Outdoor Running in Winter

[DebC]

Hi all,

I'm new around here, just looking to connect with some fellow runners! I've only been running regularly since Spring and I'm starting to realise winter is on the way. Do any of you have any motivation tips for keeping it up in the winter or do you all move inside?

I've been thinking about maybe getting a folding treadmill for house but I'm not 100% sold on the idea...what do you guys do?

[fitoverforty]

Hi and welcome! Congrats on getting started running. Winter is coming, and yes it can be hard to motivate yourself to get out the door on those brisk, cold days. I don't know how cold it gets where you live, but generally I much prefer running outdoors even when it's cold as opposed to running on the treadmill. That being said - I do have a folding treadmill that I use as an alternative to outdoor running. It can be pretty handy on bad weather days, and I really like doing intervals and sprint repeats on it. So, advice would be to bundle up, invest in some good winter running clothes, gloves, ear muffs, etc. and also consider the purchase of a treadmill so you can have access to both options.
Good luck on your running!

[DebC]

Hello and thanks!

I've already brought the gloves out (I know - what a wimp!) but it's quite chilly in the mornings now. There's a few online fitness shops I've been looking at (including that one) with some decent looking folding treadmills, but I don't really know what I should be looking out for.

Any help?

[Jentry07]

Congrats on getting started running, it's quite addicting right?! ha I agree with fitoverfourty as I prefer outdoor running as well, but there are days when I just cannot take the cold or when it is snowing and I prefer not to risk health running in a blizzard! I invested in a treadmill about two years ago and have never regretted it! I still get outdoors and bundle up when I can handle it, but I find having own at home as helped me to not skip out on any of runs, and I love interval training on them as well!
I would recommend looking for one that has one-touch speed for interval reasons, as well as one that has a decent amount of incline as adding incline mimics outdoor running better. You're also going to want to look for one that has a decent sized motor if you want to add any speed training runs.
I'd check out http://www.treadmillreviewguru.com/, he has tons of helpful tips on what size motors to get for your specific reasons as well as reviews on just about any treadmil you can think of. The best part is he has coupons that can save you a couple hundreds.
If you are serious about getting one, I'd wait about a month if you can hold out that long. A lot of places do holiday sales, especially on black friday or cyber monday.

[DebC]

Thanks Jentry07! Loads of great advice there.

One-touch speed control is a great idea, and I was looking for one with incline to present me with more of a challenge if I'm feeling brave. Plenty of the ones I've looked at have hand pulse grips too which might come in handy.

Do you guys think I'll be compromising on speed/power with a folding treadmill?