And getting outdoors in winter is nature and respond best to that training If you Nordic ski in winter for fitness
good for the soul. environment – human evolution it’s a good idea to run for 20 minutes
If you want endurance, muscle involved running long distances across at least three times a week – bones,
toning, core strength, power, agility and natural terrain, not sitting behind a desk joints and soft tissue need the impact
balance, you can’t go to far wrong with or working out in a gym. for healthy bone density and resilience.
this blend of sports. Running amidst the natural aesthetics Otherwise, you could get hurt as you
Both winter trail running and Nordic of the trail means you can run further, at get back into running shape in the
skiing can lead you from a groomed trail greater intensity, with less physical and spring.
to route-finding on a mountain. When mental fatigue. Skiing provides a total Contrary to popular belief, people are
the snow is too deep for skiing, put on training dynamic with less impact, albeit not born with running or skiing skills.
modern lightweight snowshoes and just a bit more complicated than running. Most people could benefit from reading
go running. You will forget you even So take a lesson or two. When you’ve about these skills, watching instructional
have them on. Once the trail is packed mastered the skills, a trail will induce far DVDs and taking lessons or personal
down, you can run in trail shoes. more natural intervals than a structured coaching. Advice from the pros not only
Ice storm? No problem, slip on some workout, with diversity that provides a boosts safety and fitness, but provides
yak tracks or studded shoes. It may better training effect than running like a the motivation everyone needs from
be counter intuitive, but running on gerbil on a treadmill. time to time. If you become a student
packed snow is easier than dirt. At cold Compared with running on city of your sport, imprinting from experts is
temperatures snow is abrasive, meaning sidewalks, running on snow or the best way to fast track your results.
less chance of slipping, and if you do it’s snowshoeing is lower impact, and a host Dave mcmahon is a national biathlon
a softer fall than hitting the bare ground. of single-track trails are waiting to be champion and part of the Salomon Trail
Running or skiing on forest trails is discovered in the forest – you can run a Running and madshus nordic Ski teams.
an all-season, all-terrain, all-natural, different route every day and never get He and his wife, two time-Olympian Lise
clean oxygen-rich experience which bored. The variety of footing, pace and meloche, run natural Fitness Lab,
combines elemental basics of life itself stride in trail running will add years to www.naturalfitnesslab.com
-
Z
one
– sun, oxygen, gravity and motion. your running career, and negotiating a
:
x
c
Our minds and bodies are wired for winding, hilly foot-path at speed creates
real-time problem-solving opportunities
t
o credit
to boost mental fitness too.
Pho
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca OTTAWA magazine fall/winter 2009/2010 13
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