Winter Miles = Summer Smiles! Six tips to build for Unwavering Training Motivation

Winter Miles = Summer Smiles! Six tips to build for Unwavering Training Motivation 

As winter sets in, the allure of sleeping in, TV and easy food often competes with the call to train.

Here are our tips on maintaining motivation during winter training to not only stay on track but thrive in the colder months.

1. Set a Goal

• Direction and Focus: Without goals, motivation wanes. Set clear, achievable goals to direct your training in running, cycling, or triathlon.
• Daily Commitment: Break down goals into manageable daily tasks for sustained progress in your active lifestyle.
• Keep It Fun: Integrate milestones, making the winter training journey enjoyable for runners, cyclists, and triathletes.

2. Keep It Social

• Accountability: Train with friends or join a club for accountability and camaraderie in running, cycling, or triathlon.
• Fun Factor: Sociable training sessions add enjoyment, making dark mornings more bearable for an active lifestyle.
• Run Clubs and More: Explore local run clubs or create a work run club for added social engagement in your active community.

3. Make It Easy for Yourself

• Optimize Environment: Set up a training-friendly environment for seamless routines in running, cycling, or triathlon.
• Commute Training: Incorporate training into your commute to eliminate post-workout willpower battles for an active lifestyle.
• Weather-Ready Kit: Invest in warm training gear to combat winter cold, ensuring comfort and consistency in running, cycling, or triathlon.

4. Switching the Focus

• Gym and Turbo Trainer: Winter offers an opportunity to focus on strength training in the gym and turbo trainer for an active lifestyle.
• Strength for Resilience: Strength training supports bone density and joint health, reducing injury risk in running, cycling, or triathlon.
• Diversify Training: Embrace diverse workouts to keep things interesting and stay warm indoors in your active pursuits.

5. Importance of Nutrition

• Off-Season Experimentation: Use winter to experiment with nutrition products and find what works best for you in running, cycling, or triathlon.
• Energy Demands: Recognize the increased energy demands during harsh weather and adapt your nutrition for an active lifestyle.
• Minimum Carb Intake: Ensure a minimum of 40g of carbohydrates per hour, adjusting based on intensity in running, cycling, or triathlon.

6. Focus on the Journey

• Resilience Building: Winter training is an opportunity for resilience building and experimentation in your active pursuits.
• Fueling Strategies: Develop a nutrition plan, experiment with different products, and avoid guesswork come spring for an active lifestyle.
• Mix and Match: Explore a range of energy chews, gels, bars, and electrolyte powders for a customized approach in running, cycling, or triathlon.

Conclusion:

Embrace the winter by setting meaningful goals, enjoy social training, optimising your environment, diversifying workouts, prioritising nutrition, and focusing on the journey. With these strategies, not only will you stay motivated, but you'll emerge from winter stronger.