Planning Your Summer Fitness

Okay maybe I’m a little premature in daydreaming about summer. Especially in Oregon where the forecast is rain, rain, hail, and more rain…probably for awhile too.

But really if you think about it, we’re half-way through April and that means we’re getting close to Memorial Weekend and Fourth of July…lots of summer activities and lots of activities that involve FOOD.

Now is the time to prepare for summer, to prepare for the food-orgy that is summer: BBQ, picnics, Brewfest, camping, festivals, beer with friends on restaurant patios, vacations…

Maybe it’s been easy this winter to slack. It’s cold, rainy and snowing. Instead of getting up to run in the freezing cold, maybe you slept in and skipped it. If you haven’t been consistently working out this winter, now is the time to do it! Start your pre-summer workout plan now so that when the sunny days come you’re smack-dab right in the middle of a consistent routine.

Another bonus: you’ll beat those people that flood the gym in May thinking they can get a “bikini body” in 4 weeks. 😉

Let’s take a moment to start planning something to stay balanced. How about challenging yourself to do something new this summer fitness related? That’s also a good way to bust out of a workout-rut, too.

• Tennis
• Golf
• Kayaking
• Snorkeling
• Paddleboarding
• Rock climbing
• Mountain biking
• Road biking
• Hiking
• Backcountry Hiking/Backpacking
• Swimming

Now is the time to learn how to do some of these things. Then by summertime, you’ll be able to enjoy doing them! For example, Portland has a rock climbing gym. If I was interested in that (I’m not, I don’t like heights) I’d start taking lessons at the indoor gym and find a group of seasoned climbers to befriend before summer arrives.

Or maybe you want to pick up swimming? It’s a fantastic exercise and even better to do in lakes and rivers on a sunny day. If you’re not that great at the sport, take an adult swimming lesson now and practice.

If biking is your thing, now is the time to buy last season’s bikes at a cheaper price. Want to try running? Give “Couch to 5k” a try!

I’m looking forward to summer for a lot of reasons. Michael and I will be training for the Portland Century (August) so we’ll be spending lots of weekends on the bikes. I’ve been trying to bike on the trainer at least once a week all winter long to get my bike fitness back.

Hiking in Oregon is also a fun pastime. I’m definitely going to be doing a lot of hiking this year. Last year I was so busy training for Reach the Beach and Hood to Coast that I neglected a lot of things I liked to do. I’m already making lists of hikes to try.

Something else I REALLY want to try? Rowing! I’ve never been in a canoe or kayak and I’m dying to try it. Oh, and I need to get a hammock. ASAP!

QUESTION: What is something you’re looking forward to trying this summer? Have you been exercising all winter, or are you waiting for summer?