I'm guessing running is not top of your priority list right now (unless you joining me this evening for our Dublin xmas lights run).

With just one week to go until Christmas eve I'm sure you have plenty more on your plate than just running. But if you are feeling the pressure of the season at the moment, can I encourage you to take 5 minutes out and have a quick read below.

More than ever this time of year our body benefits from getting outside, making time for ourselves and celebrating the year just past. But it does take a bit of planning to actually take the time for ourselves.

Here are 3 blog posts to help you feel more motivated, energized and positive these busy festive buildup days. They work for me and I hope they work for you too.

Each of these articles have been published in The Irish Times over the years, but still remain very popular each December :

Bonus extra - if you still got Xmas shopping to do - Xmas gifts for runners blog.

Hope they inspire you to take a little time for yourself this week.

Due to covid we haven't done our usual fundraisers by selling our running gear or having a festive bucket at our charity runs this year. None of you seem to carry any cash anymore!! So instead, we are encouraging you to support Mr Tilly and Our Lady's Hospice.

We always bring our Sandymount runners past his house on our weekday runs in December and we got the VIP treatment last week when Mr Tilly himself met us, invited us into the garden to meet the reindeers and insisted we left with bags of sweets!!

So this year for our charity initiative we encourage you to support Mr Tilly's charity initiative for Our Lady's Hospice. You can donate here.

Festive Runs : We started the month at the Jingle Bells 5k in the Phoenix Park and since then we have barely taken off our festive running leggings! We had a ball last Sunday as we ran though the parks of Dublin city in full festive gear at the first of our free festive popup classes this December. We are back out tonight for our Xmas lights city run and next week we will have our dawn run. Find out more about our festive popup classes.

Running classes in Sandymount and Clontarf are coming to an end now for the term after a great 7 weeks. We will start a new term on 10th January and will have options for beginners and improvers.

Virtual Coaching : Our winter virtual coaching group will finish up this week their 7 weeks of yoga, running, strength, food and fun classes, virtual workshops and live coaching. We love it so much we are going to keep coaching virtually into the new year.

Looking back - A big part of December for us is reflection on the year just gone - the memories made and the lessons learnt! Will share more on this after Christmas but take a look back yourself on your running year. I'm sure there is plenty to be grateful for.

Advent Challenge : Delighted so many of you are keeping up with our Advent Challenge. We are posting regularly on our main Facebook Page with reminders and tips and would love to hear how you are getting on.

If you are still in the middle of your Christmas shopping, take a read of my alternative gifts for runners. I hope that helps you find something to treat the runner in your life - or indeed to treat yourself.

Here at ForgetTheGym we have got some lovely new Christmas Vouchers which can be posted out and as always my Get Running book should be in all your local bookshops.

Our New Year Plans

Believe it or not, the new year term is already up on the website for booking. I know - we have never been this organised before! But hopefully it means you can plan ahead and see what dates we have coming up in the diary.

You know the story by now. Get out and enjoy yourself these next few weeks. Start the day with some fresh air if you can and it will put you in better form for all the season throws at ya. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas week.

If you have any questions, be sure to get in touch.

Remember you can see all future winter plans in one spot here.