Sometimes Mother Nature throws us a curveball, like dumping six inches of snow the day after the first day of spring, making it somewhat difficult to get outside and run. On days like that, we have to be a little creative to find other ways to burn off the crazies and get our daily dose of exercise. I’ve got you covered with five cardio workouts to do during and after a snowstorm.
Five Cardio Workouts to Do During and After a Snowstorm:
1. Probably not most people’s first choice, but shoveling is a great cardio workout, not to mention a great upper body workout. I actually enjoy shoveling snow, as long as it’s not too deep. It’s one of those jobs where you see the results of your hard work immediately, unless of course you’re shoveling during the snowstorm and and your cleared pavement in covered back up with snow almost as quickly as you removed it.
2. If you have cross-country skis or snowshoes (affiliate link), dust them off and take them for a spin around your neighborhood before the snow plows arrive. Once your streets are clear, explore local parks and unplowed recreational trails for a delightful adventure.
3. If you have a treadmill, stationary bike, or elliptical, stop using them as clothes racks and put them to use. Exercising indoors might not be your first choice, but sometimes it’s the only option, especially while the blizzard in bearing down on you. Mix up your workout by adding intervals to keep yourself distracted and entertained.
4. Go for an adventurous snowy run on an undisturbed trail wearing your Yaktrax (affiliate link) or trail shoes. If you’re not that adventurous, try to find a clear path or plowed road where you can be easily seen and there’s plenty of room for you to step to the side if a car drives by.
5. If the roads and trails are still covered with snow too deep to run on, you’re stuck without cardio equipment, you don’t have snowshoes or skis, and the shoveling is complete, do calisthenics. Make up a fun workout including burpees, jumping jacks, push-ups, squat jumps, planks, etc. If you have small children, get them involved. They’ll love it!
- Questions:
- What are your go-to options for getting your cardio workout in when the weather doesn’t cooperate?
- Have you ever cross-country skied or tried snowshoes?
- Do you enjoy shoveling snow?
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.
I HATE shoveling snow. Maybe because it’s not an occasional thing for us most years. Like the time I had to shovel almost a foot of snow off of our very large driveway (I didn’t do it all at once) and then try to find somewhere snowfree to run 10 miles (I did wear Yaktrax that time).
And oftentimes we do have to shovel/snow blow multiple times in one day.
Thankfully, this last storm missed us. My heart goes out to those hit for the fourth time!
If I had to shovel snow on a regular basis I’m sure it would get old very quickly! Two years ago when we got 34 inches in one snowfall was grueling because we had to shovel multiple times during the storm and in layers at that. I’m sure that’s nothing new to you.
We’re not getting snow today, but I talked to my mom and on the other side of Virginia it’s been snowing all day. Last I checked, they were at twelve inches… Spring weather is just around the corner, right?
Some people always love shoveling. I always hated it, even as a kid. And yeah, we often have big storms when I have to do it multiple times throughout the day — because of the dogs! Otherwise I might enjoy being cozy inside as the world turns into a snowglobe. 🙂
Spring is coming. I saw the bulbs coming up! And the robins!
I was so glad the gym was open since I don’t like the hills with snow & ice on them and the reservoir trail is just mud.
It’s always nice to have a treadmill to fall back on, even if it isn’t our first choice, right?
IYep! t was part of why gym shopping took me three days when my prior one closed. I wanted to keep running and knew I’d need a treadmill to do that through winter-even if I wasn’t expecting this bad a winter.
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