Running isn’t always fun for everyone, even at the best of times. So, imagine how much determination it would take for us to roll out of bed first thing in the morning only to put our running shoes on, winter hat on, and hop out the door into the crisp, cold morning to complete a 5k?
While this may not sound pleasant, we all have this determination in us. Running has many benefits for our health and fitness, including helping to build strong bones, improve cardiovascular fitness, burn calories, and help maintain a healthy weight.
There are even more benefits added to this list when we consider running first thing in the morning, such as improving our productivity for the day, kick-starting our metabolism, and improving our mental health.
But what about running in the winter? Winter mornings can be the most beautiful time of day, commonly worth waking up a little earlier for. So, what about getting out for a run on a winter morning? Are there any additional benefits to being this motivated?
This article explores the top benefits of running in the winter!
Top 7 Benefits of Running in the Winter
1) Burn more calories
Running outdoors in colder weather will result in your body working extra hard, not only to perform the cardio, but also to keep yourself warm too. This will help ramp up your metabolism during and after your run, as your body will be working to get you back to your baseline temperature.
2) Feel happier and more motivated
As the winters draw in, we naturally tend to stay indoors more. Dark and cold weather can often make us feel lethargic and low. But, as much as it sounds unappealing at first, getting outdoors is exactly what you need to combat this blue feeling.
Getting outside to do some cardio will help boost our serotonin levels, making us feel happier, energized, and more motivated.
This would result in you being more active during the day too, thus burning more energy and keeping weight gain at bay.
3) Sweat more
Sweating in the gym during the winter can be difficult. However, investing in some winter running gear will ensure you get a good sweat on while allowing your body to breathe. Just ensure you drink plenty of water afterward to replace your electrolytes!
4) Free up the fat stores
Our bodies are primed to naturally preserve and store more fat during the winter months. However, we don’t live outdoors anymore and we know when our next meal is coming, so there is no need for our bodies to have this survival instinct.
So, by running over the winter months, we could prevent the seasonal metabolic slowdown and keep our energy expenditure in check.
5) Boost glucose uptake
Some research has shown that being outdoors in cold weather can increase glucose uptake by 15%. This essentially means that our body will use more sugar for energy as opposed to storing it as fat.
6) Get a head start on the summer body
While summer will feel like a long way off during the wintertime, spring will be here before we know it!
If you continue to keep up your positive exercise habits over winter, you’ll have much less to do when attempting to reach your summer body goals during spring. Put the work in now to keep up the good nutrition and exercise habits and you’ll be thanking yourself come summer!
7) Get some headspace
Winter can sometimes be a stressful time of year. With Christmas approaching, more money being spent, and having minimal time for yourself, this will probably eventually result in burnout.
It’s important to schedule in you-time, and going out for a run to get away from it all can be the perfect excuse!
The Best Running Workouts
Morning runs: As they say, eat the frog first thing in the morning. Meaning, get the hardest task done first, then you will feel more productive and able to take on the easier tasks ahead.
Fartlek training: A great method of running that will keep it interesting and challenging. Try sprinting for 30 seconds, recovery jog for 90 seconds, and repeat 4 times.
Then, keep the sprint period the same but decrease the recovery by 15 seconds each set until you are sprinting for 30 seconds and recovering for only 15 seconds. Ensure you appropriately warm up and cool down.
30-minute run: Start this off by doing a steady jog and gradually increasing your pace to around 85% of your max heart rate. This will help achieve similar outcomes to a slower but longer run without the need to be outside for too long in the cold.
Hill sprints: This can be a very challenging running workout, provided you find a well-lit, non-icy hill. After warming up, sprint as hard as you can up the hill for around 30 seconds. Turn around and walk or jog back down. Repeat the 8-12 times. Ensure you cool down with a slow jog or walk afterward.
The Take-Home Message
Running is one of the best forms of cardio that you can do. Though, there are even more benefits to running during the winter. So, next time you’re considering going to a warm gym instead of going out for a run, think again!
Ensure you’re keeping your immune system function in check during the winter months, especially when exercising regularly. Our top pick is PL-Immune!
