but only have a 30-minute slot, optimise your time by running at quicker pace than you usually would.
*Listen to your body: booze, rich food , partying and late nights – any or all of these will take their toll on your body. Run too soon after drinking alcohol and chances are you will be dehydrated; run too soon after a heavy meal and chances are you will either get a bad stitch and/or stomach problems. So make sure you give your system sufficient recovery time before heading out…
*Give your gear an overhaul: make an inventory of your running kit and ditch the old and worn – then check out your favourite retailer for potential sale bargains. In particular take time to check your shoes for any signs of wear – you just might be able to justify treating yourself to an extra Christmas present!
*Do a spot of reading: rather than sit through those endless repeats of film and TV series, pick up one of the many good books on running that are out there and enjoy the theory rather than the practice for once!
*The Great Escape (and I’m not talking about the film, even if it is repeated on TV every Christmas!): If the obligatory festive celebrations just get too much, if you can’t bear to look at another mince pie and your Great-Aunt Ada is driving you to distraction, your run can provide the perfect excuse for an early get-away: just claim you’re in training for an upcoming race and you might even win the respect of your fellow partygoers (though not necessarily their understanding…!).
*Enjoy it! Remember, no matter how few, brief or low-intensity your session might be, you are out there doing something active and worthwhile while the vast majority of people are languishing indoors doing not much at all! For the maximum ‘feel-good factor’, go out on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve or 2nd January – but avoid Dec 25th and Jan 1st at all costs (unless you want people to feel sorry for you!). After all, if you can’t justify to yourself having a day off on these days, when on earth can you???
Happy running, happy resting – Happy Christmas!
Louise Graham has been a keen runner for 15 years and is a UK Athletics licensed running group leader. In 2009 she set up mumswhorun, a women-only running group that promotes running as an ideal activity for women.
Ask Louise about: Running Fitness, Running for Beginners, Running Event Training, Running Gear, Running For Mums, Fitness For Mums.
Thanks Louise, more great runnning advice! As I’m spending Christmas with the olds I think I might take up The Great Escape tip and hit the road if it all gets too much