by Tori Howard
The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone, and for some the motivation to run has left with it. For many people, the holidays are the busiest time of the year, and we turn our attention to family, holiday meals, parties and shopping. Adding to the challenge, the temperature outside drops and it becomes harder and harder to stay motivated. Who wants to crawl out of our warm beds when it is thirty or forty degrees outside?
Given all the holiday chaos and chilly weather, a spring race may be the last thing on anyone’s mind. However, committing now to a spring half marathon or marathon will help keep you focused throughout the next few months. Spring training will keep your running on track during this hectic time of the year, and may lead to a new level of performance in the new year!
Here are five reasons to sign up now for spring training and spring races.
1. The Perfect Gift!
Why deal with crowded malls crawling with holiday shoppers when you can sit and shop from home? You can purchase the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one right from the comfort of home: the gift of spring marathon or half-marathon training! Of course, Rogue has you covered; they offer a wide range of training programs at both the downtown and Cedar Park location. You can sign up directly, or purchase gift cards here.
2. Register Now
So you signed up for Rogue training but now what? Staying motivated to train in the cold and bad weather can be tough. If you have a really good reason to run, like an exciting race, you are more likely to actually go out and train for it. Register for your spring race now! Plus running in the crisp, cool winter is better than training in the scorching heat and humidity in the summer. Here are a few exciting events to consider for the spring.
A girl powered event that will have you winding your way through 13.1 miles of quiet roadways dotted with bluebonnets and other Texas wild flowers. Make it a girl’s weekend and enjoy all the resort amenities along with the award winning pool and spa.
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, Bastrop, Texas
Discount code: Tori15
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Great local bands will rock the route and twice as many real stages than ever seen on the roads will line the ten mile course.
The Domain, Alterra Parkway/Esperanza, North Austin
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Big D Marathon and Half Marathon
New and Improved! The races start and end on the historic grounds of the great State Fair of Texas. The event web page boasts of a new course this year and they claim to have come up with something as flat as they can possibly make it. Embrace the beauty of Dallas and White Rock Lake in early spring.
The Grand Place Building at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas
3. Extra Holiday Motivation
Even if you are already signed up to run a March or April race, you will want to stay in good shape during the holidays. Use all those parties and meals as motivation to train harder and develop consistency. Make those high-calorie indulgences work for you!
4. Avoid the Post-Holiday Blues
Once the hectic holidays are over, and with fewer family commitments, a spring race can be just what the doctor ordered. With fewer activities, it may help to have something to focus your new-found “spare” time and energy on. Rather than succumb to the post-holiday blues, you will already have developed the positive habits that come with training -and be well on your way to healthy new year.
5. A New Year – A New PR!
Spring races mark the end of winter and training in the cold. If you stay focused on your training during the rough months, your speed will most likely improve. There is no better way to celebrate the end of winter than with a new, bright, shiny PR!
So, while training through the winter months might not be the first thing on your mind, there are plenty of reasons to sign up for a spring race today! Happy (running) holidays!!
The Rundown 