At least once a week I make sure to take my training outdoors. The cold, wind, rain and lack of idea’s can put alot of people off training outside but there are some great benefits to this natural training method once you are kitted out and prepared to stay warm, dry and motivated. Seeing as most of us spend so much time indoors working or at home we could all do with getting some much needed fresh air. Not to mention adventure runs and triathlons becoming more and more popular these days. Adding an outside day to your training will have you that bit more prepared if you plan on tackling one of these in the future.
That being said, here are my top tips for staying warm, dry and motivated when training outside.
• Make sure to wear protective base layer clothing –The cold, wind and rain are no match for a good base layer. Invest in a good set of base layer leggings, top, socks, gloves and hat to wear with your tracksuit to keep you dry and warm no matter what the weather especially in winter.
• Keep it short and effective – A simple 30-40 minutes is more than enough for an outdoor workout as you will also be battling through the elements.
• Be inventive with your surroundings – Don’t just simply go for a run, be aware of what is in your area that you can use. Along my local seafront there are dip bars, park benches, steps, green area’s etc.. which I regularly use for dips, pullups, sprints and regularly create a fun and challenging workout for myself.
• Structure your outdoor workout – Jog or cycle for 10 mins to warm up and go to a green area which has a park bench or a football pitch or maybe some outdoor workout equipment (dip bars, pull up bars etc..). Once you see what you can use around you, Pick 4 exercises and complete 3-4 rounds of 10 reps for each exercise with no stopping until completed. (Example: 1x50m sprint, 10x pushups, 10x burpees and 10x tricep dips on park bench). Catch your breath and jog or cycle home.
Following the above advice will help you create a fun, effective and challenging workout for yourself that you can do anytime, anywhere and no matter what the weather.
Once you get home shower immediately before getting cold in case you got wet to cancel out any risk of getting sick. For more training tips and idea’s with working out in the great outdoors simply ask your BodyByrne trainer.