SOME D.C. EXERCISERS are like the U.S. Postal Service. Neither rain, nor snow, nor hail shall keep them from lacing up their sneakers or hopping on their bikes. A chilly morning definitely isn't going to slow them down — and it shouldn't.

"There's no reason to say, 'It's December. I'm not going to do anything outside again until April,'" says Jan Schoenbauer, a local coach for Team In Training, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's marathon and triathlon preparation arm. Her gang gathered for their first practice run this past Saturday morning, and they'll do it again each week through the frigid weather of January, February and March. Treadmills are a drag, Shoenbauer says, and a winter jog can be every bit as pleasant as an early June jaunt.

That's a lesson Mark Crick, co-owner of Balance Gym (2200 California St. NW; 202-797-0021), has been trying to teach his outdoor boot camp students. A recent convert to running in nippy temperatures ("I can go longer and faster when it's cold!" he proclaims), Crick plans to get outside as much as possible. "We'll make it a shorter route, so we're not so far from the gym," he explains. And he's making sure everyone is equipped with his favorite weapons: a hat and gloves.

Dressing for the weather is the most critical part of outdoor exercise. So, when it comes to convincing people to brave the elements, Ashby Robertson, REI's Outdoor School Market Supervisor for the D.C. region, focuses on outfitting participants properly before sending them off camping, backcountry cooking or GPS tracking. That means a wicking layer next to the skin, an insulating layer to keep in heat and an outer layer to block wind, notes Ross Faith, an outerwear sales specialist at the REI in Fairfax. "A lot of people start with hiking, just to get that foot out the door," Robertson says. "And then they see they can still function in these conditions."

What gets folks into trouble is sweating, especially in cotton clothing that holds moisture, because that can make body temperatures plummet. And it's easy to forget that hydration remains key, even when you're not drenched in sweat. "Those ice crystals that look so cool when you breathe out? That's water," Robertson says. Ashby advises taking a backpack to tote layers and water bottles. (Or a thermos — hot tea both warms and replenishes H2O.)

Also, think about where and when you're attempting your winter outdoor exercise. Shoenbauer reminds that you don't have to stick to the same schedule all year. In the winter, you might want to head out in the afternoon instead of the morning to take advantage of the sunlight and the few extra degrees of warmth. Certain trails handle icy conditions better; she's a fan of the C&O Canal and The Mall, because they aren't as slick as sidewalks. Chris Lipnickey, sales manager for Capitol Hill Bikes (709 8th St. SE; 202-544-4234), prefers mountain biking in the winter: "When you're in the woods in the winter, trees block the wind for you."

When it's too snowy to stick to your regular routine, be creative. Dragging a sled up a hill repeatedly is cardio, says Ashby. "The point is to enjoy the winter, not suffer through it," he says.

Photo by iStockPhoto

Posted by Vicky Hallett at 12:00 AM on December 11, 2007
Tagged in Fit , Lifestyles , Top Stories