Tag: winter
Winter is my least favourite season. OK, fine, I hate it.
Correction: Winter in the city is my least favourite season. But given that winter here in Toronto pretty much stretches from November through to practically April, that’s a long time to be feeling miserable. So I have strategies that help me hate it a little bit less — one might even say embrace this c-c-cold season:
I remind myself that I prefer winter running is better than summer running. As someone who doesn’t love sweating, summer running in Toronto’s summer humidity is a nightmare. When I train through the winter, I am not a sweaty mess (so it’s relatively more comfortable — although the wind can make some runs super frigid) and running gets me out into the fresh air, which lifts my mood even if it’s -30 outside. I’ve registered for a race in March so I already have motivation to run regularly through the season.
I plan to get out into the country, where winter is actually beautiful. The grey city with dirty snow and ice is not pretty. But when you get out into cottage country and it’s a winter wonderland and you can appreciate the snow and ice. I already have one weekend road trip planned, and usually try to do day trips to hike so that I get some natural beauty breaks. Plus, Billie Jean adores the snow, and her joy on hikes, leaping like a bunny through drifts, is an instant mood boost in itself.
I cook my favourite winter comfort foods. Shepherd’s pie, braised short ribs, tourtiere, spaghetti bolognese, hearty stews, mashed potatoes. So many great heartwarming meals to be had.
I consider how if I love cold plunging, then winter can’t be all that bad. I haven’t completed many successful cold plunges recently — I think I lost the mental strength it calls for over this long break from it — but knowing I willingly have done cold plunges (up to nearly five minutes on a retreat with YETI and Unbounded!) and also did the most wondrous plunges in Oak Lake in the winter at Unbounded Cold Camp in February, well, it’s a reminder that embracing the cold can bring about awesomeness — the high you feel post-plunge, the knowledge you can do hard things. And even though I’ve resisted immersing myself into the cold plunges lately (I couldn’t even attempt getting into the lake in October!), I know it’s all part of the process–cold plunging never becomes easy.
I indulge in cozy things at home. Curling up at home underneath a blanket to binge-watch a series or read a book. Wearing cute, cozy pyjamas like this buffalo check set from Knix. Lighting a great candle for a day hunkered down at home. Sleeping in (always easier for me in the winter since the sun rises so late).
And overall, I try to be mindful of little things that spark joy daily. From the sound of the crunch of snow underfoot to the soft cashmere toque I put on to walk Billie Jean, How satisfying a cup of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows bobbing it is after coming in from the cold. How Lake Ontario looks like one giant slushie–it’s mesmerizing. The warm, cushion-y Uggs on my feet for quick errands. How cute Billie Jean looks in her winter coat.
Then, soon enough, once again the days will get longer and warmer and before you know it, another winter season is behind us.
November 29, 2023
“Yes, I run outside all through winter.”
“No, I don’t usually get cold, just my face if it’s really cold.”
“No, I don’t slip and fall.”
“I just really get bored running on a treadmill.”
Every winter, I get the same questions from non-runners about my winter training. But the truth is I would choose running in the cold winter than on a humid summer day. Each winter, I’d say there are only typically two really terrible runs when it’s -35C with the windchill. Those, yes, are not fun at all. But I almost never slip on ice (I try to focus heavily on where and how I’m placing my foot on days the conditions are icier). And as for feeling cold, with the right gear and layering, you don’t really notice the cold (except for possibly your hands and face — I tend to wear thin gloves so I can still work my iPhone, and I do wear a balaclava but it’s hard to breathe through so I inevitably end up pulling it off my face, hence the frozen cheeks).
For this winter, Nike is challenging athletes to #getouthere on the cold and snowy days because dressed in Nike’s technologies, winter ain’t got nothin’ on you and your workout:
- Aeroreact: Wearable technology that can intuitively sense, and respond to, performance in real time. Fabric opens up in response to sweat to keep you temperature just right
- Therma-Sphere Max: Raised nodes trap warm air the way a wet suit traps warmer water, plus it’s 34% more breathable than therma-sphere (the previous technology).
- Hyperwarm: Designed for athletes combating cold weather outdoor workouts by combining multiple textures into one form-fitting garment.
Your winter workout could win you a trip to Chicago, too!
If you keep up your workouts outside as the temperature drops and post on social media using the hashtags #GetOutHere and #Contest, you have a chance to be one of 48 weather-defying athletes chosen based on the story you tell of your outdoor training. These 48 athletes chosen will get to compete in the Get Out Here Challenge, which will take place in Chicago the week of December 8, 2015.
So all you have to do is create and post your outdoor training photos and/or videos on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with hashtags #GetOutHere and #contest. It’s so simple to enter!
I’ll be getting outside and training with Nike as part of a six-week #TrainTuesday workout. I worked up a sweat at the launch lead by Nike Master Trainer Eva Redpath and Toronto Argonaut and Nike Pacer Eric Black two weeks ago (that’s when the photo at the top of this post was taken). Last week, I missed the first session as I was in California for work, but will be out there tonight for week 2! Follow along via Instagram (@healthandswellness).
Oh, and NIKE.COM now ships to CANADA! Huzzah! This means you can order all the gear and footwear and custom Nike ID shoes, whaaaaat!
(I designed some running shoes, but I’ll post on those once I get them in my hands!)
Need some inspiration to get out here? Click here to view the Nike ad featuring many elite athletes including Canadians Paula Findlay and Steven Stamkos.
November 10, 2015
It’s not often that I wished I owned a car, but a night away up north with Ford Canada made me wish I did.
Back in December, I headed up to the Sherwood Inn with Ford Canada with a small group, which included my friends Sasha and Kimberly (so I knew I’d be laughing up a storm no matter what, we always have fun together). Given it was still early in the season, I wasn’t quite drained by the brutal winter weather we had this year, but heading out of town to some fresh air and white snow always provides such a mental boost. Toronto gets so grey and dreary in the winter. Being up north with friends to hike and learn about nature provided a much needed mental refresh to my usual daily grind in the city.
We learned about different trees and how to chop firewood (which I wanted to try, it looks like quite the workout — but I think they were afraid we’d hurt ourselves…), how to change a flat tire (I could maybe fumble my way through it if I had to now!), and I had a lesson in driving a stick shift. The first time I tried to learn, it was a nightmare and ended in many, many, many tears. Loads of tears. So I approached this lesson stressed out to the max. I stalled the car a few times, but at least there were no tears. We also got to try the Active Park Assist (which I love — parallel parking also stresses me out, so I’m more than happy to have the car handle it!).
Along with a lesson from a survivalist (tip: carry some steel wool when hiking, it can help you start a fire), and some delicious s’mores by the campfire, a quick winter getaway getting back to basics is something I consider a must. It’ll help alleviate some of the blues Toronto winters can cause.
March 25, 2015
Previous page
