Rich on Running: Has winter sidelined your running routine?

?The winter of our discontent” is a phrase made famous by Shakespeare, and perhaps it describes how we runners feel right now.Last month, when that first snowfall landed on streets and sidewalks, maybe we felt a little more devil-may-care about running in winter. But now, with more snow and low temperatures, not to mention that the sun still sets before 5 p.m., maybe the cobwebs are gathering on the running shoes.Don?t feel bad. While it is valiant to struggle against the cold New England climate, sometimes the words of Kenny Rogers come into play. You?ve gotta know when to hold ?em, know when to fold ?em, know when to walk away and know when to run (or, in this case, when not to run).Maybe it helps to take a respite. Time off from running can give us a chance to recover from all the mileage of 2013 and think about what we?d like to accomplish in 2014, which races (and, perhaps, triathlons) we want to run later on this year and what it will take to train for them. At least we?re not hibernating like the bears!Recently, it is with regret, but not too much regret, that I walk while seeing other people run. Winter gives us a chance to try different pastimes. It?s fun to go cross country skiing, for instance. Sometimes even walking our Westie, Daisy, on the North Cambridge bike path is a pleasurable way to connect with nature and the outdoors.That said, it is impressive to see the resolve of so many winter runners. That includes everyone who ran the Lazy Dog Classy 3-Miler in Wyoma Square last Sunday (congratulations to winner James Pawlicki of Lynn). More challenges are coming up. On Sunday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m., the running community will gather for the Great Stew Chase, a 15K (that?s 9.3 miles), at the Knights of Columbus on Lynnfield St.If you do venture out into the cold, watch out for slippery and uneven surfaces, and layer up. That might include layering up on gloves, too. My hands were freezing while skiing on Wednesday until I put on a second pair of gloves.