I have to admit that I think we Aussies are quite spoiled when it comes to the weather. Where I live in Queensland, the temperatures are pretty moderate year round. It does get hot in summer and cooler in winter, but compared to other parts of the country, it is quite literally seventh heaven.
Thus, I’m quite embarrassed to admit that over this winter, my appetite for training early in the morning has left the building. You see, I’m one of those lucky people that can train in the mid morning or at lunchtime with the work that I do, so this winter, rather than complain about the cold, I’ve just simply had a workout later in the day when weather simply isn’t an issue.
However with the Little Lucys now on school holidays (and far too grown up to partake of the gym creche, but far too young to be left unsupervised for too long), I have had to recommit to some early morning sessions.
I decided to run. Naturally, I found myself bitching about the cold and then had to quickly stop myself – I’ve had clients over the years that have had snow to contend with, thus ten degrees (or 50 degrees F) would probably be considered quite luxurious! However, after 45 sweaty minutes I was feeling quite pleased with my efforts – and all thoughts of being too cold relinquished to the back of my mind.
Tomorrow’s early morning session is going to involve strength training. I’m wondering how cold Olympic bars can get – probably really good for soothing the calluses on my hands – there’s always a positive outcome in there somewhere.
On the days I haven’t been able to get to the gym, I’ve been in the garden. It is an excellent workout! I’ve been wrestling with this enormous basil bush that just won’t quit with the idea of explosive growth. Plus I’m getting my vegetable garden ready for spring. Gardening is a great workout and it’s definitely fun eating all of your home grown produce – pesto is quite popular in the Last Chance Training household!
Do you have trouble getting up to train when it’s winter? I’m raising my glass to all of you that don’t have the choice due to work and other commitments – yet get up and do it anyway!
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Liz! I guess it depends upon what you’re used to. We have very cold winters in Milwaukee Wisconsin, but they are relatively quite a bit warmer than when I used to live up by Canada as a child in Minnesota. In general, Wisconsinites love 50 degree F weather for exercise. And I know lots of people who drive to the gym to exercise when it is as cold as -10 degrees F (-23.3 degrees C). And if you think, “well, that is just driving there,” it is also scraping the car windows and shoveling out the car on some mornings. We have storm coats with warm hoods, scarfs, and thick mittens and boots for those sorts of days. Getting to the gym on cold winter days to play a while makes the winter, especially in January, go much faster.
You know I think you’re amazing Marion! Hubby and I spent a year in US and Canada and we did a lot of window scraping but very little exercise!
I have had trouble getting up lately, but I think it’s more the dark than the cold. And tiredness
I find it harder in summer when it is hot! But then, WA is a bit like Queensland in that our cold isn’t really extreme.
Peas in a pod this winter I think!
ah, yes and hasn’t it been chilly these past few mornings…even colder when you are wet on a standup board!! So satisfying once it is done though;)
Oh yes, it would be – how are you enjoying your board? Sounds pretty awesome to me!@
I’ve found up here in Toowoomba that the chill factor from the wind has been harder to deal with than the cold and dark. Sometimes I just sook out and use the treadmill rather than run outside:)
Gillian
I love the sook out option of the treadie myself
Here’s cheers Liz coz you know I’m in that 5am brigade due to work and family commitments. And yes I have been training fairly consistently for some weeks noe despite the cold and dark mornings.
Good for you Miss M!
I loathe the cold, but love my early mornings. At the gym by 4am, no matter the weather. The bars are cold across the back while doing squats, but the effort of pushing up hard makes for a warm body after 4 sets. Then I have the day to luxuriate in the warmth of a heater and the knowledge the hardest part is done.
There have been times I had to walk the kids to/from school in the rain. We take it as an exercise in being Navy Seals or SAS trainees. We sing, march in time or just talk crud. We get home feeling like champions. I just have to stop Sana from staying outside and kicking water while he sings “Singing in the Rain”. Bahahahaha!
4 a.m? Hahaha. Is there such a time?
I love your commitment Kate. Mine has been really ugly this week!
I actually like Winter and getting up in the dark and cold. Seeing the sun rise while I’m out running. And I think that half the reason I like Winter is because I loathe Summer with the heat and humidity. And the other good thing about Winter is that if you are a little slack in getting out of bed, it’s always cool enough to exercise later on.
