Don’t Freeze Your @#s Off
Last night, Middle Tennessee saw their snowfall of the season. With temperatures continuing to dip, and snow falling across the country, you might be tempted to squirrel yourselves away indoors and forgo that outdoor walk, bike or run. While I certainly don’t advocate hitting the roads in a blizzard, when the temperatures drop that doesn’t mean you have to head inside and bask in the fluorescent glow of overhead lighting.
With a little foresight and planning, even cold weather can be conducive to your physical health!
Dress in layers. Remember that your core temperature rises by about 20 degrees once you get into the meat of your workout. Dressing in layers will allow you to stay warm in the beginning, but strip down once your furnace starts pumping.
Hydrate. It may not feel like the Sahara out there, but you still need to replenish the fluids you’re losing through sweat.
Wear a hat. That noggin of yours is responsible for close to half the amount of heat lost from your body. Trap that warmth under a cap and you’ll be able to go the distance.
Protect those little piggies. Many sneakers are aerated to allow for moisture to dissipate away from your feet. Great, but makes for cold toes! Invest in a good pair of socks that are not only insulated but sport-specific to draw moisture out and away.
Mittens are not just for kids. Believe it or not, mittens are actually warmer than gloves. Allowing the fingers to remain in contact with one another will up the thermostat and keep your hands toasty in the coldest of conditions. If you really can’t handle the flashback to childhood, gloves are a good second option.
Speaking of all those digits – know the danger and signs of frostbite. It gets difficult to count reps when you’re missing fingers.
Wear obnoxiously bright colors. You know those highlighters you used in college that were bright neon yellow/green? GREAT color for outdoor exercise. It screams “Here I am! Don’t run into me!”
Blow on your hot cocoa before taking that big post-workout gulp. Really sucks to have a burnt mouth. Ruins the rest of the day.
