I haven't complained about running in awhile

I have not been running as regularly as I should. Every morning, I flip through the list of excuses of why I shouldn't run today:

Pictured: Not my shoes

• It's cold
• It's dark
• I'm tired
• My back hurts
• I feel more rushed in the mornings when I run
• I promise I'll take a walk later (which is a lie)
• I don't want to

Some mornings the excuses win. Some mornings the running wins.

I have noticed that if I consistently run, my mood and overall outlook is better. For years, people have noticed a link between exercise and mood, but for the first time on a large scale, researchers have been able to prove that exercise wards off depression.

So, now in addition to my health and desire to keep up with my son, I have another reason to go running in the morning. Sure, my benefits list isn't as long as my excuses list, but I really need the extra motivation to lace up my sneakers in the morning.

What exercise do you turn to when the weather gets colder? Tell me in the comments.