Our best tips to workout outdoors in the cold
14 February 2017
Exercising outdoors comes with a great many benefits for your mind and your body.
Reported benefits include increased vitality, less stress and depression, plus a better vitamin D intake too. However, there are a few additional factors you need to consider if you’re planning on exercising outdoors.
If you want to complete your workout outdoors, especially during the winter months, then here are a few tips to keep you moving and keep you safe:
- Check the weather
Look up a local weather report before you step outside. Pre-warned is prepared. If it’s raining or snowing ensure you have appropriate clothing, if you don’t, consider delaying your workout.
- Layer up
When exercising outdoors, layer up your clothing. Wearing multiple layers will keep you warm and lessen the risk of injury too.
- Illuminate
Make sure you can be seen. Light fades quickly in the winter, and you may find yourself exercising in the dark. Wear high-visibility accessories such as bands, straps or a high-visibility jacket – to keep you safe and visible, even at night time.
- Choose shoes that support
Your much-loved gym trainers might not be so suitable for running outside. Choose a shoe that gives you ankle support too, helping you to navigate uneven terrain and mitigating the risk of injury.
- Remember the sun
Even in the winter, it’s still important to protect your skin, so don’t forget that all-important sun block. It’s amazing just how much you catch the sun on a cool, bright winter’s day.
- Take a mobile
Make sure you can keep in touch and call for help if you need it – take your mobile with you - just in case.
- Work out with a friend
Just like going to a gym, it’s good to work out with a friend when exercising outdoors. Not only are you more likely to stay motivated and keep up the exercise if you’ve pre-arranged it, but there is safety in numbers.
- Warm up
Never has a warm up been more important than when exercising outside, especially in cold weather. Step up your exercise gently; warming yourself from the inside out and you’ll mitigate the risk of injury.
- Build up your exercise gently
Not used to exercising outdoors? Then build up your exercise gently. What you can do on a treadmill in a gym, is not likely to equate to what you can achieve when running outside. Uneven terrain, such as a rocky path, takes a greater effort than you might anticipate. Build up your outdoor workout gently.
- Remember to hydrate
Even in the colder weather, it’s still important to keep hydrated, so make sure you take some water with you. If you’re planning a longer run or cycle, carry an energy-boosting drink with you.
We hope these hints and tips will help you get your outdoor workout underway. To kick-start your outdoor exercise regime; book your boot camp now.
