Sweatshirt // Shirt // Leggings // Hat // Water Bottle // Shoes
Happy Friday everyone! We had a bit of a relapse into winter this week in St Louis, but Spring is almost here and the temps are definitely getting nicer. That means more time outside! Plus it’s brighter later = time for this nightly walks and time outside. I love going for walks, runs and bike rides when the temps get warmer. Today I wanted to share some super easy outdoor workouts!
When I lived at home between college and moving to St Louis my mom and I would walk nightly no matter the temperature. In Minnesota that meant walking in below-freezing and subzero temps in the winter months – you really can dress for it! I know not everyone is as gung-ho about winter, so here are some outdoor workout ideas for the warmer months of the year!
Walking
Anyone can walk! Just going for a 30 minute walk after dinner or in the middle of the day can do wonders for your activity level. If you want to work harder just walk faster! This morning I took my parents’ dog for a walk and we walked so fast I was breathless at the end. Sure it’s not HIIT training but it still gets your heart rate up. Plus I love looking at houses and different neighborhoods and walking is a great way to do that.
Running
I’m not running as much as I was last time this year (when I was half marathon training!) but running is free and available everywhere. It’s a great way to see a new city or workout when traveling too! Getting comfortable running can require some training – take it slow at first so you don’t get a stress fracture, etc. But once you start running you might just love the stress release. The great part about running is that once you run somewhere you have to get back! I can’t run on a treadmill because I just stop….whereas if I’ve run 3 miles out I’ve got to get 3 miles back, and walking is too slow. I need to get some new running shoes (mine have lost all padding) so once I get those I’ll start up again!
If you live near a college campus you can utilize a football stadium to add some variety and intensity to your running. I would run up the stadium stairs and walk down in college to add some calorie torching to a workout! If you don’t have a stadium you might be able to find a staircase or park with a hill to add some variety.
Outdoor Classes
The parks by us in St Louis have tons of classes in the summers. From bootcamps to Yoga to running groups it seems like there is something for everyone! Plus it’s way more fun to workout outside than in a gym, and joining a group keeps you accountable. The photos above were taken in a park near us in STL that always has groups or classes when the weather gets warmer!
In order to enjoy working out you definitely need some great workout gear 😉 These are my favorite cropped leggings, and I also love these tops from Lululemon (and have them in a ton of colors!). The Swiftly Tech tops are great because you can wear them multiple times without washing and they don’t smell 🙂 Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen if you’re going to be outside in the middle of the day – and my favorite wireless headphones!
