Season's Eatings

We’re heading into that time of year when it’s getting colder, rainier, windier, and well - I’m not going to use the “S” word just yet. It’s also the time of year that we all start adjusting our diets. The farmer’s markets are all but done and gone and the availability of fresh local seasonal fare has once again taken a back seat to supermarket produce. Not only are the ingredients that we use changing, so are the cooking methods we use to prepare our foods. It’s no longer grill and chill season; it’s Crock-Pot and hoodie season.  

As I sit here and write this I’m finding myself veering off of my original plan and topic to slowly get myself into something that I might later begin to regret, but maybe not.  What I am proposing, suggesting, or requesting of those that actually follow/read this blog is let me know some of your go-to foods for the colder months.  You give me a bunch of recommendations for recipes, and I’ll come up with my own version and post it to the blog and other social media platforms.  This will have a two fold effect.  

1.  It will give us all a new way of looking at old possibly boring recipes that we have all have and continue to use. Spruce things up a bit!

2.  It will actually give me an excuse to start getting back into the kitchen; cooking food and meals that I have some what neglected to do in the past couple of months.  

Win win, I think. So go ahead let me know what cold weather standby you have that you’re getting tired of and I’ll revamp it for you.  

- MS

Cold? That's Not An Excuse.

It's winter and that means it’s cold out. That doesn't mean you get a free pass to hibernate for 5 to 6 months! It's easy to fall into the trap, myself included, of not wanting to go outside and train in the freezing cold. Guess what people? It's time to suck it up and get out there! You can still train outside in the winter with the correct planning and preparation. I’ve included a few tips below that I use when my least favorite season of the year arrives and I still need to get out there.

1. Get a training partner:

It's SO easy to hit the snooze button when its still dark out and the only person counting on me to get up is me. When I know I have a friend, or a class full of CPC subscribers, waiting for me, waking up is just a little bit easier. Accountability is HUGE. Not only to yourself but to others. Don't leave your partner standing out in the cold waiting on someone that isn't going to show. Not cool!

2. Layer up:

When heading out for a long training run, Jay's 6am ROTC class, or to walk the dog, the key to enduring the freezing temps is LAYERS! The number of layers you want will depend on several things: how intense will your workout be? what is the air temperature and wind chill? how does your body respond to cold? There are no hard and fast rules here because everyone is different, but be sure to put on a light-weight wicking layer first, a moderate to heavy weight layer second, and depending on conditions a third layer. You can always shed if necessary. Last but most important: put a hat on! You lose the majority of your body heat through your HEAD and that’s the last thing you want when you’ll be outside for an extended period of time.  

3. Leave the ‘Rocky’ sweats at home:

It's 2014 and we live in a world of Dri-Fit, Cold Gear, Smartwool, etc. How many of you still rock a cotton t-shirt or sweatshirt to go outside and train in cold or warm temps? If you do, DON’T! Cotton holds onto all of the moisture your body is trying to get rid of. It's just sits there, against your skin, in the cold and wind, doing nothing but making you COLDER. Do yourself a favor invest in some quality cold weather gear. And while you're at it pick up a CPC wicking beanie. Once you've done that consult tip #2 and get outside!

4. Be Smart:

You and your training partner are all geared up, CPC beanies are on, and you’re ready to go. Now, look out the window and and consult the weather app on your phone. What are the road conditions like? What's the "feels like" temperature? Is it supposed to snow/rain? Just because you're all geared up and ready doesn't mean that you should. I've given you every possible way to be a badass and train outside in the cold, but the reality is you need to be smart. Be sure to have good footing underneath you. If you don't, and the idiot driver who hates seeing runners on the the side of the road doesn't either… well, we know how that ends. If the air temperature is hovering in the single (or negative!) digits and there is a wind chill factor don't be a hero. Move your training inside. Take an additional Rouge Boot Camp or TRX class. A slight adjustment to your training schedule isn't going to kill you.

They may seem like “no brainers”, but believe it or not these are the most frequently used excuses I hear during the winter months. So Layer up and get some badass cold weather training going! Spring is right around the corner.

SK