Had a nice one hour walk today around the lake. Under the towering trees shading the trail, I saw a caterpillar climbing a silk thread. Every day that I walk, run, hike, or bike outdoors, I see a small wonder of nature, be it a great blue heron wading in the pond, turtles sunning on a log, or deer almost perfectly camouflaged in the thickets. Last week, I saw a hummingbird hovering near a treetop, and a rainbow patch next to the setting sun. Over the years, I have seen red foxes and beavers.
Every exercise session outdoors is an adventure. Even walking the same trail over and over, you see different things at different times of day, and as the seasons change. It is a refreshing way of breaking the monotony of exercise. For me, it wins hands-down over working out in a gym or a treadmill. Fresh air and Vitamin D are a welcome bonus, and being closer to nature is refreshing and healing.
The outdoors often pose a challenge. Trail conditions are not as smooth as a treadmill, and often impose greater loads on your stabilizing muscles. This is actually a good thing since those muscles need to be trained. However, it does increase the risk of injury. Especially critical is the issue of safety when exercising on roads. Make sure you wear bright, reflective clothes, keep an eye for traffic, and follow the rules. For biking, always wear a helmet, and have bike lights on at night.
The weather is another challenge. I find the need to keep an eye on the weather throughout the week and be flexible if anything changes. After a while you'll get a feel for what kind of activities can be performed at what temperatures and humidity levels. For example, I would have liked to run today, and though the temperature was cool, it was too humid for any long run to be comfortable, so I went for a walk instead. Thus I still spent time outdoors and got some exercise, even if not exactly according to plan.
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| Caterpillar climbing on a silk thread. |
The outdoors often pose a challenge. Trail conditions are not as smooth as a treadmill, and often impose greater loads on your stabilizing muscles. This is actually a good thing since those muscles need to be trained. However, it does increase the risk of injury. Especially critical is the issue of safety when exercising on roads. Make sure you wear bright, reflective clothes, keep an eye for traffic, and follow the rules. For biking, always wear a helmet, and have bike lights on at night.
The weather is another challenge. I find the need to keep an eye on the weather throughout the week and be flexible if anything changes. After a while you'll get a feel for what kind of activities can be performed at what temperatures and humidity levels. For example, I would have liked to run today, and though the temperature was cool, it was too humid for any long run to be comfortable, so I went for a walk instead. Thus I still spent time outdoors and got some exercise, even if not exactly according to plan.
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