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Embrace
the Winter!
Instead of hating winter and cold temperatures,
embrace it! Many people who live in climates with cold winters resign themselves
to “hibernation” mode and stay inside, sit on the
couch, and eat potato chips. Okay, well, maybe not the potato
chip part, but many people tell us that they gain 5 pounds
every winter because they are so inactive. My training partner
Karen and I have been training all winter, even running in
the below zero temperatures. If you have the right gear, you
can do it. And you know what? It’s like an adventure!
Then when you go into work at 8AM and everyone else is shuffling
in, you will energetically (albeit possibly partially frozen)
bounce in to your office feeling rejuvenated! Guess what? you
also burn more calories when out in the cold – so that
is an added benefit!
Believe me, I am not saying that it is easy to work out in
the cold temperatures. But if your place of residence and place
of employment are located in the frozen tundra with cold, snowy
winters, we recommend that you make the best of it instead
of fighting it.
Try something new! Try ice skating! Our next door neighbors
have an ice rink in their back yard for the kids to play hockey.
It’s absolutely fantastic. What a great workout! Instead
of the kids being inside playing video games, they are outside
for hours having fun on the ice, getting stronger and working
up a sweat! You can typically pick up a pair of used ice skates
at shoe repair stores or stores such as Play it Again Sports.
Chicagoland houses many ice skating rinks, from the local park
that floods an area, to downtown Chicago’s “Skate
on State!” It’s fun and a great way to get some
exercise.
Snowshoes are for walking over snow, right? Well, have you
tried it?! Snowshoeing is so much fun! Snowshoes work by distributing
the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's
foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation."
In addition to distributing the weight, snowshoes are generally
raised at the toe for maneuverability. They are a great way
for hikers and runners to keep who like to continue their hobby
in wintertime. Snowshoeing is easy to learn, and in appropriate
conditions is a relatively safe and inexpensive recreational
activity, so you are not likely to be injured, like you might
with skiing. Ross and I, along with our friends Karen and Charlie,
headed up to Baraboo, WI over New Years 2010 weekend. Although
the temperatures were hovering around zero degrees F, we still
had a fantastic time. Here are some pictures of us snow shoeing
through Devil’s Lake State Park and then in the Ice Age
Scenic Trail (which was the coldest day!). |
Hiking through
the Iceage Trail. |
Pausing by the sign on the Iceage trail. |
Marion with Charlie
and Karen. |
Marion and Ross
getting ready to climb the bluffs of Devil’s Lake. |
| Go
Skiing! Whether downhill or cross-country, skiing
can be a lot of fun! What a great winter sport! Personally,
I prefer cross-country skiing. You can propel yourself across
snow-covered terrain, all-the-while observing beautiful natural
habitat around you! You could even participate in a cross
country ski marathon. |
Tartu Marathon
2006, Estonia from wikipedia.com. |
| Bottom line here
is – GET OUTSIDE! It’s not too cold! Most of
us do not live in antarctica! Walking and/or hiking out in
a beautiful snow-covered trail is also great fun. Most of
us live near parks or forest preserves that are easily accessible.
Pack a hot beverage and some snacks in a back pack and set
out on the trail! Don’t let the winter force you into
hibernation! While you’re at it, make a snow angel!
(Yup – that’s me!) ha ha… |
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