How do you keep active during the winter season?

[RunningRach]

Snow, ice and below freezing temperatures have arrived! How do you manage to stay active during the winter season?

[Dominique]

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@RunningRach wrote:

Do you still go out in the rain?

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I have no problem whatsoever with rain (and snow). In fact, it makes me feel I'm getting a return on my investment on the jacket and trousers I purchased for that purpose

I bought them on sale in late Spring and I tried them in the Summer, but they were too hot. So in Summer rain, I just get soaked (I'm not made of sugar!) and let my cloath/shoes dry.

[keltie]

I did use a flash light for one winter a couple of years ago and also night vision!  I must have looked like a nutter!!  I found it a little scary when the night vision light hit the sheeps eyes.....So that lasted one full winter and then I promised not to do that again.

The next winter (last) i found that I have no signal on my mobile phone once I got a mile from my home...That stopped me.

Hence my husband bought me a treadmill this winter and it has worked.  I think I have about another 4 weeks of dark nights and then I should be back out on the streets if the rain stops!

[SpiceChicken]

I regularly go to the gym, like Brandy.  Usually I take a walk outdoors everyday, but I wimp out when it's super cold.  To make up for it I might hop on the treadmill for 10 minutes after Zumba.  Other indoor activities like shopping or visiting a museum make it easy to get steps.  Also contra dancing, which is super fun!

[RunningRach]

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@Dominique wrote:

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@RunningRach wrote:

Do you still go out in the rain?

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I have no problem whatsoever with rain (and snow). In fact, it makes me feel I'm getting a return on my investment on the jacket and trousers I purchased for that purpose

I bought them on sale in late Spring and I tried them in the Summer, but they were too hot. So in Summer rain, I just get soaked (I'm not made of sugar!) and let my cloath/shoes dry.

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Haha, very true! Fitness clothing is not cheap! Seems like you have your routine down to the T...keep up the hard work!

[RunningRach]

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@keltie wrote:

I did use a flash light for one winter a couple of years ago and also night vision!  I must have looked like a nutter!!  I found it a little scary when the night vision light hit the sheeps eyes.....So that lasted one full winter and then I promised not to do that again.

The next winter (last) i found that I have no signal on my mobile phone once I got a mile from my home...That stopped me.

Hence my husband bought me a treadmill this winter and it has worked.  I think I have about another 4 weeks of dark nights and then I should be back out on the streets if the rain stops!

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Ah that would be a bit scary on the roads. Nowadays, it is not worth the risk..you never know what could happen! I also have a treadmill for winter. Of course, there is nothing like being outside, but I do not want to risk injury in the snow, slush and ice!

Lets hope we can be back on the streets sooner then later 🙂

[RunningRach]

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@SpiceChicken wrote:

I regularly go to the gym, like Brandy.  Usually I take a walk outdoors everyday, but I wimp out when it's super cold.  To make up for it I might hop on the treadmill for 10 minutes after Zumba.  Other indoor activities like shopping or visiting a museum make it easy to get steps.  Also contra dancing, which is super fun!

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I have never heard of contra dancing, what kind of style is that? Gosh, looks like I have some Googling to do! I agree with getting steps at the mall or museum...if I can remember my FitBit! 🙂

[RunningRach]

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@SpiceChicken wrote:

I regularly go to the gym, like Brandy.  Usually I take a walk outdoors everyday, but I wimp out when it's super cold.  To make up for it I might hop on the treadmill for 10 minutes after Zumba.  Other indoor activities like shopping or visiting a museum make it easy to get steps.  Also contra dancing, which is super fun!

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I have never heard of contra dancing, what kind of style is that? Gosh, looks like I have some Googling to do! I agree with getting steps at the mall or museum...if I can remember my FitBit! 🙂

[RunningRob]

I've just ordered some for running in the Alps next month. On the website it says they work on compacted snow or ice but not on thin 'black' ice as the studs need a bit of depth to get traction.

Normally I just do my winter runs in Inov-8 312GTX shoes. They cope with pretty much anything barring sheet ice and keep my feet dry and warm. Done up to 22 miles in the snow in them and been fine!

[RunningRob]

Sorry that referred to Yaktrax!

