Make sure you’ve got a good route in mind before venturing out into the wilderness.

You should take into consideration areas that are likely to be icy, extra muddy or even flooded during the winter months. It’s also advisable to stick to well-lit areas and to wear visible or reflective clothing as the long nights draw in.But if you do fancy getting dirty, take it off-road to a specific, traffic-free trail (INSERT LINK TO TRAIL GUIDE).

George Anderson, the official training partner for the 2015 Vitality Reading Half Marathon, gave me this top tip: “Winter is a great time to get refreshingly dirty with some cross country trails. It can build ankle and core stability and help you reconnect with your running, especially if you usually tend to run on roads.”