As the ski season slowly comes to an end (except at Killington!), it’s already time to prepare for the next. Staying in shape is the key to a fun, injury free winter. How do I know this? Let me tell you, having to stop in the middle of an epic run because your legs are burning and/or you’re desperately gasping for air is no picnic. I call this, office legs.
Office legs /ôfis legs/
Noun.
Legs that refuse to keep skiing due to inactivity or overuse of office chairs.
Keeping the buzz of the run alive is a simple as readying your body for the intense, short bursts of energy required to dominate the mountain. Running offers huge benefits to skiers by strengthening your core and leg muscles as well as upping your lung capacity. Last season was all about completing a half-marathon, but while running continues to be a huge source of not only fitness but joy for me, this summer I’m branching out.
Ever heard of Fitness Blender? Neither had I.
While perusing the internet for different exercise options, I stumbled upon this delightful website full of completely free fitness videos. One could suppose that an entirely free website would be of a lesser quality. That person would be wrong in this case. The whole platform was conceived and created by a husband and wife duo with one concept in mind: “fitness should be accessible to everyone, regardless of income.”
An amazing concept with quality information to boot.
Thus far, I’ve taken on several of their equipment-free challenges, right in the comfort of my living room. No need to drive, pay for a gym membership or even have to get sweaty in front of strangers. Bonus: the trainers are as far from condescending as you could get. There is a huge variety of workouts to choose from, some even offering quick 10-15 minute fixes to take on before your work day. No getting bored here.
Particularly fitting for skiers would be the 30 minute to hour long interval training options. These focus on large muscle groups and short burst exercises to really get your pistons firing. Some offer options to incorporate free weights, but others focus on utilizing the participant’s body weight for resistance. An all around great option to get your body ready to tackle the mountain… or head to the beach while you wait!
Have you discovered effective home fitness options? Share in the comments below.
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Winter is coming,
K