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While there are many good reasons to run with other runners, let’s look at the benefits of running alone. Now, I have it on good authority from a number of non-runners that running is boring. They may think that, but they don’t know it, because they never tried it.

Just how boring is it to be with you? Aren’t you interesting? Don’t you have any novel thoughts or insights? One of the advantages to running (alone) is being alone with your thoughts. You can think like you run, following an established course, or just let your thoughts roam freely and see where they go.

Athletes who are competing strenuously in an endurance event have been know to experience something referred to as the second wind. For example, a runner is participating in a 10 kilometer road race. After thirty or forty minutes they seem to have come to the end of their endurance. Their legs are wobbly and there is a feeling of being out of gas. If the runner persists in their effort they may notice, after ten minutes of agony, a resurrgance of energy.

I will not go into all the theories or explanations for the second-wind phenomena, except to explain on my own terms what is the cause, how it can be overcome, and how it has nothing to do with breathing.

It’s important to have a good attitude when running in the cold. Think of it as an adventure or a challenge. Try to have fun – have you ever run in a blinding blizzard? Try 40 below zero – I did. It made me a better runner and a stronger person.

What you will hopefully find is that it’s easy to run in the cold, especially if you have the right gear. Most of this gear is not expensive and you may already have some of it in your closet. So let’s start at the top and work our way down.

If you are a runner, hiker, or biker you will encounter dogs along the way. With a better understanding of dogs and how to deal with them you can finish your workout safely.

Dogs are territorial. If someone approaches their yard they will bark and growl by instinct. It’s important to keep this in mind, they are wired to be aggressive no matter the odds.