Winter training tips from Matt Buck

Matt Buck has been working in the Action Medical Research events department for nearly five years and in that time has run five marathons and four ultra marathons for the charity. Earlier this year he and his running partner completed the massive challenge of running across Scotland. They covered more than 130 miles in five days and raised over £4,000 for Action Medical Research. He is our very own Action man!

There are very few weeks of the year when you won’t find Matt pounding the streets of Surrey training for his next big challenge. Like all runners he has days when pulling on his trainers and hitting the pavement again is the last thing on his mind, especially through the winter months. The short, cold days make it much harder for runners to find motivation and the time needed to train but Matt has a few tips he’s picked up over the years to help get him out of the door and covering the miles. Here are some ideas to keep you going strong through the winter months for whatever challenge you have planned for 2012:

Get the gear

While you will warm up on your run, you will still lose heat through your extremities so make sure you pull on a hat and gloves before you head out. If you’re running on dark lanes it is also worth getting yourself some high-visibility gear; either a vest or straps you can wrap around your arms and legs and, if need be, a head torch. They are not expensive and will help keep you safe.

Buy a buff

This is a lightweight circular scarf. When you are running in the cold you can pull it up over your mouth, this helps to warm the air you breathe in before it hits your lungs, stopping it from being such a shock to your system and preventing cold burns on your throat.

Run in your lunch break

The short winter days mean you’ll often end up having to run in the dark. Running in your lunch break gives you a chance to get outside during the warmest part of the day. If your boss isn’t convinced you can tell them that exercise has been reported to reduce stress levels and increases your learning capabilities, so everyone’s a winner!

Don’t think about – just do it!

As Matt says “the hardest step on any run is the first step out of the door”. Stop thinking about it and just get out and do it. Focus on how good you will feel at the end of the run rather than how you feel now.

Reward yourself

Set yourself targets and arrange a treat for when you hit them. Whether it’s a massage or, as in Matt’s case, a nice cold pint, it’s great to know you have something ahead to celebrate meeting your running objective. As Matt says: “that pint will taste twice as good after you’ve completed your run!”

Good luck with whatever challenge you have set yourself for 2012, and keep on running!

If you are looking for a running event in 2012, check out our running calendar.