These might as well be ankle weights.
If you live in San Diego or Miami, you can stop reading now. This post is outside your target demo due to geography.
For the rest of you, keep reading. Because winter is coming. And for some of us, specifically me here in Massachusetts, we got a visit last night from the Old Man. Our first nor’easter of the season (with gusty winds that blew the ‘t’ and ‘h’ away), dumped as much as eight inches in parts of the state, including towns I was driving through last night. Yes, what was forecasted as a wintry mix turned into straight up semi-blizzard conditions. I hope the cars and drivers I saw spun off the highway are fine and damage-free this morning.
But what about the workout? I realized this morning as I walked to work that I am seasonally unprepared. This doesn’t mean I need a snow shovel and ice melt. It means my body is still in balmy weather, flip flops mode. All it took was a quarter mile of slogging through the slush in my winter boots to have me huffing harder than normal.
The boots may be made for walking, but my legs aren’t yet up to the challenge. And sure, a pair of boots may only weigh two or three pounds each (and more as the snow and slush cakes during the journey), but your muscles aren’t used to trying to propel the extra weight. By the end of February I’ll be ready to go all day in them, but for now, not so much.
So the Winter’s Coming Workout is simple. Do some extra leg work the next time you’re at the gym. Add some weight, just a couple pounds. Go for ten so that your boots will seem light by comparison. Add resistance to the elliptical so that you can “replicate” the slog through slush and snow. Whistle your favorite Christmas music. And then when the first snowflakes of the season fall from the sky, you’ll be ready to grab your scarf and gloves and make your way around outside. Promise. Your legs will thank you.
photo credit: loveiswritten
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I thought the UK was cold at this time of year, I guess haven’t got anything on northern America!
Thanks for the reminder, Lisa! I had the same thoughts as I headed outside for a run tonight in the slush and wet leaves. Particularly in areas with wet brick sidewalks (Cambridge!), a little extra core work and love for the ankles is probably warranted, as well, right?
Carolyn, is core work ever a bad thing? lol … yes! And for ankles, excellent point … heavier snow boots, and winter sports can be a little stressful on the ankles. L–
lol, Nick, New England is definitely a bit nippier than regular England. :-) L–