Thoughts of Spring, Helping to Thaw

By Coach Mallory

Running in the winter can be a great way to forget about speed and just get outside and have fun. Then there are the sub-zero-windchill days with a foot or more of snow. Photos from this past weekend’s Cold Feet run reminded me that even in the worst of Syracuse winters, you can still enjoy the season.

As much as we strive to live in the moment and appreciate the now, I know there are a few of you longing for the less algid days of spring. For this group of spring thinkers, check out the list below for a reminder that there truly is a light at the end of this frozen tunnel.

Spring Break - Do you have a trip planned, or maybe a destination race on your calendar? Lucky you! Make yourself a countdown and spend some of these snow days planning out your warm weather adventures.

Spring Races - We train through the winter for a reason, right? There’s the Shamrock Run, though technically still winter, but a good prep run for Mountain Goat. In its 40th year, the Mountain Goat Run has to be my favorite local race and a true sign of spring. Come early May, race day oftentimes ends up being the first real warm day of the season. Don’t worry about the heat, though, with Mother’s Day soon after, there is still a chance for one last snowfall.

Spring Training - Maybe your winter base building isn’t happening this year and you want to start fresh; Fleet Feet Training has you covered. Our distance training team will start up with Mountain Goat Training at the end of February with weekly speed and hill workouts along with a Sunday long run to build up to the 10-mile race distance. The popular No Boundaries 5k Training Program will follow with a late March start, training 10 weeks to prepare for Paige’s Butterfly Run. If you’re more interested in cross training or triathlon, we have fantastic options for you, too! Visit www.fleetfeetsyracuse.com/training for program information and registration.