Winter is Coming
There I said it.
What we’re all trying not to think about. Winter.
Winter can be really tough for training, and as a native Winnipegger and now current Michigan resident I know it full well. For most of North American residents and many other runners around the world, seasons are wonderful but they can make training really hard. Winter is often a “just get through it” season.
But in truth, we want more than to just get through winter.
We want to hold onto all the fitness gains made through the spring, summer and fall.
We want to be positioned well for our goals in the new year.
We want to maintain our sanity when poor weather, limited daylight and unsafe roads constantly interfere with our running plans.
But I have good news. We can do this.
The best way to get through winter is by preparing well in the fall - right now.
Some people may feel it’s a waste to get really fit before winter because they believe those efforts are for nothing. It’s true, we can expect to run less in winter. For us northerners hibernation is practically an instinct, and for everyone the race calendar thins out considerably (even without ongoing pandemics). Winter is a natural time to step back from intense training or high volume, but these adjustments to training do not mean we have to lose fitness.
Winter is the time for Maintenance Mode, which essentially means training less - strategically - not to make gains but to maintain current fitness. So that’s why we need to get fit before winter.
(Click here to read exactly what Maintenance Mode training involves.)
By working hard in the fall we are doing significant training toward that spring marathon or that summer race schedule. The fall is also arguably the best time of year for training with cooler temps, often lower humidity, and depending on where you’re running, eye-popping colours. Shorts and long-sleeve weather is the best for hammering out some quality miles or kms.
Strategic maintenance training is truly effective in preserving our gains, so the time is now! The fitter we are going into winter, the fitter we can be coming out of winter.
Go ahead and get fit. It won’t be wasted.
Not confident that Maintenance Mode training actually works?
Please schedule a free phone consultation with me to discuss it personally!
Nicole Sifuentes is a full-time Running Coach for adults of all ages and abilities. She is a former professional runner and 2-time Olympian, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Read more about her services, and schedule your free coaching consultation.