The Winter days are cold, windy, and can get long, especially if you try to keep fighting through it by yourself. Your mind starts playing games with you, and you starting coming up with excuses to do anything except go exercise, and this whether it is outside, or inside. This makes Winters feel really long.
So what do you do to try and get through these long Winter blues? Who can you rely on? What can you rely on? First, there is no question, if you are going to exercise outside, whether running or walking, you have to have the right gear to wear. This not only from a comfort standpoint, but a safety standpoint. Between the long hours of darkness, and what the cold can do, safety needs to come first.
Everything needs to be covered, and you not only have to see where you are going, you need to be seen as well. I touched on this in some of the last posts. This weekend in particular is especially important when it comes to the cold, and the dangers of the wind chill as well. Sometimes you may have the right gear, but it is still safer working out inside. There are options with this as well.
I will go on the treadmill if there are really no other choices. But for me, this just gets really boring. I prefer something different then, and that can include the elliptical, or the stationary bike. Music, and/or having the TV on helps immensely!
Working out with weights, or doing resistance exercises in general is also a good alternative. For me, I have a corner of my garage set up for this. That is also a heater up in the top portion of the picture as well, so it really is nice working out in the garage. Otherwise, this is where places like the Wellness Center, or other gyms, can come into play as well. If nothing else, just to have some variety in the choices of what you can use. But if I have my choice, I still prefer to be outside!
It really helps when the city plows out certain sections of the trail. For a lot of our runs, we go to the Zoo and park, and then go out on the trail from there. This way, we are off traffic, and can be much safer in general. This is also a good time to be out with friends!
I have lost count of how many runs I have been on, Winter or Summer, with Tom! In Watertown, he has been, and still is, one of my prime training partners. Wear the right equipment, no excuses, and just get your butt out the door! Our run club is also good for this as well.
When you are out in a group, it is much easier to get motivated to show up. You are all there for the same reason. To get outside and get some exercise. We all keep each other going, and pushing each other. Sometimes I wonder if it really is about running, or just showing up to spend time with friends! I am not sure it really matters at this point. Spending time together is definitely a motivating point.
As Jill shows here, there is always time to wave and smile. Bring it on Jill! Show us how it is done! Each week brings new adventures, new challenges, and new weather conditions to deal with. What else does it bring?
Of course! Memories! So when you put all of this together, this is how you get motivated. You have to figure this out for you: what is it gonna take to get you motivated? What are your goals? Are you trying to achieve them yourself? The road to success is always lonelier by yourself. You need to find somebody to help you, push you, make you accountable…and before all is said and done, somebody to help make memories with!
Are you really motivated? Is it just all talk and no action? As I stated last week, Imagine! Believe! Achieve! Repeat! Repeat! Repeat! Motivation starts within, but can definitely be helped by many other factors, and many other people! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of New Streak: #287