Running during the fall and winter may seem daunting due to chilly weather, but it is very popular among many athletes. The school’s Winter Running program is open to any student that is interested. Students have many different reasons to get into winter running. Some join after Cross Country to bridge the gap between the fall season and the beginning of track, while others join to stay in shape for spring sports.

“We encourage them to run after school as a group,“ cross country coach Bryan Traughber said, “But you can still log mileage on the mileage chart by running at home.”

Winter running started on November 6th and ends on February 23rd. Students will be given workouts to complete either at school with their friends or at home by themselves. Runners will need to bundle up to keep warm during their runs, even though they will be exercising.

“I tell guys that if it’s in the 30s, they need to have long sleeves, hats, and gloves. If it’s in the low 30s or 20s, they ought to have pants on.“ Coach Traughber said, “If you have the proper gear, you’re going to stay warm.”

In addition, there are many races that take place during this cold season. The Saint Louis area has multiple races on Thanksgiving, and more races continue throughout the season. The Saint Louis Running Tour has a 3.5 mile run on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Races like these continue almost every week throughout fall and winter into spring.

“I like that winter running is more relaxed,“ junior Teddy Weishaar said, “You get to run with your friends and it’s a lot of fun.”