It was a mere 0.6 degrees when I started work this morning… Brrrr! As tomorrow is the first day of Winter, and some of my clients have been discussing warmer workout gear recently, here are my Top 5 tips on how to combat the cold and train outdoors this Winter.
During cold or wet weather, ditch the cotton and start a lifelong relationship with merino wool. It will become your best friend in no time. Wool stays warm when you sweat or get wet, doesn’t retain odours and can be thrown in the machine on a cold wash like any other garment in your wardrobe. In my opinion, you can’t go past the quality and range at Icebreaker, but most outdoor stores also stock a decent merino range.
Instead of a heavy outer jacket, try several lighter layers that you can remove as you warm up. Not only will you have greater mobility with lighter, flexible layers (merino and performance synthetics are best), air also gets trapped between the layers and warms up, helping you stay warm. I even get the thermals out!
Some people look amazing in any kind of hat, but me wearing a beanie is never a fashion statement! Whether you pull it off gracefully or end up looking like like you forgot to brush your hair this morning and wanted to cover it up, beanie and gloves are a must when it’s really cold.
Invest in woollen socks for Winter. Seriously, it’s worth it! All that ventilation in your trainers are great for the rest of the year, but cold or wet feet aren’t much fun for anyone and can easily lead to blisters!
I’m always telling my clients to fuel their bodies for success. You’re only going to get out of it, what you put into it. How many people do you know that avoid eating before training? If you want to get the most out of your training eat a balanced meal 1.5 – 2 hours before training… and don’t forget to refuel afterwards. It’s a no brainer.
So enjoy the many benefits of training outdoors this Winter… and feel good while you’re at it.
