How do you stay motivated during the winter months?

How to stay motivated during the winter months?

 Coach Crowe: "Staying motivated is a challenge not only in the winter but also during long training periods.  I utilize the following techniques with the teams and individuals I coach. As Coach Spewak likes to say "figure out the why."  There is a reason you started running, there is a reason you keep running.  Go back and look at those reasons it may be time to update your 'why'. Establish some goals and make them realistic.  I have my high school runners write down 3 goals before training starts on an index card.  They have the card somewhere that they can see it every day.  Make yourself accountable to those goals.  When I write a training plan some time during the week or micro- cycle I give my runners a day off.  Don't think about running or training, take a mental break and enjoy the day.  With that in mind every three or four weeks I write a down week into the training.  I slightly lower the mileage and eliminate the intensity for the week.  I encourage them to run, not worrying about time, just enjoy the run. There is a purpose to this, sometimes you have to re-examine your purpose because your best race is the next one you run." *Have a question for Coach Crowe? email contact@spewaktraining.com*