Running is an addictive activity. You feel so good, you never want to let it slide. Yet running, like many other pursuits, can be carried too far - from habit to obsession. When running is no longer a joy and a release from the pressures of the world, but a manic pursuit, then family, friends and your job are likely to suffer. The best advice I can give to avoid this sad state of affairs is to first, be aware of the early warning signs: recurring injuries, depression, loss of motivation, irritability, fixation - and make necessary course corrections. Secondly, try to keep things balanced and in harmony, and let running enhance, not rule your life.

Just years ago, runners had valid reasons for skipping runs during the winter. It was too cold, too dark, too forbidding. While winters are still cold and dark, those excuses have melted away with the advent of apparel that keeps us warm and dry in subzero temps, headlamps that light our way through the gloom, and affordable treadmills for the days you have to stay inside.

Just as you write down other important appointments, you need to literally pencil in time for your run. The process itself is empowering. In the few seconds it takes to scribble 'run' into a time slot, you make running a part of your life.