[LilBudyWizer]

One is just take short 15 minutes walks. Even in the teens there isn't much danger if you're just out there 15 minutes at a time. The cold is more an issue when you're out there a hour or more at a time. You have to be sensible. Dress warm enough you're comfortable. If your neck is cold get a scarf or jacket with a hood. If your fingers are cold get some mittens. Down to the teens it's fairly easy to stay comfortable for short periods. Hours is a differant story, but 15 minutes is not difficult.

[SunsetRunner]

It finally got back into double digits today! Anything below 20F is pushing it for me, but today was a nice 30F! When I go jogging, I almost ALWAYS take my two blue heelers with me and they keep me motivated! But the salt on the roads is not good for their paws, so today since none of the sidewalks were cleared from the snow yet I went trail running in the woods. I bundled up and I also put on my hiking shoes instead of running shoes. I was worried they would feel too heavy, but they worked great in the snow! The dogs loved it as usual too! Not gonna let the snow be an excuse not to run or walk anymore! 

[Natalia]

I work at a mall, and we do see our share of mall walkers!

I try to walk my own rounds during my lunch break, but I need to be more strict about getting my butt of the chair and actually do it.

[Kateb3]

I go to the gym and run on the treadmill, i joined a winter running series. On non workout days, i use wii fit or just dance around my house doing chores. I just reached 3000 miles on Tuesday.

[Cande]

When we get fewer than 3 inches in a single snowfall our driveway is plowed by a contractor, but seems like all of ours this year have been just under that. Since we like a "clean" driveway, we shovel before driving our cars over the snow. This morning's shoveling befroe work was a great way to get over 3500 steps to start the day! But we still walk and run outdoors in winter-- dressed appropriately. When it's just way too yucky or dark, we go to Planet Fitness-- we call it our "work out insurance" and it's only $10 / month and close to both home and office.

[thedrisk48]

I love my yac tracs epecially since im a pet sitter and those doggies need to go out what a difference they make!

[thedrisk48]

yac tracs are the best thing going i can run on ice in them and the price is spot i got mine for like 10 bucks well worth it....like the fitbit!

[demarya]

I'm trying hard to lose some excess weight [have lost some but still want to lose at least another 80 pounds or so]. And I hate the cold and snowy winters we have here in Michigan.

I just joined the local YMCA and am taking a water aerobics class that is 75 minutes in length and meets 3 mornings per week. At some point, I'm going to also have someone show me how to use some of the cardio equipment.

And I am trying to increase my walking [hence, getting my Zip that arrived yesterday]. It's snowing today and is very cold and sloppy outside. So after I was done with an appointment this afternoon, I went to the local mall and did a lap around the mall which took longer than I thought it would [about 25 minutes]. Oh well. I would've walked a bit more but with it still snowing and with the evening rush hour about to get underway, I headed home.

I moved to a new residence a few months ago and it is hillier here at my new location. So those hills do add something when I do my walking. At first I was intimidated by them but am getting better at them. Am doing just a bit over a mile on my walks but that will improve soon, I hope!

[SpiceChicken]

Hey Rach, contra dance is a form of social dancing.  It is kind of related to folk and square dancing, but it comes from England, with some French influence, so it is more like what you might see in a movie adaptation of a Jane Austen novel than country line dancing.  Contra dance was popular in New England in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Hippies revived it in the 60s and 70s.  It's kinda nerdy but attracts hipsters in many places, and there's usually live music.  It's really fun and a great way to meet people.  This website will help you find a contra near you:

http://www.contradancelinks.com/

[ozoohappy]

Winter is my favorite! (I live in Wisconsin)  No mosquitos, no gallons of sunscreen, no overheating...LOL  Seriously though, I snowshoe every day and it's a beautiful, fun, great workout! I also like to cross-country ski, skijor (cross-country ski behind my dog) and I'm always walking. Just wear layers, good boots and ear warmers and you're good-to-go! I may be asking this question of all of you when the weather gets HOT!

[ozoohappy]

A friend of mine bought some for her husband and son for Christmas. They like them! We have enough snow here that walking/running on ice isn't too much of a problem...But there are definitely spots on the roads that can be dicey. I'm thinking of getting something like those for when we have more thawing and refreezing...