78 Comments
Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I run every day, regardless of where I am. I get up early and go for a run, even if it's a short one, before other activities of the day. I have run every day for over 4 years, including Christmas day. My kids are grown up so no one is even up when I go out! It's my time for fresh air and peace before the holiday craziness.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I book races. That ensures (or at least HELPS to ensure) that I will keep running. If I have paid for a race or races, I will be much more inclined to get my butt out there and train, even in the crappy Midwest weather which I loathe.

I have a 10 miler this Sunday, 10K next Saturday, then a 12K (late Dec), 15K (early Jan), 18K (late Jan), half (early Feb), Disney Princess 10K and half marathon (late Feb), Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon in Lexington KY (late March), the LPHM in Springfield IL (early April), then the IL Half Marathon in Champaign IL (late April), with our running club's "Half-Wits" winter training program mixed in there 3x/week starting in January. That should hopefully keep me active through the winter months. :)

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I set up a solid plan from Dec thru Jan and make the treadmill my best friend :)

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I think that this time of year it is essential to keep running, not so much to keep the holiday calories at bay, but for stress reliever. Group runs help... They offer an open ear and provide an extra incentive to keep your schedule. If I know if someone is waiting for me in the cold, I am more likely to go out and run.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

Group fitness workouts , just a fun evening run and weekly once long run . Tough to stay consistent on festive season but moderation of food intake plays a main role as well .

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I’m blessed to be an early riser. I can get up at 5 and get a good run in before the world wakes up and the busy work day starts. Asking for prayers-running my first half on Sunday! 🤗 🏃🏼‍♀️

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I think running can be a great break from the holiday craziness. It’s easier to deal with planning and festivities after an early morning run.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I try to keep running through December and I usually do a couple of 5K races during the first half of the month. In past years my running has fallen off quite a bit in December and January and that isn't necessarily a bad thing since I train with a run group from February through October and I figure that my body needs a bit of a break. This year I am trying to run a bit more consistently through the month and so far I am not doing too badly. As long as I get in 3 runs each week I will be happy.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

We're heading to Winston Salem NC to run the Mistletoe 1/2. We have run this every year since finding out it starts at my mother-in-law's back door! It marks the beginning of the holidays for me and allows us to have an early Christmas celebration and a race. My family knows I'm a happier person when I've run, especially in the winter. So, they just smile when I head out so wrapped up you can only see my eyes!!

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I live near the mountains, so I hike early in the morning before I have to meet family/holiday commitments. I'm my priority!

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I have to run, to survive the holidays and extended family. I run on Christmas day and on my birthday. Which is 3 days before Christmas, then make sure to run before the new year. It's not easy, but make it a priority for me. Everyone in the family knows not to plan stuff too early, so I can get my run.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I adjust my normal running schedule (am before work) based on daily events. If I know it's going to snow overnight and be dangerous, I'll plan an evening run. If we have a full Saturday of activities, I'll get up early and get it done. Even if it's a short 2-3 miles, it's still about the consistency more than anything. And I make a point to include the family whenever possible!

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

Holidays are low key for us....but I did hire a coach this year so I just follow the plan and work around that.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

Pretty simple....just get your butt out there and run....get your miles in get your workout in and make the necessary adjustments if you have a party or something scheduled

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

This is going to be my first year really running outside in the winter as I am training for my first half marathon in May. We already have a good foot of snow on the ground and the temps are in the 20's, so I am working on trying to figure out what I need for layers. My times are not the best, but I know I'm being more cautious. My runs are really "my time" and I love it. As much as I may not feel like doing it some days, as soon as my feet hit the sometimes snow-covered pavement I feel so much better about myself and my day goes so much better!

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

Even when it is not the holiday season I do my running early in the morning., I usually go out around 7. The run is completed and I can do whatever I have to do that particular day. I prefer the early morning rather than later in the day wondering when I am going to get my run in. It may be a little colder at this time of year but it has worked for me for the last 25 years. No need to change now.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I find my struggle with the mental drain those time of year produces. I am mentally exhausted from people taking their crappiness out on everyone they encounter. Add to this the desperation it puts people in from the financial stress and it just overwhelms. Getting home though it’s merry 5:30pm it’s pitch black outside which adds a layer of safety concern, with the mental disaster of a day. People not paying attention when driving and it really causes me to be thrown off my game plan.

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I have made training a social habit so it is not that hard to keep the schedule. I am seeing issues with the social aspects outside of the current schedule. An example is two of my running groups have a combined activity, I am having dental surgery the day before. I am not sure what I am going to be doing until I talk to the doctor. It is things like that which get in my way. I am also hearing weather might be an issue after the first of the year. I just can't do the treadmill thing so we will see if that hurts my training for the of half-marathon's.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

Holidays include but are not limited to a turkey trot on thanksgiving, Reindeer run this weekend, rock city half next weekend and the hangover half series on new's eve at 5 and 11:45 pm and then the half on new years day. On and there will be virtual bibs in the stockings on the 25th.

