Winter Training As A Distance Runner

With winter training commencing and track slowly approaching, there are a few things to you might want to add to your Xmas list to be fully prepared for the season...

New running shoes: Most of you XC guys might start feeling some pains in the legs if you are still using old shoes from cross country with too many miles on them.

Running watch: Just like in cross country, you will all be in charge of your own workout during track and recording your own times. It would be a good investment for workouts and also to keep track of your pacing on easy/long runs.

Gloves/hats/long compression leggings/upper body attire: We will be going outside pretty much every day.  Make sure you are prepared for some potentially very cold weather.

To finish off this post, I'm going to leave you with something my college coach sent out to all of us when we started training over our winter break...

- Coach Swyn

IF YOU HAVE A FIRE BURNING IN YOUR BELLY, THIS IS ALL THE WARMTH YOU WILL NEED TO BE A PROUD, SUCCESSFUL DISTANCE RUNNER!

"In my opinion, there are few things as bad-ass as a distance runner training during the winter.  It is 10 degrees, the wind is howling, perhaps even snow is falling.  You stretch at home, don your running gear, hats and gloves and go outside to start your run.  Your parents are looking at you like you are crazy, your neighbors peek out from their windows and shake their heads, people in cars have their jaws drop when they see you.  But there you are, plugging away down the street, bundled up and taking care of business.  Frost forms on your hat from the moisture, you breathe in crisp winter air.  You see Christmas lights on the houses and hear the crunch of snow under your feet. This is truly being alive as a distance runner! On the cold, still and gray landscape, you are the most alive person you will ever be.  You come home after your run, sit on the landing taking off you wet shoes, peel off your sweaty clothes and hang them up to dry.  You do some light stretching, grab something hot to drink and fill out your training log.  You are a warrior." - Coach Masanet