how to stay positive and not get depressed training through winter

Remember that you can run. you're luckier than some of us. You train because it's your choice and it's something you love.

don't run too much indoors. run outside. it takes some getting used to for sure. i live in northern vermont, so i know about long, cold winters. once i get used to it, i love running in the cold. well, when it's above 10 degrees anyway, and without too much wind. and when it's not snowing.

Yesterday was 1 degree and negative crazy windchill. I ran twice. Why? I just remind myself that forcing myself out the door in the winter and staying in shape will make those beautiful spring, summer, and autumn runs even more enjoyable.

Slog through, spring will be here before you know it.

aim for big performances in indoor track.

switch up routes. once the snow rolled in, my team lost the park, thus we were left to fend for ourselves on the road. roads get monotonous, but switch up routes everyday. go explore your town or neighboring areas.

no matter what the weather feels like, always bring hats and gloves. seems like a no brainer, but you will eventually feel it.

start out slow, and then build up. you might feel cold in the beginning because your blood is not flowing, but your body will acclimate.

start out short. but that is with any training.

probably the most important thing is to go with a friend. my 70 minute run in 10*F weather felt like 40 minutes because we talked. maybe an ipod can substitute as a friend.

Have a lot of sex.

It'll make you feel like a man, and a man can run happily through even the worst weather.

A smart (and fast!) man once told me, "If it's slippery, you're getting extra work for your stabilizer muscles. If the wind is really cold and you feel like you can't breathe, pretend you're at altitude."

If you already live at altitude AND the winter is getting to you, I dunno. . . pretend you're on the moon?

vitamin D, you get very strong deficiency during winter - and this is main cause of so-called "winter depression".

Tanning bed. Get more vitamin D, as has already been suggested.

in this month's RW, it has a section on mantras - best one was Jurek's - "This is what you came for."

Which is exactly right.

This is why after law school im heading to Florida. I can deal with 95 and high humidity. I can't deal with 0, no sunlight and 2 feet of snow on the ground for half the year

IllinoisMaster wrote:

Tanning bed. Get more vitamin D, as has already been suggested.

Correct me if I am wrong, but tanning beds actually deplete vitamin D stores instead of raising them, don't they?

Try and spend time outdoors when it's light. Can be tricky if you have an office job... but even 30 mins walking outside at lunchtime is worthwile.