Enjoying outdoor workouts
A few years ago, my husband and I moved south in order to escape the long, cold and snowy winters.
- We were accustomed to spending the majority of the year inside.
There was rarely an opportunity to go without a warm coat and heavy boots. In our new location, the weather is sunny and warm nearly all the time. One of my first and best purchases was a bicycle. I set up my bike with a basket on the front, a holster for a water bottle and a holder for my phone. I have a cordless speaker that I strap to the handlebars. There is a paved bike path right near my new house that extends over sixty miles in either direction. My favorite workout is going for a long bike ride. I listen to music, breathe fresh air and enjoy the scenery. I often spot rabbits, squirrels, turtles and different kinds of birds. If I want to burn extra calories, I can shift to a higher gear and pedal faster. I frequently bike for half an hour to a local athletic field. I then have access to shaded areas, smooth cement, grass fields and restrooms. I bring along a towel that I can sit on to go through a variety of warm ups. I then run sprints, do push-ups, lunges, squats and jumping jacks for approximately forty minutes. I ride my bike home and feel like I’ve gotten a really great workout. The outdoor exercise always puts me in a fantastic mood. It’s so much different from when I was stuck working out indoors, with limited space in the north.