1. Buy presents with care
Believe it or not, there are a few strange souls out there who – get this – don’t run. Presents should be bought with that in mind. Sure those nice trainers are half price, but your Aunt Judy just turned 90 and she’s not going to be joining the parkrun party any time soon.
2. Get your Christmas Day run out the way early
If there’s one day of the year when it’s acceptable not to run, Christmas Day is it. But if you simply can’t resist the urge to lace up your trainers and justify the impending mountain of mince pies, get out the door early. A family forced to wait for Christmas dinner is a match for no man.
3. Run to clear your head
Even for the most restrained runner, it’s easy to over-indulge on booze over Christmas: one minute you’re sipping mulled wine, the next you’re cracking open the vintage Châteauneuf-du-Pape and telling your kids Santa’s not real. If you do wake up with a foggy head one day, the solution is simple: go for a run. There’s no better way to dust off the cobwebs.
4. Don’t expect any PBs
Be sure, however, to keep it steady. Christmas nutrition is far more conducive to a snail’s pace jog than a high-octane speed session. So leave the watch at home, enjoy running for the sake of running, and be thankful you’re not sat inside being forced to watch Elf for the hundredth time.
5. Don’t be self-righteous
Just don’t expect those who are sat inside to take any of your post-run words of wisdom kindly. It can be easy to let the runner’s high get the better of you, but keep any disapproving thoughts to yourself and allow everyone else to lounge around in peace. It’s Christmas, after all.
Illustrations: Peter Liddiard / Sudden Impact Media
