i’m curious as to what keeps you motivated to train during the winter months. I struggle keeping motivated durning these months of the year.
Knowing that many others aren’t training… and when it warms up the training I have done will show the benefits.
Snow!!! 
Winter Camping, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoe Treks, Backcountry Telemark Skiiing… It’s all good.
Winter gives my IT band, knees, and shoulders a break from the tri routine with a season of cross training.
The hunger for competition.
Duh, the money i spent signing up for races in the summer!
living in florida
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here in crap-weather Ohio we will have bike races starting in March. Once January rolls around and the weather is truly dismal, I will be able to count on two hands the weeks until racing starts. I think about pinning on a number every time I go out in the cold or climb on the trainer.
80 degree no humidity days Oct. -Apr
Two things:
- Lance Armstrong: “The Tour de France is won in February”
- XC Skiing!!! the perfect cross-training sport
For me, now’s the time to train to train for IM CDA. I want to make the most of it.
Winter, Cross country skiing - fantastic scenery, the landscape is all white. You are welcome to join!
the fact that most of my best races are too damn early in the year to F-off all winter
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It’s pretty easy…I actually enjoy this stuff.
Where is that quote from?
Mountain biking is good break from the road.
I have to agree. Remember a special moment last year out on the bike snow on all but the main roads and was mid way through a 100km ride going along a backroads country section on top of compacted white stuff, wheels crunching along. It reminded me of being a kid having to ride over cobbled streets, it worked if you keep the momentum going forwards and kind of bounce along in a relaxed state. The temp was about -5 degrees celcius and there was pretty decent breeze to contend with, but I was wrapped up warm. Had hardly seen a car all morning when from around a bend came another cyclist out training. We didn’t say a word because of the wind, simply made eye contact, nodded and smiled almost laughed out loud at each other. In that moment there passed between us a lot of mutual respect, we both new that we took our training very seriously.
Winter in many ways is my favorite time of year, yes there are hard days, and sometimes very hard days. But in amongst this period are the most magical days here where I live in the North West of England. The days where the sky is crystal clear and I know I have to get out and go high. Go to places where I can look out over the Lake District, North Wales, The Tree Peaks and vast amounts of my home county all from the same view point. I also can’t wait for the first snow to hit the hills when I will throw my mountain bike on the roof of the car and drive out into the hills to cross over the Pennine Fells on the old Roman roads up there, knowing my tyre marks will be the only blemish on an otherwise perfect snowy landscape, exchanging glances with rare breed highland cattle. I can sit here and remember those days so vividly from last winter. I suspect my hands and feet were cold, that at times I was a little shaken by the odd big slide on the bike, but somehow those slight negative aspects to the experience have long since vanished.
Winter is all about what you make of it. The difference for me this year is I have gone from cycling into triathlon again, and have started trail running as part of my regime. I have recently bought an OMM waterproof jacket and trouser set, I also have two pairs of high quality Inov-8 trail shoes. Yesterday my latest thermal compression top arrived in the post along with a waterproof peaked winter running cap. Tried them out in the rain yesterday and came back home a bit too hot, can’t wait for winter to come around so I can really test them out in the fells and hills near where I live.
Winter is simply a magnified reaction to your existing attitudes as to why you train in the first place, for me training is all about being outside and living the experience, fitness and racing is the bonus.
For me, taking a couple of week (maybe a month) off at the end of the season makes all the difference in the world. Allows me to take care of the projects that I needed/wanted to get done during the season, but never had the time/energy to do. It also allows me to physically and mentally recover so I feel fresh and motivated for the winter training. Note, taking time off doesn’t necessarily mean do nothing… but rather do what you want when you want to.
In the winter season, I do enjoy XC skiing, snowshoe racing (fantastic training!), downhill skiing. Also, on a beautiful winter day, a long run is really refreshing. Basically, find something that is not tri related to break up the year.
I like to pick a spring marathon or a couple of half marathons and use the winter months as a run focus. I like to run so it keeps it fun for me. I also substitute some mountain biking for road riding.
Other people are out training and I don’t want to look like a slob in the early season races when they are in near top form
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Snow!!!
Winter Camping, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoe Treks, Backcountry Telemark Skiiing… It’s all good.
Winter gives my IT band, knees, and shoulders a break from the tri routine with a season of cross training.
X2 Love The SNOW