fitness · holiday fitness

What to do when spring refuses to arrive

catherine w

Today is April 15– spring should be well on its way, even to the more northern climes.

Words saying "yeah but no" with drawing of arms crossed.
Words saying “yeah but no” with drawing of arms crossed.

 

You would think we’d be in a position to do this by now:

Woman in a pink outfit and white hat playing hopscotch in a park. And it doesn't look cold at all.
Woman in a pink outfit and white hat playing hopscotch in a park. And it doesn’t look cold at all.

Well, think again. Up in Ontario, where several of our bloggers reside, they’re getting this message:

Words saying 'potentially historic ice storm" -- Environment Canada. I'm sure we'd prefer it to be historic in the sense of in the distant past. But no.
Words saying ‘potentially historic ice storm” — Environment Canada. I’m sure we’d prefer it to be historic in the sense of in the distant past. But no.

Here in Boston, it’s currently snowing/sleeting/freezing rain. Love this trifecta.  However, the bigger issue is tomorrow, which is Patriot’s Day Marathon Monday.  Schools and government offices are closed, and lots of people (myself included) take the opportunity to head outside to enjoy running or watching the Boston marathon, or just frolicking in the spring weather. So many times I’ve cycled with friends, enjoying the last break before the end of semester crunch hits. But not this year.  Here’s what they’re predicting:

Boston Marathon forecast: raw, rainy Monday will create challenging course
Boston Marathon forecast: raw, rainy Monday will create challenging course

Not looking good at all.  At least we’re not having the full-blown ice storm that’s hitting southern Ontario, which is something to be thankful for.

So, what’s a fitness-interested feminist to do while waiting out this yucky weather?

  • Set up the trainer again? NONONONONONONONONONO.
  • Go to yoga classes? Yes.
  • Break out the Pilates and other fitness-y DVDs and have at it in my living room?  If I must.
  • Give in and watch all of the Oscar-nominated films on iTunes? Now, we’re getting somewhere. ..
  • All of the above? Yes, I guess so.

Into every life some crappy weather must fall. We in the colder regions will all get through it. And yes, southern-region friends– you now have my total permission to complain about heat this summer all you like.

I leave you with words of wisdom and an image we can all take as the best advice for dealing with cold weather:

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing".

A big pile of muddy, raingear-clad, happy kids, sliding down a muddy mound.
A big pile of muddy, raingear-clad, happy kids, sliding down a muddy mound.

Published by catherine w

I'm a feminist public health ethicist (yes, that's a thing). I'm interested in heath behavior change, particularly around eating and activity, and how things other than knowledge affect our health decisions.I'm also a cyclist (road, sort-of-off-road, commuter), regular yoga-doer, occasional swimmer and kayaker and leisurely social walker.

2 thoughts on “What to do when spring refuses to arrive”

  1. That’s quite a photo of those frolicking muddy children 🙂
    Well, this weekend, I squeezed in 2 baby mini bike rides (under 15 kms.) before we get more snow again tomorrow here in Calgary, Alberta. 🙁 We still have 3 ft. high snowbanks downtown. It’s worse in suburbs with uneven snow clearing.

    So Edmonton, which 400+ km. north of us, broke their record of 6 consecutive months this winter of no day over freezing point. 🙁

    During bouts of much snow, frozen puddles, etc., I’ve been walking and taking transit. Life doesn’t change when one doesn’t have a car in city. I realize I should get back to some stretching — I sleep better and it keeps me more limber for cycling.

    Meanwhile Vancouver has cherry blossom trees bustin’ out all over the city.

  2. These days, of course, I find it extra stressful because of the climate worries. I was reading this week about changes in the Gulf stream and the effects that will have on climate. It’s not just that I’m not on my bike. Rather, it’s the great fear that the world is changing in ways that will be very hard to handle.

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