If the idea of heading out mornings in the cold and dark — Grab the gloves? Where did I put that fleece? — has you burrowing deeper under the covers, you can always put it off 'til evening. Except, don't you have to plan for that holiday party coming up? We know how it goes.

So do this month's fitness magazines, which are packed with tips — sound and less so — to beat the winter workout blahs.

In "Run to the Dark Side," Runner's World sets out to dispel the concern that exercising in the evening may disrupt sleep patterns. The real risks for post-sunset runners, writes David Abel, are potholes, bad drivers, black ice — and even thugs.

Avoid those hazards, and an evening outing may actually improve the quality of your sleep, he writes, while a stimulating pre-dawn run could enhance your productivity during the day.

Consider wearing reflective gear: The magazine offers a top-to-toe wish list of accessories for winter runners, from a Black Diamond icon headlamp ($60), which "sports five bright LEDs that last up to 200 hours," to Timberland's merino-wool-lined slip-ons ($100) to rest a weary runner's feet: "Lucky for you, the wool also helps fight odor."

Men's Fitness is pitching what it calls "The Bare Essentials Workout," designed — from the looks of it — to keep those biceps bulging in just 20 minutes a day, "no matter how busy you are or where your holiday travels take you."

Learn how to improvise if you have only one dumbbell (or, heaven forbid, no dumbbells) when you arrive at your uncle's for Christmas. Ever thought about using paint cans to do shoulder raises and leg lifts? (Make sure the lids are firmly
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