Winter is Coming
that’s runnable
The 23rd Edition of your favourite running newsletter
Welcome back to your weekly dose of run chat.
A quick read of insightful tips and thoughts to help you with your running.
This week, here in London, I feel like the temperature’s dropped to a level where it’s appropriate to mention it every time you step outside. It’s not technically winter yet, but it’s getting colder and darker. So, this week, let’s have a chat about training in the winter! ❄️
Something to Think About
Winter miles bring Spring and Summer smiles. The cold, dark runs might not feel glamorous, but each run brings strength and resilience. Remember, the warmth of progress always outlasts the chill of the season. Keep showing up—you’re crafting your future self.
Something to Ask Yourself
When the warmth of bed feels better than the cold outside, ask yourself—how will it feel to look back, knowing you pushed through? Is short-term comfort worth trading for long-term pride? Besides, it’s rarely as bad as you think once you’re out there 😉
Article of the Week 📄
Here’s an article from Runner’s World UK I quite liked. It’s a bit of practical advice for maintaining a running routine during colder months. It covers essential topics such as appropriate clothing, safety precautions, and strategies to stay motivated despite the challenging weather. So if you want to learn how to dress effectively for cold-weather runs, understand the importance of warming up properly, and discover tips to keep your motivation high throughout the winter season, have a read.
Track of the Week 🎶
I had this album on repeat in 2023. He spoils with long records filled with bangers throughout, but I think this is the best track on this 2022 album.
This week’s Track of the Week, from the Album Love, Damini is:
Cloak & Dagger (feat. J Hus) by Burna Boy (2022)
Personal Lesson
Training for Transgrancanaria Classic a few years ago, a tough and technical 126km mountain race that takes place in February (usually on my birthday weekend), was one of the toughest and most transformative winter training blocks of my life. The peak of my training coincided with the depths of a London winter—a perfect storm of dark mornings, biting cold, and the constant balancing act of a demanding full-time job and Christmas social life. Most days, my alarm would go off at 4:50AM, and while most of the rest of the city slept, I’d lace up my shoes, layering up to face sub-zero temperatures and icy pavements that sometimes felt too treacherous to run on. I can’t count the number of times I questioned my sanity as I headed out into the dark, my breath hanging in the air like a reminder of the challenges ahead.
But what those months taught me was resilience on a level few tend to tap into. Each frosty run wasn’t just about logging kilometers—it was about learning how to adapt when conditions were less than ideal. I found myself thinking creatively: shifting sessions to safer routes, doubling down on strength work when it was too icy, and leaning heavily on discipline when motivation was nowhere to be found. By the time I stood on the start line in Gran Canaria, I wasn’t just proud of my physical preparation—I was proud of the grit I’d developed to get there. Crossing that finish line wasn’t just a victory over the course; it was a triumph over every early morning, frozen toe, and moment of doubt that winter had thrown my way. If anything, enduring those months made the finish that much sweeter—it was proof that the hardest battles often lead to the most rewarding outcomes.
Running – Life’s Metaphor
Training in winter teaches us that growth often happens in the most uncomfortable conditions. It shows that progress isn’t always visible in the moment, but every small effort—every cold, dark, and challenging step—builds strength and resilience for the future. In life, just like in winter training, the willingness to endure discomfort and stay consistent during tough times prepares us for the seasons of success and achievement that follow.
Final Thoughts
Training in the winter is no small feat, and it’s important to recognise that it looks different for everyone. For some, it might mean bundling up and braving the frosty mornings with a head torch and reflective gear, while for others, the dark and cold may pose real challenges to routine. If running in the dark feels unsafe, it’s okay to adapt—maybe that means shifting your runs to lunchtime or using a treadmill. The key is flexibility: doing what you can rather than feeling defeated by what you can’t. Winter training doesn’t demand perfection; it demands persistence.
One of the greatest gifts of training in winter is the grit it teaches. The cold and dark can test your resolve in ways no fair weather run ever will. Each time you step out into the biting wind or endure a slippery pavement run, you’re building mental toughness that will carry you through tougher challenges—both on the road and in life. In a world where it seems so many are emotionally soft and instant gratification often reigns supreme, that resilience is rare and valuable. Winter training reminds us that great rewards come from enduring discomfort and that the work done in the hardest conditions often yields the most meaningful results.
But perhaps most importantly, winter training teaches gratitude. After months of battling the elements, those first warm spring runs feel like a celebration of all you’ve endured. You appreciate the light, the warmth, and ease in ways you wouldn’t if you’d skipped the hard miles. So, embrace the season in whatever way works for you. Whether it’s a full training load or a scaled-back winter plan, every effort is building a stronger, more resilient version of yourself.
Winter’s brutal, but it shapes you—and the grit you earn stays long after the frost melts.
Thanks again for reading and subscribing.
Run the runnable, and keep showing up for yourself!
Tommy 🙂