Come rain or snow, I love to be outside running.  I've never been one who prefers running on a treadmill or doing workouts inside.  Sometime ago I was training for an Ultra and eventually decided to stop running due to a nagging injury.  In order to get some exercise I ended up borrowing a friends road bike and trainer and set them up out in the garage.  I started doing workouts on the bike and eventually bought my own road bike and have used it both in the garage on a trainer and on the roads.  A different form of exercise, in the convenience of my home, was a nice option to have. 

Most likely, at some point in your running career, you will have an injury and need to take time off running.  Using a good cardio machine is a great option to stay in shape while recovering (depending on the injury) so you don't lose all your fitness.  They offer a low impact workout while being able to provide high intensity as well.  Cardio machines offer a solid option for cross training.  They engage muscles not used in running and can help strengthen those used in running.  

Let's look at some benefits to having a cardio machine in your home:
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1. Convenience - life gets busy and you have a limited time to exercise.  Quickly change, hope on a machine and get a quality workout without leaving your home.  If you have little kids at home, cardio machines can be a life saver  providing freedom to workout when kids are napping or playing.    
2. Weather - winter comes and snow and ice cover the roads and trails and the temperature drops.  Inside, you control the temperature and a roof keeps the ground dry.
3. Low Impact - injuries happen and you need an alternate source of exercise that doesn't put strain on bones, tendons and joints.  
4. Cross Train - working different muscle groups and giving your body a break from running are great ways to reduce the chance of injury and help make you a more rounded runner.

With the wide variety of cardio machines out there, here are some things to keep in mind to help you make the right choice:
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• Size - determine where you are going to put and use the machine.  Measure the area (length and width) so you know what dimensions to look for on the machine.
• Accessories - make a list of things you want the machine to include (ie. heart rate monitor, connect to Wifi, stream workout videos, calorie counter, bottle holder, book holder, etc).  Then separate your list into Must Haves and Could Live Withouts.
• Cost - look at your budget and decide on your maximum budget.   This ties in with Accessories - figure the more accessories, the greater the cost.    
• Noise - some machines may be louder than others.  Are you going to be watching TV or Podcasts while using the machine?  Will the noize interfere with what you'll be doing and where it'll be in the house?  

To help you get started in your search for the perfect machine, I've provided the below options for review:

Let me set the stage for this post by reminding you of an experience you've probably had.   It's freezing cold outside, the snow is falling and your inside staying warm.   You've just had dinner and are walking into the living room when something through the front window catches your eye..."it couldn't be" you say.  You rub your eyes and look again; sure enough, there is a crazy person running down the street with a smile on their face.   I would bet if you're reading this post, you've been that "Crazy Person" running in a blizzard or the pouring rain.  

Runners are a unique breed - there's not much that will keep the dedicated runner from getting in his or her daily run.  However, just because runners have the mindset to get themselves out the door in extreme conditions, doesn't mean they are immune to effects of temperature, wind, and moisture -- a great cold weather run can turn into a miserable, yet memorable event quickly if your core and appendages aren't protected.  

Jackets, pants, gloves, and hats, are key accessories in cold, wet, and windy environments.  Advancements in materials allow cold weather clothing to repel wind and rain, keep body heat in, and allow moisture to escape.  

There are many different brands and styles of running jackets, pants, and accessories in the market today; so, how do you know which one if best for you?  Here are some questions you need to ask yourself before selecting a jacket: 

1. What type of conditions do I usually face?  (wind, rain, snow, freezing rain)
2. How warm do I like to be while running?  (the heavier/thicker the jacket or pant, the warmer you'll be - you can get too hot)
3. Do I want a hood on a jacket?  (this can be nice in the rain but some make think it a nuisance)
4. Do I want thumb holes in the sleeves of jackets?  (helps keep the sleeves down and covers part of hand)
5. Do I need the items to be compactable?  (a must if using in an ultrathon or other race)
6. Do I need pockets?
7. Do I need reflective material?  
8. How much do I want to spend?

 Below is a selection of cold weather running apparel to help you find the perfect items to help keep you warm allowing you to finish enjoying what's left of winter running.   

Do you need a GPS watch for running?  This may be a question you've asked yourself recently and have struggled deciding if you are going to bite the bullet and get one or not.  Well, the answer is simple....possibly.  Ask yourself this questions, why do I want one?  If your answer is to simply time your run or know how many minutes you've run or worked out, then a GPS watch isn't really needed.  However, if your answer is to track distance covered on a single run and over a period of time,  know how fast you're going at any given moment during the run and your average pace over the entire run, track the vertical feet you've climbed, and maximize and track your overall training, then a GPS watch is your answer.  

A wide variety of GPS watches exist on the market today.  Some watches do the bare minimal such as pace and distance covered and usually have a shorter battery life when in GPS mode.  Other GPS watches offer the minimal options plus heart rate monitoring stride length, altitude, more accurate GPS, and more.  However, along with more options comes higher cost.  

Below are some GPS watch options to aid in your search for finding the perfect watch for your needs.  Here are five things to consider as you review and compare the different watches:  (1) Accuracy of the GPS - if you stick mainly to the roads, then a cheaper option will probably do. However, if you do a majority of your runs on trails, in the trees or around tall city buildings, a model with a more accurate GPS would be to your benefit.  (2) Reading visibility of the watch, can you see the info you want while running.  (3)  Battery life - not just how many days the watch will last on a charge, but how long it will run while in GPS mode.  (4)  Simplicity - how easy is it to use.  (5) Budget - how much are you willing to spend.

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