These longer days of summer are so great for finding time to get in an outdoor workout. If you are an early riser, you may be able to get a walk or run in before you shower and head to work. If not, with the late sunsets, there is time for most of us to get that walk or run in after the work day is over. Either way, getting outside for you workout will surely provide extra benefits like a healthy dose of vitamin D and stress reduction from spending time with Mother Nature.
With all good things, however, come some risks. Always make sure you are well hydrated before heading outside. I drink 2 huge glasses of water when I wake up, and that seems to serve me well. It is recommended to drink about 14 ounces of cool water about 2 hours before heading out and then about 6-12 ounces every 20 minutes or so. I tend to take sips as often as possible to avoid feeling too bloated to enjoy my workout. Of course sunscreen is important, especially if you are going to be outdoors more than 20 minutes. Most people do not use enough sunscreen, so lather up! Dress in clothes that breathe. Cotton is so comfortable, but it doesn’t absorb sweat (well it actually does absorb it ALL) so you might want to wear a cotton/poly mix that is made to wick sweat away. And above all else pay attention to how your body feels. If you start to experience things like twitching muscles or stomach pain, these might be warning signs that it’s time to get out of the heat. Personally, when I run in the summer (I only run outdoors and in some pretty hot and humid weather) I try to stay pretty close to the house. This way, if it starts to get stormy or I start to feel fatigued, it wont take long to get back home.
Outdoor workouts are great and I certainly enjoy mine. I am heading out to a local park for a morning workout with a client shortly. We totally enjoy our park workouts, making use of bleachers, trees, shaded areas, etc., but our schedule allows us to do this before it gets too Summer Florida HOT. Then I am off to teach at the gym, which is a really smart place to workout when the sun is at it’s strongest. It’s also great to have a gym membership for those rainy days, and for those times you just don’t want to fight the weather.
Wherever you choose to workout, JUST DO IT!
For those that did the ab challenge, did you take anything way after the month was over? I took away the knowledge that I don’t really ever want to do 100s of sit ups and crunches a day, but I have added sit ups to my post run, just before I stretch. I realized on day ONE of the challenge that full out sit ups were missing from my routine. This month, however, my main focus is on swimming and working my back. I like to log 1000 laps over the summer and I am not yet half way there. I also realized, after hot yoga a couple of weeks ago, that I need to incorporate more back work in my routines…more back stroke for me! What about you? We are all work in progress, after all!