I love winter rules for golf -- there's nothing like nudging the ball one club head's length whenever you need a better lie. But winter fitness rules aren't nearly as fun. Dodging the slush piles, dressing right, feeling chilled to the bone for the first half mile, then feeling like an overheated steam engine the last mile with no pockets for that sweaty hat.

Runners World recently laid out a few cold weather fitness rules to consider. Do an end run around Old Man Winter with these:

• Map safe, traffic-free routes near your home, office and your kid's piano lesson. Then you'll have no excuse when wintry conditions louse up your favorite summer walk or run route.
  
• Winter gym memberships are often available. You don't have to be an on-the-road purist all year round.
• Switch your run to midday (lunch) if that 4:30 PM winter sunset has a tendency to foil your motivation for outdoor fitness.
• Add more hill workouts outside or on the treadmill to challenge lungs and legs. Speedwork can maximize a shortened wintry workout -- after warming up, run for 20 seconds at a slightly faster pace, then walk for 40 seconds. Repeat twice. Ramp up the speed pace each workout.
• Zippers rule for winter fitness. Layer wicking fabrics underneath an outer layer with a zipper to vent. No cotton allowed. Bad, bad, bad.

Finally, cold weather does not mean you can skip the cool-down. Bring your body back to resting state responsibly, even when it's zero degrees. Best of all, enjoy the hushed silence of a winter run upon a blanket of fresh snowfall. That's my winter wonderland, only rivaled by a night ski run.