I like both – but think I like spring and autumn even better
Yes I am rather sensitive to the cold. And even though apparently it isn’t cold here in Qld I’m afraid I’m with you Liz. I have the luxury of scheduling my workouts during the day after work! The middle of the day walk / run with the dog is just glorious at the moment! However these school holidays are going to be a test .. I’m thinking kids bikes / scooters and dogs going for a run at lunch time! No cold, dark mornings for me if I can help it!!
Kids and scooters are a good combo – training by stealth
I am struggling with the cooler weather and also the fact that it’s dark as well. I have mixed up my routine as well and am now training when I get home from work instead but, like you, I may have to change that when the kidlets start holidays next week.
I’m not great at exercising before work at any time. I used to be more of a morning person 10 years ago (or so) but over the past 3 or so years find myself struggling to get out of bed at 7.30. (I know some of that is a result of going to bed so late – although I TRY to get to bed before midnight!)
I sweat a lot so for me, exercising in summer is almost worse because it feels too hot to even think about starting!
Lunchtimes rule IMHO
Too funny! It’s amazing how you adapt to the weather though. I experienced two years of terrible weather in Sydney, where it just seemed to rain all the time and last summer wasn’t even a summer! But still, coming to London really reset my internal temperature clock. Now when it’s 20 degrees I’m sweating and complaining about the heat! We have daylight from 4.30am to 10.30pm at the moment, which is AMAZING, but I don’t know how I’m going to get to the gym during winter where it’s only light for about 7 hours a day.
Keep us posted Tara – I think it will be a challenge!
I hate early mornings, although when I do make the effort I feel like I’ve accomplished so much in the day…as far as temperature, it gets pretty cold up here in these mountains…haven’t seen 10 degrees for about a month now…but I prefer training in the cooler weather than the Summer, it just zaps my energy…as with everything else, different strokes for the many different folks that read your Blog, Liz. xo
I love how we’re all different! Makes for interesting reading
Hi Liz – I am not a morning person – one of the reasons I am really nervous about doing the GC 10km next Saturday – it starts at 6.30am !!!! I do all my exercising at night after work so have had to invest in some long sleeve tops because my sleeveless / cut away tops just weren’t cutting it in the cold. I ran on Saturday morning (left home at about 7.30am for a 15km run) and my hands suffered for about 12kms – they were cold and swollen and felt awful. A suggested running with gloves on – not sure if I can do that either !!!!
I would love to be able to run during the day but, alas, my work probably wouldn’t like it quite as much as I would !!!
Have a great Friday.
Me
Good luck for your run – you won’t even notice the time…really
Ah yes, Liz, I find the early mornings hard going. I got up at 5am on Monday and did a sweaty half hour in the gym… it was tough! I leave my four kids home alone so go early and return early, it’s not great. This morning I thought I’d get up early and do some work then can exercise in the daytime when they are at school. Last day today for them.
What I find hard in the morning is weighing myself. In summer I strip off and weigh in nude, in winter I can’t bear to take my jammies off!! Not a big issue though and I weigh in once a week at the gym, clothed and fed and watered.
Happy holidays! Ironically it will be easier for me to exercise as I stop trying to work and my HUSBAND IS COMING HOME tomorrow. Hooray!!!
Aw good on you Seana and hope you have a very happy holiday too!
I have been slack with workouts in the cold, no matter what the time. You have inspired me. Back to it! None of that sitting in front of the fire reading..
Hey Sara, all went downhill from Tuesday…bugger!
Well, never thought I would be doing it but, there have been days when I got out of bed and off to the gym and it was 18 – 20F…holy crappers it gets cold but you sure as heck work hard to warm up !. It has been hot here the past three days, in the 90′s so mid 30′s…absolute heaven. However, some of the locals reckon we are ‘sick’ when we tell them that this is living !!!!
I must admit though, one thing keeping us here is the distinct seasons. There is something magical about experiencing everything the four very different seasons have to offer….warmth and cold being just a part of it all !
happy workout Liz !
Cheers
Fi
Hi Fi, I remember being in Vancouver and it got to 30 degrees – the locals were beside themselves…too funny
Ah, nothing like a training run at 430am in winter… I find, though, that it isn’t the cold that bugs me so much but the dark. However, getting up and running 15km before the sun is even out of bed makes me feel a little angelic
Yes, you’re a bit of a legend Miss Emma!