L360 chats to Smooth Radio presenter Jenni Falconer about training throughout the colder, darker months.
If you’re anything like us, the thought of running in winter gives you chills.
The bad weather, limited sunlight and chilly temperatures can make it hard for you to motivate yourself to put on your trusty trainers and slog out into the cold.
So, L360 spoke to running enthusiast Jenni Falconer, 48, about how she navigates running in the winter months — from her top tips to motivate herself to her favourite running clothes.
Is running harder in winter?
Jenni says although she knows most people hate winter running, she sometimes prefers it to sunnier weather.
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Jenni explains: “I don’t see the season as an obstacle. You can still get clear, blue skies and the air is crisp and fresh. If there is rain, I find it can be cooling and make the overall running experience more pleasurable.”
She agrees that the biggest issue facing runners at this time of year is that daylight hours are dwindling, meaning there’s limited time in the day for outdoor running.
You can, of course, run in the dark — but it comes with risks.
“There’s much more of a chance of you slipping and hurting yourself, both due to the darkness and any rain or ice on your path,” says Jenni.
She adds that women, in particular, know that running in the dark can be dangerous.
If you can’t avoid running after the sun has set, ensure you have grippy shoes, some sort of light and try to go in a group where possible.
Why is it important to keep running up through winter?
Jenni believes that running is a great way to combat seasonal depressive disorder (SAD), which many of us can experience to varying degrees in autumn and winter.
She says: “Running is not only a physical health boost, but a mental one too.”
Jenni encourages everyone to get outside — whether running, walking or something else entirely — and soak up whatever limited sunshine they can to help counteract the toll of the darker months.
Read more: How to battle seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with your home interiors
Jenni’s top winter running tips
Jenni suggests setting yourself some sort of goal for spring, so you have something to focus on and train for throughout the winter.
Perhaps you’d like to challenge yourself to a 10k or a marathon — something that will motivate you to get outside and keep running.
Jenni also suggested taking up ‘Runmas’: “This is up to your interpretation. Perhaps you run every day leading up to Christmas like some sort of advent calendar, perhaps it’s the 12 days of Christmas, or even just the week between Christmas and New Year.”
Jenni says that setting yourself a fun challenge will help motivate you to stay accountable for your fitness through the holidays, especially if you post about it on socials or Strava.
Her final tip is to ensure you’re properly fuelled for your active endeavours.
“Everyone has their own way of filling themselves before a run, but you’d be surprised how many people skip breakfast! Don’t ever skip it,” she urges.
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“I’ve sworn by Fuel 10K porridge for years as my breakfast of choice, so when they asked me to join their latest campaign, it was a no-brainer.”
Jenni is a campaign ambassador for Fuel 10K’s ‘Fuel a Breakfast’ charity campaign with food redistribution company FareShare.
For every pot or box of Fuel 10K porridge purchased throughout October, Fuel 10K will donate a portion of porridge to FareShare.
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What are your current favourite running products?
Jenni says that she loves trying out new clothes and shoes, but always ends up returning to her favourite staples. Here are her top picks:
- Bra: Sweaty Betty Power bra and Maaree Empower sports bra
- Leggings: Sweaty Betty Power leggings and Designed By Sports leggings
- Underwear: Runderwear socks and briefs
- Trainers: Brooks Ghost
She tells me: “Everyone is always wanting to switch up their products, but the key is to find what works for you and stick with it.
“If you like, say, a pair of leggings that don’t fall down and have good pockets, then buy them in multiple colours and prints.
“The grass isn’t always greener and you don’t want to be 10km away from home with leggings that fall down, socks that have fallen into your shoes and a top that keeps riding up.”
