Training out in the open has a special feeling to it, out in
the open air, building that connection to the earth and gaining a perspective
of what it was like to do things from a long time ago. It’s fun to go run,
jump, play and do all kinds of things with the right imagination and having a
bit of that inner child in you.
Unlike a
closed in space of a gym, you have total freedom out in the open, go running on
the grass or on a field at a park, move around like an animal out in the wild
and give your body that Vitamin D it needs to help the skin. Being free gives
you opportunities you can’t get from other places. Imagine being at a park,
running around, having a good time, do a few exercises here and there or if
you’re like my good friend Bud Jeffries, try to find some heavy ass stones to
lift.
The ability
to go anywhere and do all sorts of things is our birthright, exploring, trying
different things, being in beautiful places and making the best of it. Training
outside is more natural, getting out in the sun or maybe even in the snow a
bit. Being in the snow builds a level of toughness and you burn more calories I
believe in the snow because your body is like an automatic heater, it has to
keep warm and your body’s nervous system kicks into a different gear. In the
sun like in the summer, your body’s cooling system is shifted and you have to
hydrate more.
The best
time I believe to train outside is in the morning, the air is fresher and the
connection is better between you and the earth. When it comes to weather
however I prefer the summertime when the sun’s out, its warm, bringing
something to drink to keep you hydrated and just have a grand old time, if you
live by the ocean or a lake, go jump in and go swimming, got a pool, use it and
have fun. The snow can be fun too but you might not last as long and you want
to wear what you can to keep you warm but being in the snow has it’s benefits.
In the snow it builds a different type of mental toughness and it builds
character in a certain way, sometimes you have to walk somewhere and it’s less
than 20 degrees out, that’s just insane and I wouldn't do it in shorts trust
me.
Get your
ass outside as much as you can, there’s a whole world to see and you can train
in ways you never have before, it’s like being a kid again and you’re playing
on the playground. Have fun, be adventurous and explore. You never know what
you’ll find.
