Fitness is a life-long journey. Once you learn how to ride a bike, you don’t forget, but if you go years without riding, as soon as you get on one it’s a little rough getting started again. The same holds true for fitness of any type—running or walking. You know you can do it, but your joints are tight and you feel every step the next day.

Now’s the time of the year when it can be easy to stop your exercise program and wait for the weather to turn. But, it doesn’t have to be that way! There are ways to beat the cold weather without having to head inside, and to keep running during winter.

Happy New Year! I trust that everyone had the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. I had a chance to bring in the New Year spending the weekend with my 15-month-old grandson, rolling around on the floor. Good thing I’m in shape, because the little tank never stopped moving around. I’m sure many of you know the feeling. The beauty of being a grandparent is the kids get to go back to their mommy and daddy. I know, shame on me, but he’ll be back.

The holiday season is upon us all and there will be numerous excuses to relax the exercise programs. The ideal situation will be to maintain a modified schedule to get those workouts and walks in three to four days a week. You are the one who will benefit.

In an interview with the Army Wife Network I was asked, why running? What is it that you get from running that keeps you going?

What keeps me going is the personal satisfaction of setting a goal and achieving it. There is nothing like lacing up a pair of shoes and stepping out the door.