February is right around the corner and the temperature is as far from comfortable as a gas station when you ran out of gas on the way to your wedding. In fact, the honeymoon of your New Year's resolution is wearing off and that spring race is creeping up on you. This article is going to help you come up with some creative ways for logging those frigid miles while keeping your morale high.

1. Bury your shoes. Skiers will skip school and work just to get out and ski on some fresh powder. If you are lucky enough to get some fresh snow bundle up and head out the door while it is fresh and see what powder hounds live for. You'll be amazed how much traction you get in some fresh powder. This run should be one that you love to relive. Don't take an iPod or a watch. The freshly fallen snow will muffle all ambient sounds around you. It is just you, the road, and the snow. If you are lucky enough to be running while it is still snowing, try to catch a snowflake in your mouth. You'll feel like you are back in grade school! When you get back you will be rejuvenated in both body and soul.

2. Treading the Dreadmill. We've all been there before...running on a treadmill, eyes focused on the display, waiting for the seconds to tick away, or the next little light or bar to illuminate. Those moments are some of the most trying times in a runner's life. However, when it is freezing cold outside or the air quality is so bad that breathing it would instantly pickle your lungs, you have but little choice than hitting the treadmill.

So how do you make it fun? Well, with a little creativity we can come up with something to keep us motivated. We could hang a carrot in front of the treadmill; it works for mules in cartoons. Na, I don't think that will do. How bout a bratwurst...I still don't think that'll work. However the premise might be one that we can use. Keep your eyes off the display by either wheeling a TV into your area or perhaps a laptop with a DVD. No access to a boob-tube? Try breaking up the monotony by working circuits. Run at a fast pace then stop and do a strength-training workout in between. You'll be able to log all your miles but now you won't be so fixated on that darn display.

3. Snowball Fight! If you are finding it hard to get out and log those miles on your own, get your friends together and support eachother. When I'm feeling like I need a good workout but I can't bother keeping my pace or covering the distance, I get my friends together and play a little game called Follow the Leader. Everyone takes a couple legs of a run and acts as the pace dog. You'll be amazed at the motivation your support group gives you. When you become the lead dog your pride will make sure you cover the distance at a respectable pace. If you don't your friends will rib you about it; if they don't then they aren't doing their job.

We all know how important training is. Racing without training may cause you injury or you may just have a bad enough experience to give up racing all together. If you've signed up for a spring race and are having a tough time logging your winter miles, get creative! Find some friends, play some games, and have some fun! Either run for fun or you won't be running for long. Let it snow!