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A Guide to Have a Better Experience When Exercising Outdoors

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When you are training, the outdoors is the perfect place to exercise due to its spacious nature. Not only this, but the great outdoors has a positive effect on both your physical and mental health. However, there are certain aspects of the outdoors that can prevent you from enjoying exercising outside of the house, and that can make the experience uncomfortable. This article will cover some of the top ways that you can improve your outdoor exercise regime.

Invest in the Right Gear

The first step that you should take before exercising outdoors is to check that you have the right gear to do so. Your clothes and footwear should be reflective of the weather conditions. For instance, if you are exercising during the summer, you should wear sunglasses and take a water bottle with you, whereas during the winter, you should wear a breathable, waterproof coat to stave off winter chills and colds. You should also make sure that you are wearing the right footwear for the surface that you will be exercising on, such as flexible and shock-resistant running shoes.

Protect Yourself Against Allergies

For allergy sufferers, however, the outdoors can be a nightmare, particularly in the summer season, when pollen can interrupt the concentration of even the most focused athlete. Therefore, you should attempt to lessen the impact of the allergens that you might interact with while you are exercising. For instance, daily itchy eye drops can relieve symptoms such as dry, itching, or watering eyes while you are outside, ensuring that you can focus on beating your best times.

Be Aware of Injuries

There are many risks to exercising outdoors though, and many sportspeople are caught unawares by hazards such as loose paving stones, tree roots, and even other athletes and cyclists. You should be aware of the potential risks that you may encounter when you are outdoors, ensure that you exercise somewhere safe, and make sure that you minimize the risks of sustaining a serious injury by warming up and cooling down. You should also know your route and what is along it to ensure that you are prepared for any issues, such as running water or fallen branches or logs, especially throughout the winter months.

Care for Your Skin

Your skin often bears the brunt of the outdoors, with many athletes’ skin becoming dried, chapped, or sunburned as the seasons change. You should care for your skin by moisturizing before and after exercise, ensuring that you drink enough water, and covering up your skin with clothing and sunscreen in the extreme weather conditions.

Choose the Right Time

You should also make sure that you choose the right time of day to exercise. For instance, in the summer, you may contract heat stroke if you exercise in the middle of the day, whereas exercising too early or late during the winter could cause you to become injured due to the shorter days, especially if you are not wearing visible clothing to alert vehicles and other sportspeople of your presence.