in an attempt to stay active year-round (and thereby avoid both of us being so fidgety inside our small apartment that we drive each other crazy), mb and i try to find physical activities that aren't blocked by chicago's unpredictable winter weather.
1. snowshoeing: it's hard to find time for this, with two more-than-full-time jobs in the city and two part-time grad school programs. but thankfully, mother nature has cooperated this year by providing a few weekends with snowfall, so we can hit the suburban forest preserves. i'm continually impressed by how much workout can be had by just walking! even better, this weekend my good blogmate and nb met us afterward and brought sleds: although it turns out that 30-somethings do not fit easily on little plastic sleds, and in fact spend more time rolling off the sled into snowbanks than actually cruising downhill, still - good time had by all.
2. running outside (aka falling all over sidewalks): while ignoring the superbowl at a local sports bar yesterday, we argued with friends about how much fun it can be to run outside in winter. personally, winter is my favorite running season. a) more workout for stabilizer muscles that you'd never get plodding forward on a non-slippery non-puddle-y sidewalk b) better fashion statements - there's something special about proudly piling on mismatched decades-old raggedy clothes and flaunting them in public c) forget post-run water: how 'bout post-run cocoa with bailey's?
3. stair climbing: last weekend we did a stair climb up 80 floors to the top of the old standard oil (now aon center) building. this one is a benefit for children's memorial hospital. we picked it because after trying out all the stair climbs in the city, we found this one smaller and friendlier than the sears tower or hustle up the hancock races. and also, the step up for kids was sponsored by qdoba, which meant awesome burrito and cookie treats for finishers. it's not a bad workout, and actually doesn't take all that long (mb runs, but i walked and was done in under 30 minutes), but the race has gotten much more popular since last time. and lost their best sponsorship! as mb said angrily after the race was over, "it's all about the kids? kids? why isn't it all about the burritos? doesn't anyone think of the burritos?"
4. dreaming of guitar hero 3: we entered a raffle at the bar yesterday for a wii system. alas, not our big day. i know area bars have gh3 contest nights, but i don't think i can compete, with my entire experience limited to one glorious hair-band-filled weekend. sigh. although if we take a cue from mb's brother, we should remember that gh3 has the most injury potential of all winter sports... we just hope his strumming shoulder is better and hasn't needed more cortisone shots.
5. umm, beach bocce and tropical-drink arm curls? mmm... best winter sports activity: leaving winter behind for a long weekend in florida! sunshine, here we come.
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