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Dec 8, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I am old enough to be the oldest living member of my family so everyone come to my house. That makes running somewhat easier. BUT sometimes I still have to adjust my schedule. I have a running group I meet on Saturday mornings. This Friday I had to tell them " I won't be there because my wife said I was busy tomorrow". One guy responded "she is probably right too"

I responded "yep, that's why I said I won't be there" (ps: I moved my long run to Sunday and found out Sat. night I was busy Sunday too (: )

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

i own a bakery so this time of year is bonkers! i head to a high school track just down the street from me at 3:30am for 3-5 miles before i have to fire up my ovens. it certainly helps me stay grounded and present during the frenetic holiday season.

i have a half-marathon on sunday and am soooo excited!

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I try to get at least 3 runs a week and always schedule a race in early January to keep me motivated. The last few years on Christmas Day between the morning breakfast and supper later I started my own tradition of running the golf course near my house. About 5 to 6 miles running the cart paths by myself and use it as a time to reflect on the past year.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I try not to let the festivities of the season impact on my running (or walking) too much. As a matter of fact, it’s cooler mornings where I am and (rainy now) and I simply looove the early morning fog and the fresh air. That alone pulls me out the front door. I still go with a routine even if I have to make some adjustments here and there. Last Christmas was a classic example as I had a full house and even though I had to be up and down with family, I still incorporated some walk/runs which help to keep me on my feet. I may not do actual races and that’s ok as my body needs the break but I still set goals for myself (like doing the virtual races) and start to mentally prepare for upcoming races in the new year.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I take November and December as easy months. I do cherish my runs though, with walking and some Nordic cross training too. It's cleansing and spiritual, in the winter cold, after being bombarded with materialism and hounding by non-profits. I'll get back into building in January.

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For me, I'm actually excited to start training again and I think that's a huge factor. I like to wake up in the am and just get my run done with.

Some days are harder than others and some days I complain and whine, but I'm usually happier when I'm done. I also find that with a lot of holiday parties and gatherings sometimes seeing my friends means scheduling an early run together.

Finally, I embrace the treadmill. Some days it's awful outside and I can catch up on mindless television or podcasts and not feel guilty about it!

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

For me, the problem is mostly due to the fact that it gets dark earlier from November through Marchish. I absolutely hate running in the dark, I find it depressing in addition to safety concerns. I am fortunate enough to have a job where I can run at lunch time, which I do during the week. It's a great energy booster to tackle the rest of the afternoon. On the weekends, I still manage to get my long runs in - I just get flexible with which day depending on what I have going on during the weekend. This time of year just makes us have to be more creative!!

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

On a day after indulging in the festive intakes, it feels real good - honestly - to put on the shoes and let the cold air slap you around.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

As Susan mentioned earlier, I run every day, no matter where I am. I live a good distance from family, so sometimes I miss a run day traveling. (I have a 9 hour drive when roads are favorable). I don't like missing a run, but sometimes there's nothing I can do about it. I have routes everywhere I visit. If I'm out of town on business, I utilize a hotel treadmill or design a route for my stay.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

During busy times I find the commitment to run with one or more friends gets me out the door...like today.

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Dec 6, 2019Liked by Terrell Johnson

I've got my first half-marathon scheduled for the end of Feb, 2020, so I'm pretty inexperienced in all of this... but!

I did well over Thanksgiving. Over the course of the Monday-Sunday week, I ran three 5ks and my longer 8 mile Saturday run.

Ultimately it came down to: 1) not drinking too much wine and beer and 2) making some kinda effort to squeeze the runs in whenever and however, and not necessarily worrying about which days are the *scheduled* days.

I figure it's going to get hairy in December and I'm willing to be flexible. Also, though, my run isn't until February so I feel like I have plenty of post-holiday recovery time.

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The bulk of my runs are done between January and end of October. The last couple years I am using November and December to heal, especially this year. I am coming off a Right foot ligament injury. I am back to 90 %. I am working on training 1-2 days a week right now- I'm keeping my miles low, but also trying to watch what I eat.

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I do not have any real magic for keeping at it through the holidays. I have been in the middle of a training cycle for the past 4 years of holidays. So I pretty much just keep at it for whatever is on the schedule. I am hoping to run the Cincinnati Heart Mini (half) in mid-March. So I will want to be ready for that.

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I bought a treadmill last winter for myself and that was a HUGE game changer. Not just for the weather, but there are no streetlights where I live and I can only do early morning or evening workouts and even with reflective gear I was nervous about being on the road in the dark. Now I love my treadmill workouts and will sometimes put on a true crime documentary and watch it while I run.

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As stated by others, running helps with the hectic holidays for me. I try to run shorter runs so not as much time is away from family/home and add 2 days so instead of running 3 days a week at 5+ miles I'll do 5 days of about 3 miles. Here's a question for you guys though. I'm going to be training for a half marathon in May 2020. I live in Wisconsin so I'm training in the non-humid weather. We are traveling to Mexico in March where the humidity is nasty. I'm supposed to put in about 27 miles in 4 days. I have a great running path that's 3 miles. We'll be there 7 days but I will only be able to run 5 days due to travel. Would you try to do the 3 miles all 5 days or try to do more even with the humidity?

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If it's not the first thing out of bed, then I skip it. The trick to balance is to not make sacrificing important things become the norm.

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