After a longer than two year break from running (it’s a loooong story), I’m back – I started running again on January 1st. That’s right – I started running smack-dab in the middle of a very cold, very snowy Canadian winter.

And so it goes that, as I found myself out there trudging along in the snow, I began to question the sanity of choosing to start running in – of all months – January. You may be surprised that there is an upside to the choice. No, really, there is! I can think of five positives:

1. Big Clothes: Hey, I’m about 40 pounds heavier than I was at the peak of training for my last marathon and, while I was a near-skeleton back then, I am nowhere near to resembling “slim in the waist” now. Winter running means winter clothing, and said winter clothing covers me in all the right places (basically, everywhere). I like that.

Winter Runner - via A. Guandalini's Flickr Page

2. It’s Dark (for much of the day): Same basic reason as in #1 – people can’t see me. I like that.
3. Almost No One Else Is Running Outside: Yet another variation of #1 and #2 (you may be noticing a trend). That said, it’s not just that I don’t like the idea of showing how round I’ve become, it’s also about not showing the world how slow I’ve gotten (Mother of Mercy, have I ever gotten slow!) and the fact that there aren’t many people running outside to bear witness to all of that. Me and my  out of shape, slow self have some solitude (you won’t find that in any gym). I like that.
4. Snow Is Soft: If you’re a new or returning runner – especially if you’re carrying some extra weight – you’re probably not very light on your feet. Take it from me, a cushion of snow on the ground is a good thing – that cushion is going to feel a lot less punishing than running on the bare concrete or pavement you’d be running on if you started running in the summer.
5. It’s Quiet… and Beautiful: The tranquility one can experience from running on a fresh blanket of snow is hard to explain. Winter running definitely has its charm. You just have to try it to know what I mean.

So, there ya have it – the upside to starting to run in the winter. Can you think of others? Leave me a comment and, please, get out there and enjoy the season with me!

What motivates you when your in a race be it a triathlon or running event? Do the signs of your friends and family keep you going or distract you?

The photo is a collage of signs myself and Karen’s family made to keep her going during the Alberta Challenge Triathlon. Karen was competing in her first Olympic Triathlon. More photos from the event available over at my Flickr site and you can read about the event on Karen’s Blog or mine.

Got a photo you would like featured? Then leave a comment with the details. Thanks for dropping by.

Running along the water’s edge almost always creates a cool photo. The reflection in this photo is so clear it almost appears as if you have a twin running upside down below you.

From my email: Dawn, I would be very happy to have you use my photo of runners along the water. Please credit it to me/my photostream. It is of a 10K run which is put on by the Holyoke, Massachusetts Elks Club which uses the money for various charitable causes. It takes place once a year on the saturday following Thanksgiving and is called the Talking Turkey Cross Country Run. Takes place at a reservoir on the hill above Holyoke. Quite a spectacular spot to run or observe. Thanks again, Jim

Thanks again Jim for letting us feature your awesome photo!

Got a photo you would like featured, leave a comment with the details.

“Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” – Dean Karnazes, Runner

There are some moments that really make blogging worth it. I just now had such a moment.

Katie from ‘Must Run’ excitedly reported on how she’s gone from one to fourty minutes of continuous running in just the last three months. How did Katie get to this wonderful point in her running career? By following the little table I made as part of my Top 10 Questions Asked by Beginner Runners post!

Thank you Katie for reminding me why I began blogging – to help newbie runners. What are you doing to help newbies learn how to start running?

Do you know of another newbie runner success story? Please let me know in the comments so I can get the word out!

If you're a morning runner, it's tempting to skip breakfast because you want to maximize your sleep time and not have to wake up early enough to give yourself time to digest before running. Even runners who don't run in the morning sometimes make the mistake of skipping breakfast because they don't have time, they don't like breakfast foods, or they're trying to lose weight.

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Most runners have suffered from foot blisters at one point. There have even been cases when elite runners have had to drop out of races because of excruciating blisters. So what's the best way to avoid them? Get tips on how to prevent and treat blisters.

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Hands down, my favorite piece of baby gear is my jogging stroller. I started using it when my daughter was three weeks and it proved to be a lifesaver. I didn't need a babysitter to go for a run! Now that I have two little ones, I can't wait to use my double jogging stroller...

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Valentine's Day is tomorrow and -- while it may not be romantic --  a leisurely run is a fun and healthy way to spend time with your significant other.

If you've never run with your sweetie before, here are some tips for making it an enjoyable experience:

• Get creative. When your training goals and programs don't match up, you may need to get a little creative. If you can't do an entire run together, you could always warm up together, do your own run, and then meet up again for a cool-down and stretching.
• Be supportive. Do your best to make your sweetie feel good about the workout. Don't yell or criticize him or her during the run. Try to make supportive and motivational comments while you're running and after you finish.
• Don't try to show off. This isn't the time to push your limits or prove that you're much faster than your significant other. Chances are, you both probably know who is the stronger runner -- there's no reason to prove it during a run together. If you try to show off too much, your partner may just get frustrated and not want to run with you again.

Get more tips for running with your significant other.

More:

• How to Find Romance Through Running
• Benefits of Group Training
• Tips for Getting Motivated to Run