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Which Fall Activity Burns More Calories?
Even though the days are shorter, there are still a lot of ways to burn calories in the crisp Fall air. But do you know which activities burn the most? Take my quiz to find out. All calorie calculations are based on a 130-pound woman.
Another Reason to Trail Run: Increased Calorie Burn
I'm a huge fan of trail running for so many reasons. It's peaceful in the woods, all those hills are great for toning your quads and booty, the shade is cooler and protects you from UV rays, and the soft dirt is easier on your joints than pavement. I also love that unlike the gym, I don't have to wait in line or be tied to time limits, so I can run whenever I want for as long as my feet will carry me.
5 Things to Remember When Hitting the Trails
Trail running in the woods is one of my favorite ways to work out for so many reasons. It's peaceful, all those hills are great for my quads and booty, the shade is cooler and protects me from UV rays, and the soft dirt is easy on my joints. If you love trail running, too, here are some things to think about:
Reasons to Start Trail Running
Forest trails are finally completely free of snow and ice (and hopefully mud), so it's the perfect time to start trail running. If you've never given any consideration to running in the woods, here are some reasons you should.
- The soil and leaf surface is much softer and more forgiving than pavement or a treadmill belt, so it's easier on knees and other sensitive joints.
- The trees offer protection from the sun's harmful rays, so your risk for sun exposure and sunburn is reduced.
Watch Out For: Ticks
Exercising in the woods is perfect in the Summer because the challenging terrain offers you a tough workout, but the trees provide shade to prevent overheating. When on the trail you need not only to watch out for poison ivy, but be on the lookout for ticks as well. These little buggers are small, but their bites have the ability to transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, Lyme disease, and other tick-borne illnesses.
Watch Out For: Poison Ivy
Unknowingly tromping through a patch of poison ivy can turn a pleasurable hike or run in the woods into a nightmare. If you touch the plant or something that has touched it (like your dog), then the oils can get on your skin and cause a nasty, itchy, blistery rash that lasts for up to three weeks.
If you know you've gotten into some poison ivy, you want to rinse with cold water within an hour of exposure.
5 Things For Trail Running
Running in the woods is one of my favorite ways to work out because it's peaceful, all those hills are great for my quads and booty, and the soft dirt is easy on my joints. If you love trail running, too, here are some things to think about:
P.L.O.W. — Tunes For Trail Running
Trail running can be so much more entertaining than running on a treadmill or track. When you're in the woods, all the hills, rocks, and fallen tree limbs can be really challenging, so here are some pumping tunes to inspire you to keep moving.
This play list has 35 minutes of upbeat music, and a few minutes of calm cool down tunes.
Get in Gear: New Balance Waterproof Sneakers
Now that the weather is warming up, I bet a lot of you are getting psyched to walk and run outside. The problem is most of the country is dealing with melting snow, so it's still pretty wet outside. It's no fun to run outside and get soggy feet, so if you're looking for a pair of waterproof sneaks, check out these from New Balance ($120).
What You Need for Fall Trail Running
Some runners are ecstatic when the summer heat waves goodbye and the crisp autumn air moves in. It's like free air-conditioning, because you bundle yourself up in lightweight layers for your run, and when you start to warm up, you just peel them off and the fall breeze cools you down.
Trail running is one of my favorite things to do in the fall.
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