With the weather warming up (at least in some places), you might consider moving your fitness routine outdoors. Whether it’s a bike ride around the neighborhood or a hike at your favorite state park, the opportunities to burn calories in the great outdoors are seemingly endless.
If you enjoy soaking up the scenery while you sweat, then consider signing up for one of the following outdoor races being offered across the country this spring:
April 4th–Pole Pedal Paddle (Jackson, Wyoming). Enjoy the Tetons as a backdrop for this skiing, biking and boating race.
April 16-19–Sea Otter Classic. A biking competition with 10,000 participants and 50,000 spectators in Monterey, California.
April 24-25–Athens Twilight Criterium. This popular bike race’s qualifying heat takes place on an azalea-lined neighborhood course in Athens, Georgia. However, the actual race is run on a course known for 90-degree turns and crashes.
May 1-3–Wildflower Triathlons (Lake San Antonio, California). The event is described as the “Woodstock of triathlons,” and features campouts, bonfires and parties in a local park. In addition to the “extras,” there’s also running, biking and swimming to do.
May 17th–Bay to Breakers. This world-famous race takes place each year in San Francisco. It is described as both an elite 12k run and a “carnivalesque parade of 65,000 runners in various states of both costume and undress.”
May 22-25–Gen. Clinton Canoe Regatta (Bainbridge, New York). The event features 3,000 paddlers racing on the Susquehanna River, but it also includes fireworks and carnival rides.
If you can’t make it to the aforementioned races, then consider riding over to your local high school. After warming up on the track, head for the stadium’s stairs. Running stairs (hard) is one of the best cardio exercises out there.
Try interval training to maximize the workout. Run hard for 1 minute, rest, and repeat 5 times. If you can manage to do so, try taking two steps at a time. Strike on the ball to midfoot and find a rhythm. When you are done do a short warm-down with walking lunges and stretches.
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