Now that we’re getting into the colder months, I’ve noticed a definite difference in my body temperature after exercise. It takes 10 or 15 minutes to walk to the gym, so I wear yoga pants and a zip-up sweater over top of my shorts and shirt to keep myself warm on the walk over. Whenever I leave the gym, I always put my sweater and pants back on, but now I’m finding that on the walk back home I have a combination hot/cold feeling: the one where you feel hot from the exercise, but sweating has already cooled you down and the colder outdoor temperatures cool you down even more. If I get caught up with something when I get home and don’t change out of my gym clothes right away, I wind up shivering and feeling very chilly indeed.

Mr. Science and I went on a two-day backcountry camping/hiking trip last weekend (about 25 km total – it was awesome!), and on the Sunday it was raining when we woke up in the morning. It proceeded to rain on and off for the rest of the day on the trail. Since the air was already cool, the dampness made things much colder. Even the day before, when there hadn’t been a drop of rain, I had pulled on my fleece every time we stopped for a break. Autumn is here!

Mr. Science took this photo of me last year - pumping water in the rain! This is an excellent depiction of A) appropriate clothing, and B) staying well-hydrated 😀

We were pressing on at a pretty decent pace in the rain on Sunday. My thoughts were mostly that I just didn’t find it appealing to take a break or have lunch in the rain, but then Mr. Science pointed out that it was important to keep moving because there was some danger of hypothermia, which hadn’t even crossed my mind.

I’ve never experienced or seen hypothermia, and I have no desire to experience or see it happen to someone else in the future, either. We arrived home safe and sound from the hiking trip, but I realized afterward that often if we (the royal) are exercising and moving around at higher intensity in cold weather, our brains won’t register just how cold it is. So I figured it’s about time we all learn about the importance of exercising safely in the winter months! Whether you exercise outdoors or you exercise inside a gym (and then go outdoors immediately afterward), it’s necessary to think about things like appropriate clothing as added insurance against conditions such as hypothermia.

Avoiding the dangers of exercising in cold weather

1) Invest in good-quality materials. A good rain coat, rain pants and rain boots are all excellent options for keeping the damp off of your skin when it’s raining. When it’s simply cold outside, wear jackets and boots with liners, keep your head and fingers covered, and don’t skimp on the long underwear (or base layer, in hiker-speak). Wearing sweat-wicking articles of clothing are also a good idea (yes, you should put money toward your exercise clothes!) – cotton and jeans are not good choices if you’re hiking, for example. And don’t forget to dress in layers.

2) Speak up. If you’re getting cold, tell someone. If you’re feeling uncomfortable about exercising in colder weather, talk to your exercise partner about it and figure something out so you do feel comfortable. Talk openly about the potential dangers of exercising in colder weather so that everyone knows what the risks are. And if you’re going out for a run in the cold weather – especially if it’s in a remote area – always tell someone where you’re going ahead of time just in case the worst happens.

Mmmm hot chocolate!

3) Stay hydrated and well-fed. When it’s cold out, I never seem to want to drink as much, but it’s important to stay hydrated. Take water with you when you exercise and drink hot beverages before and after your exercise. Mr. Science and I always drink a warm beverage in the morning on our hikes while we’re making breakfast and packing away the tent (tea for me, coffee for him), and at least one mug of hot chocolate each in the evening when we arrive at the next campsite. When I used to cross-country ski with the mother dear, father dear and sistertraveller, we’d take frequent breaks at little huts along the trail to warm up by the fire and to make some hot chocolate. Very tasty and warming! Food is also very important – if you eat the right foods, it will energize you so that you can keep on exercising (because it’s when you stop that the real danger sets in). On our cross-country ski trips, we always took chocolate with us 🙂 The boyfriend and I like to munch on bars (Clif and Luna bars are our favourite), fruit leather and beef jerky.

What are your cold-weather tips for staying warm? How late in the season are you willing to hike? Do you exercise outdoors in the winter?