As the weather gets colder and the sun goes down earlier the thought of exercising outside may leave you feeling less than warm and fuzzy. However, there's no need to quit outdoor exercise during the winter -- as long as you're safe.
Read over these tips for a safe outdoor workout:
1. Bundle up
You won't be able to finish your workout if all you're thinking about is how cold you are. Wear a waterproof jacket to ward off snow, as well as fingered mittens. Fitsugar.com has a great list of what to wear when working out in the cold.
2. Keep water with you
Staying hydrated is just as important during the winter as it is in the summer. Bring your water bottle with you if you're going for a winter hike or a taking a few laps around the ice rink.
3. Look out for ice
Black ice is everywhere at this time of year, so make sure you're running/walking/hiking in a well lit area. Keep a phone with you as well so you can call someone for help if you take a spill. And ALWAYS avoid waterways, no matter how frozen they may look.
4. Pay extra attention
Vehicles are harder to see when it's snowing outside, so always take an extra second to scan for cars before crossing the street. On the flip side, runners are always harder for drivers to see in the snow. Wear reflective gear or bright colours when exercising close to busy roads.
5. Don't push yourself
When you run in the snow, your body exerts extra effort to move forward, so you might tire more easily when exercising outside in the winter. With this in mind, you may want to think about shortening your workout by a few minutes so your body can adjust to moving on snow.
Read over these tips for a safe outdoor workout:
1. Bundle up
You won't be able to finish your workout if all you're thinking about is how cold you are. Wear a waterproof jacket to ward off snow, as well as fingered mittens. Fitsugar.com has a great list of what to wear when working out in the cold.
2. Keep water with you
Staying hydrated is just as important during the winter as it is in the summer. Bring your water bottle with you if you're going for a winter hike or a taking a few laps around the ice rink.
3. Look out for ice
Black ice is everywhere at this time of year, so make sure you're running/walking/hiking in a well lit area. Keep a phone with you as well so you can call someone for help if you take a spill. And ALWAYS avoid waterways, no matter how frozen they may look.
4. Pay extra attention
Vehicles are harder to see when it's snowing outside, so always take an extra second to scan for cars before crossing the street. On the flip side, runners are always harder for drivers to see in the snow. Wear reflective gear or bright colours when exercising close to busy roads.
5. Don't push yourself
When you run in the snow, your body exerts extra effort to move forward, so you might tire more easily when exercising outside in the winter. With this in mind, you may want to think about shortening your workout by a few minutes so your body can adjust to moving on snow.
