Lately, working out at the gym just hasn’t been cutting it for me. Probably similar to a lot of people out there I can’t stay motivated while in a cramped space surrounded by people. Especially when I’m getting snuffed with BO left and right, I don’t know it just grosses me out and I’ve grown tired of gym life. Luckily it’s not the only option, especially during beautiful summers days such as the ones we’ve been having in Massachusetts this summer. Redina and I have started walking and running trails near us. We’ve found several but, we’re sticking to two that we really like. At the end of this post I’ll tell you about them, for now I want to give you all some tips on how to make outdoor workouts just a little more fun and rewarding.
So I carry several things with me depending on where I’m going and the weather on that day and you’ll figure out what works for you. With that being said the one thing that I always have on me is a small first aid kit. At the end of the day there are things that we just can’t anticipate. At the very least it’ll handle slight discomforts that may discourage you in the future like a blister on your foot or a bee sting. At most it can help control a scary situation while emergency services arrive. This is the one I bring and recommend. Adventure Medical Kit
The other thing I pretty much always have with me is a bottle of water. Considering the fact that we have had some smouldering 90°F and up days, I’d say it’s a must. I usually bring a Nalgene 32 oz. bottle with me unless I know for certain that there are water fountains on my trail, and even then I keep it in my car. Heat strokes no joke.
Moving right along next up i’ve got sunscreen and bug spray, I know some could take them or leave them but from personal experience waking up to a sunburned neck and itching all over my legs is not an experience I wish on anyone else. I just hate being uncomfortable honestly. These are the two I carry with me Coppertone SPORT & Off! Deep Woods. Oh and on the note of reducing discomfort I stand by this stuff Body Glide Original Anti-Chafe Balm if your thighs touch trust me and get this stuff. You’ll thank me.
That pretty much it I think, I guess personally I sweat a lot so I always wear a Buff Headband to keep the sweat from my eyes but that’s it, I think it might seem like alot but it really isn’t considering it’s all totally depending on the given day or the type of run. If you’re wondering how I carry all this stuff plus my phone, wallet and, keys. I’ve got two options. I bring my JanSport Backpack usually on longer hikes where i’m carrying everything with me. Then on easier day a toss a few necessities in my Fanny Pack and keep it moving. Yes I said fanny pack, its coming back I know it!
Anyways that’s it I guess. If you dont know of any places to run near you, check out Alltrails. That’s where I’ve gone to find all the places nearby and where we found one of our favorites. It’s a really good app with tons of details of the locations and reviews by people who have run the trails. Also to stay motivated and to have set goals we use the Couchto5K app. This app has kept us going when we didn’t think we could go any further. Best $2 spent in the app store. I’m down 17 lbs. and still going strong with no gym in site. Best workout experiences I’ve had thus far have been outdoors and I highly recommend it if your tired of the mundane.
As promised here are our top two locations and why.
Breakheart Reservation: It’s a great running trail. Its a 2-mile loop on a paved road through a beautiful forested area and passes two lakes. The trail we run has loads of inclines and offers a great challenge for us. We saw a deer on our run once standing no more than 5 feet away eating grass with the sun beaming through the trees behind it, it was the most majestic thing i’d ever seen, it wasn’t even fazed by us. We normally just bring a fanny pack on this run with a small water bottle and bug spray. This time of the year ticks are prominent in the area so check yourselves after your run.
Middlesex Fells Reservation:My favorite Hiking trails are located within the Fells reservation. There isn’t a specific trail I enjoy. I guess it all depends on the day. It has several clearly color marked trails that range from 2 to 6 miles trails and tons of challenges for different types of people. I normally bring the backpack when on these trails with everything in it including some fruits to snack on. Usually we walk these trails when our bodies are just to worn out to run.
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