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Fitness For your Info

Running and Winter: Do They Belong in the Same Sentence?

Going for a run can be an intimidating prospect in the best of weather. Living in Canada, we are obviously faced with at least a few months of “less than ideal” outdoor running conditions. In this article I am going to discuss running safely and effectively in the winter months.
First we are going to put to rest a winter running myth. You are not going to freeze your lungs if you run in the winter! By the time the cold air hits your lungs it has warmed up. I have run in some very cold weather and lived to tell about it. So no excuses!
The key to having a successful run in the winter is having the proper gear. In the winter, it’s all about layering. We will walk through how to layer up and still be able to move for your run.
The trick to determining how much to wear when heading out for a brisk winter run is to add 10 degrees to the outdoor temperature and dress for that temperature. This represents your body temperature, and so it is how you should dress. Also, taking note of how cold it was outside, what you wore and how you felt on the run is a good habit to form so you have a better idea of what to wear. You should feel a little cold at the beginning of the run then as you start working harder, your body will heat up to a point where you should be comfortable.

For your upper body the first layer should be tight-fitting and moisture-wicking. Not cotton…cotton is rotten and will stay wet when you sweat. The second layer is one you can play around with to best suit the temperature: a T-shirt, a looser fitting dry fit or even a sweatshirt if it is very cold. The last layer I recommend is a jacket that is going to cut the wind. If you have something that gets rid of the wind chill, it will make a big difference.

On your lower body, you definitely want to be in pants — Spandex, yoga style or even a nylon pant will do, just make sure you can move in them. You can put a second layer on your lower body when it’s really cold. I usually always wear at least tight shorts under my pants.
Be sure to cover your hands and ears as well. Your extremities will get especially cold in a colder temperature. Proper gloves and a toque or headband are an absolute must. It may also be warranted to get some warmer winter running socks to keep your toes warm.
Now that you are dressed and ready to take on the great outdoors, another thing you need to consider is the slippery conditions of the sidewalk. Ice can be hard to spot, so make sure to watch out for it. Try to avoid routes that not well kept and potentially very icy. And if this is not avoidable, run with a wider stance and slower pace as this is more stable.
Since it’s cold outside, it’s important to ease into your run — or better yet, do a warm up pre-run. You do not want to step outside and start out at a fast pace, as your muscles will be cold. So start off easy and let your muscles warm up.  Then you can increase your pace.
Another thing to consider with winter running is the lack of daylight. Be sure to have something that lights up or is reflective on while running in these conditions. Also be sure to check before crossing roads because you are harder to see in the dark.
A few local areas that I have found that are well maintained throughout the winter are the Lakeshore trail and Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
If you absolutely must do a run on the treadmill due to a blizzard…this is the only acceptable circumstance. Put the incline to 1.0 — this makes the effort level more comparable to outdoor running.
Lastly, set a spring time goal! It’s really hard to stay motivated in the winter, so I advise everyone to sign up for a race in the spring time. That way you have to keep training and running through the winter months. There are a lot of great races in the Toronto area in the spring, so check them out. All this winter running makes you way tougher for these spring races.
See you out on the roads….Stay warm and happy running!

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For your Info Tips

10 Simple Nutrition Tips

Help control inflammation through your diet.

Face it: training is hard on the body with all that pounding our muscles, joints and ligaments face a lot of stress. Too much stress leads to inflammation in the body, which over time can lead to injury. Add anti-inflammatory foods to your diet daily, such as ginger, turmeric, pineapple, fish oil and garlic, to help keep your inflammation in check and your immune system strong.

Build a Better Breakfast.

It’s important to eat a good breakfast daily. Aim to consume 20-25% of your daily calories at breakfast to keep you fuelled longer and help ward off evening eating excess. On days when you are not training first thing, try swapping out the oatmeal for some eggs and handful of nuts. Or have a protein rich smoothie with veggies, 1/2 an avocado and only 1 cup of fruit. Proteins and fats will give your body long lasting energy and make you feel more satisfied and reduce cravings later on in the day. If you are training first thing in the morning, easy to digest carbs are the way to go, as they digest quickly so you can get on with your workout.

“I Train To Eat!” Sound familiar?

Well, training is not an excuse to eat whatever you want! The more stress you put on your body through training demands, the better your diet should be, not the other way around. Not only do you need to worry about the number of calories, carbs, proteins and fat — you also need to consider all the micro-nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes and bioflavanoids that your body needs increased amounts from to support your training. Focus on the more nutrient-dense, not calorie-dense foods, to offer you the most bang for your buck. Load up on veggies throughout the day, and say no to refined carbohydrates and processed foods.

Grocery Shop with a Plan!

Wandering through the grocery aisles without a list will leave you open to poor food choices. Take 10 minutes before going to the store an plan out a few days worth of meals and then identify what ingredients you need and stick to the list.

Up your Omega-3!

Fish with the highest amount of EPA/DHA omega-3s are salmon, mackerel and sardine. Other good sources include herring, anchovy, lake trout, rainbow trout and tuna. Seven to ten ounces of fish per week is a good start to reaching your omega-3 intake. Another type of Omega-3 is alpha-linolenic acid which is found in certain plants. There are fewer contaminants in vegetable oils. Flax is the highest source of alpha-linolenic acid, then chia seed, hemp seed, pumpkin seed and walnut.

Pack Snacks!

If you are trying to stay healthy then plan ahead for daily snacks. Mixing veggies and protein or veggies and a healthy fat will provide an energy boost between meals, without a spike in blood sugar. Avoid breads and baked goods and try 1-2 cups of veggies and a 1/3 cup hummus or two hard-boiled eggs or 1oz of nuts. If you have a workout planned within 2-3 hours then add a piece of fruit.
Clean Up! Avoid refined, processed foods with additives, preservatives and chemicals such as artificial sweeteners, colourings, flavourings, as they will only deplete your body of nutrients. Read the ingredient list – if you don’t know what it is, don’t buy it!

Get Cooking!

Try cooking foods more often so that you can control what goes in the meal. Home made foods are generally better for you. During the week plan for quick meals such as quinoa, chicken breast and a pile of bright vegetables that can be made in 15 minutes. Make a little bit extra for lunch the next day. When you have more time try making a larger portions of soup, chili or a roast that can be used over a couple days.

Water Up!

Make sure you start all workouts in a hydrated state. When dehydrated you can’t perform at their best and you increase risk for injury, such as muscle tears or strains. Consume 2-4 cups of water in the 2-4 hour window leading up to your workout. For workouts lasting longer than 60 minutes make sure you carry water and consume 1/2 to 1 cup of water every 15 – 20 minutes to prevent dehydration.

Eat your Veggies!

Do you get the 7-10 servings of vegetables that an active individual needs per day? Vegetables are dense in nutrition but low in calories. They offer lots of fibre, vitamins, minerals and bioflavanoids. It’s important to eat a variety of them from all colour groups to increase your nutrient spectrum.