Enjoying the Crisp Weather

Snow before Halloween; it must be global warming!  Squirrels have those cute little fur coats to keep them warm.  As humans we do not have the same ability to keep ourselves toasty.  In order to keep warm we must wear clothing and in cold weather we wear more clothing.  But, if you want to workout in the great outdoors, you must be smart about the way you dress.

Too many people over dress when getting ready to go for a run, walk or hike.  Most of the time we move from a heated building to a heated car to another heated building.  We don't spend a lot of time in the cold.  We are not outside long enough to generate our own heat.  When we exercise we generate heat.  That is why we sweat in the summer.  We also sweat in the winter, but we tend not to notice it as much, unless we over dress.  As we increase our heat output, by exercising, we sweat and our clothes get wet.  When the breeze picks up we get even colder.  When you are getting ready to exercise in the cold you should start out feeling a little chilly.  Once you warm up you will feel more comfortable and will not get overheated.  The problem is every ones definition of "a little chilly"is different.  I once read that if you are going to run and it is 32 degrees dress as if you were going to sit in the shade on a 70 degree day. 

If you find yourself working out and you are overheating remove your hat, open up your jacket and allow the heat to dissipate.  Remember to drink plenty of water also.  As I stated above you still sweat in the cold, but you don't have the same thirst.  Cotton clothes tend to collect water and hold on to it.  Damp clothes will make you colder.  There are running clothes designed to wick the moisture away from your body and allow it to evaporate.  Some of these clothes also are wind resistant.  The wind can increase your risk of suffering from the cold.  On a 55 degree day with a 20 mph wind it will feel like the temp is 32.  Up the wind to 40 mph and it feels like 25.

Hypothermia or decreased body temperature is just as dangerous as hyperthermia or increased body temperature.  If your body temperature drops to between 77 to 85 degrees death is imminent.  If you have the chills and you start shaking you must get out of the weather and warm up.  Drink a hot beverage, put on dry clothes and get wrapped up in your favorite blanket.

Unless the temperatures are extremely cold there is no reason to stay indoors.  Just like the gray squirrels we see around campus, we can enjoy the great outdoors all year.  We just have to think about it a little more than our mascot.