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.

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Except for the fact that someone in my household has been sick three out of every four days this month, this winter has been stacking up to be pretty awesome. Last winter was so unnaturally warm, it was kind of spooky. If you live in the North, like me, you're used to snow in the winter months, and lots of it. This year hasn't disappointed. We've had two snow days this week and more snow is headed our direction -- time to get out and play!

If you're a winter sports enthusiast with your own personal sense of style, you'll appreciate this post from Blog Tahoe titled 10 Ski Hats You'll Have No Problem Getting Noticed In. I can't promise you they'll keep you warm while you're out skiing, snowboarding, or just throwing snowballs, but they'll definitely add some color, style, and humor to your outdoor play.

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Unless you have a health problem that prevents you from being out in the cold, there's really no good reason to let the snow keep you indoors this winter. Not only can fitness continue all winter, snow and ice can make things MUCH more interesting! Take, for instance, snow kiting.

Like kite boarding on water, snow kiting involves using a large kite for acceleration. But unlike kite boarding, snow kiting is a lot easier to learn (mainly because you don't have to worry so much about keeping yourself afloat!). Kites come as cheap as $60, so if you already have snowboarding equipment, it won't cost you much either. Because you can snow kite in a flat area, it's a great activity for those who want to snowboard aren't within easy driving distance of a ski hill.

Check out the video of snow kiting lessons below. It might not be for you, but it's a good example of how to make physical activity fun in the wintertime.

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Despite growing up in Canada, I've never been a fan of snow. Sure, it looks nice when it's freshly fallen but if you ask me, it's really only good for one thing and that's winter sports. I grew up skiing and some of the best times with my family were spent on the slopes. Now that I'm an adult, I don't go outside in the winter nearly as much as I used to but that can change.

Winter is a great time to get moving, and not just in the warm confines of the gym. There are a number of sports to get you moving and keep you fit until summer roles around again.

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