Winter #Running (...and why it drives me bonkers)

I'm in a Winter running funk right now. This happens every year to me. It's always a struggle because I just...ugh, the treadmill. I can't. And it's not so much that I hate running in the cold because as long as it's not icy, it really doesn't bother me. It's the fact that it gets dark so early, and the fact that I can't get out when it's light because of the kiddos and/or my work schedule. Unless it's the weekend, but running once a week just doesn't cut it for me. So right now, I'm in a funk. And I'm struggling to get in three runs a week (which is what I'm used to).

I did, however, get out for a 5K yesterday.

I turned on Songza, and the first tune that played was "Push It" by Salt-n-Pepa. So I did:

I wanted to run, and I wanted to run fast—which got me a new PR.

Today was another scheduled running day, but it didn't happen because I went on a quick shopping trip to make use of an Old Navy gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket. And when I say "quick shopping trip," what I really mean is "drive 45 minutes away to the nearest Old Navy." Ugh.

So I'm looking at Thursday as my next opportunity to run because:

Tuesday: Spinning + Core
Wednesday: Barre Fit

And that's why Winter running drives me bonkers.
Because when I teach, I don't have time for personal workouts, too.
I'd run at night, but...too dark to go out once the kids go down (and no treadmill at home).

In the summer, I was running later at night and it was working out perfectly.

But that ain't happenin' now. Mostly because I'm afraid of running in the dark.

So what am I doing to keep myself motivated?

1) Signing up for virtual races when there aren't any live races close by. See above, Jost Running is awesome. (I just signed up for the See How Far I've Come 10K!)

2) Listening to awesome running podcasts on the treadmill, and then hopping off the treadmill to make use of the track (to break up the monotony of running indoors).

3) Thinking about upcoming races. Like a local Frozen 5K in February, and maybe a return to the Chicago Women's Half Marathon in the summer. Or perhaps my first Zooma race. So many options, all totally motivating. (

4) Reading Runner's World and absorbing all the tips and motivation therein.

5) Meeting up with a local running group as often as I can (although lately, I haven't been able to make many of the runs for whatever reason).

6) ...

Question: How do you stay motivated when you find yourself in a running funk and/or during your off season?