December 1st hit and so did the first blanket of crisp white snowflakes. Winter is a complicated season for a lot of athletes. It is often the divider of year-long athletes and fair-weather athletes. I personally have been a fair-weather athlete in the past. Over the years, I have learned to embrace winter with the childlike wonder of my youth. I’ll share a few of the tips and tricks I have learned if you have a desire to be a year-long athlete as well.
#1 It’s going to be cold.
It is a weird fact that when our expectations match our reality, suddenly we have the capacity to cope with it. Setting unrealistic expectations is the root of all suffering. I personally plan to be very cold….like sub 0 cold. I put on at least two layers of socks, two layers of gloves, two layers of tops and two layers of pants. This is all a base for the snow jacket, snow pants, heated gloves and toe/hand warmers in my go bag. I also wear ear covers and take an extra hat with me just in case. Most of the time, I over prepare for the weather, but I’d rather be prepared than freeze. Mind you, this is a list of my go bag for a 4–10 hour adventures with no aid station along the way. Prepare for the length and intensity of your adventure within your own discretion.
#2 Protect the eyes, ears and digits.
Nothing hurts worse than snow, rain or sleet in the eyes…especially if you are fat biking or road adventuring in a surprise snowstorm. Glasses shield the eyes from raw exposure to the cold and also keep you from being blinded by the strange amount of sun reflection off the snow. I have rather severe allergies and often just eye irritation from wind, cold or the sun will activate my sinus nightmares and migrate blindness. Glasses also make you look cool. When your ears are burning…it may not be because others are talking about you. Frost bit burns deeply before it gets numb. I personally put handwarmers behind my ears, secured by my hat or ear cover to keep my body temperature up. Huge difference! Those fingers and toes need some extra love too! The right gloves and shoes literally make the difference for being out on long adventures. Look for Gore-Tex shoes, socks and gloves!
#3 Bring an extra set of dry clothes
The sweat chill post-workout is extremely real. I have noticed women struggle with this more than men but regardless there is a hygiene component to changing into clean dry clothes after a workout. Letting sweat linger will make you cold, increase chances for body acme and creates body odor. I personally love changing into dry clothes and sitting by the fire after a long run, ski session or snowshoeing adventure. Add that to the feeling of letting my hair out of a braid…instant awe.
#4 Find your winter sport.
I love to run and I love to bike. I do not love snow running or fat biking. If those were my only options for winter fun…well, I’ll probably remain a fair-weather athlete. I personally love to cross-country ski and snowshoe in the winter. These activities bring me joy, help me feel connected to the season and create a sense of confidence in my ability to brave the wilderness. I encourage you to consider winter sports that you may or may not enjoy. You don’t know if you’ll like it till you try it. Once you find your joy, it’s magical.
#5 Be a kid
I have learned that taking exercise too seriously steals the fun right out of it. Letting go of Strava records, pace and distance expectations changes everything. Winter is just like any other season; it impacts people differently. Some people thrive in cold weather, and some people thrive in hot weather. Regardless of what weather you thrive in, having fun is the priority. Goal setting and pushing yourself to break a personal record is always encouraged but be careful of the weight that goal has on your energy and focus. Unrealistic expectations are the thief of joy. Being in a childlike mindset also helps us enjoy more family time in the snow. More sledding, more snowball fights, more igloos, more snow angels and more snow people.
Learning to embrace things that make us uncomfortable is how we evolve into a higher version of ourselves. Our comfort zones often feel cozy or at least predictable, but they often keep us stuck. Father time and Jack frost knew we needed a challenge to keep us on our toes. People that live in climates with harsh winters have more resilience to change and struggle than people that live in more temperate climates year-round. Don’t believe me, do your research. I’m happy to be proven wrong. Happy holidays!
Namaste
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