Keeping Up With Running Through the Holidays

How to stay active, enjoy the season, and set yourself up for a strong new year

The holidays are a magical time—family, friends, travel, food, and very little routine. For runners, that can feel like a problem. Training plans get disrupted, motivation dips, and guilt creeps in when workouts are skipped.

Here's the good news: you don't need a perfect training block in December. You just need movement, consistency, and perspective.

Accept That "Different" Is Not "Worse"

Holiday running rarely looks like peak-season training—and that's okay. Shorter daylight hours, travel, and social commitments mean flexibility matters more than mileage.

Instead of asking:

"Am I following my plan perfectly?"

Ask:

"Did I move my body today?"

A 20-minute easy run still counts. So does a relaxed jog with family or a treadmill session squeezed in before dinner.

Lower the Bar (and Clear It Often)

One of the biggest mistakes runners make during the holidays is aiming too high—and then doing nothing when they miss the target.

Try this:

  • Set a minimum goal (e.g. 2–3 runs per week)
  • Treat anything extra as a bonus
  • Focus on showing up, not performance

Consistency beats intensity every time, especially in December.

Make Running Social (or Solo on Purpose)

The holidays are busy—but they're also social. Use that to your advantage:

  • Run with friends or relatives
  • Join a local holiday fun run
  • Schedule a "headphone run" as personal reset time

Running can be connection or escape—use it as needed.

There's No Such Thing as "Too Much Food"

Let's clear this up once and for all:

There is no too much food—only too few exercises.

Food is fuel. Holiday meals don't ruin fitness; inactivity does. Enjoy seasonal treats without guilt, then let running do what it does best—support your health, mood, and energy.

No compensation runs. No punishment workouts. Just movement.

Think Maintenance, Not Progress

December is not the time to chase PRs. It is the time to:

  • Maintain aerobic fitness
  • Stay injury-free
  • Protect the running habit

This mindset removes pressure and makes January far easier.

Use the Holidays to Prepare for Next Year

While your body maintains, your mind can plan:

  • Reflect on what worked this year
  • Identify what didn't
  • Think about realistic goals for the next season

You're not falling behind—you're laying the foundation.

The Takeaway

Running through the holidays isn't about discipline. It's about adaptability.

Run when you can. Eat without guilt. Enjoy the season.

January will come—and you'll be ready.