The official start of spring is right around the corner! The longer days with additional hours of sunlight officially begin with the equinox on March 20. At just about that time, many of us start searching for reasons to get outside. We have some friendly suggestions to get you started off on the right foot!
If you’ve got a case of fitness ‘spring fever,’ we’ve got some tips and helpful hints to remember as we head into a new season. First, don’t forget that we’re offering lots of great opportunities to take up a new sport with our many outdoor sports leagues. These activities are a great way to jump start your fitness, get outside and make some new friends.
Many of us are also excited to get out into one of the many great parks throughout Murray. Be sure to check our website for information about programs, and get more information about parks. Then, if you’re planning to take your workout into the great outdoors – maybe by taking your regular walk, jog, or biking workout to the Jordan River Parkway trail – we want to share this friendly reminder: Be sure to ease back into your fitness routine with a warm-up period.
Outdoor workouts are more taxing than time spent in the gym, and everybody will need some time to adjust. Even well-conditioned people with a high degree of fitness can overdo spring workouts out of the enthusiasm that can be inspired by great weather. But don’t forget that harsh winter months might have put a damper on your routine, or forced you to cut back the time you had to spend in the gym. You might not be ready to get out of the gate as fast as you’d like.
That’s why it’s important to note that hitting the open road can be much harder on your body than working out in the gym. Running three miles on a treadmill is much easier than putting in the same number of miles pounding pavement or pushing through wind resistance while trail running. A spinning class is nowhere near as bumpy as riding a bike on a park or mountain trail. You can prevent injuries by realizing that anytime you change up your routine, you have to ease into the new activities with an adjustment period.
Convinced yet? All of us should plan to spend at least a couple of weeks letting our bodies make the transition. No matter how tempting it is to get outside, keep your sessions reasonable to your fitness level – no major increases. A good rule to follow is to increase your time spent working out by no more than 10 percent per week. If you want to take your run outdoors, take it a bit easier than usual, and don’t increase time or mileage until you’ve adjusted.
Also, don’t abandon the gym entirely once you’ve decided to take your workouts outdoors. Strength training is a key component of staying injury-free. Taking a yoga class can also help you stay fit and active, and increase your balance and range of motion (which will protect your joints). Cross-training indoors and taking a fitness class is also a fun way to mix things up and prevent overuse injuries caused by repeating the same workouts too frequently.
Why not cross train at The Park Center? We invite you to come out and get ready for the spring season of fitness and fun with us!