Okay, we get it. It’s cold out there. And if you’re a casual runner, this is usually right about the time you’d hang up your trainers and wait for the spring thaw. But we’re here to tell you that now’s not the time to stop. Alex Cyr, who writes about all things fitness and who is a marathoner himself, makes the case. As he reports, getting your cardio from other exercise won’t provide the same benefits as actually running. Here, he lays out the research.

The conclusion: “More running is better. And the best way to run more throughout the year is not by being a hero and jamming more miles into your spring marathon build. It’s to load up on consistent mileage in the dark and cold months preceding it – as unappealing as that sounds.” Read more.

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