This was one of the sessions you know is brutal going into, likely regrettable during, but awesome after (when you've warmed up).

Training outside in winter doesn't have to be an everyday thing, there's nothing wrong with keeping your conditioning indoors more often during the winter freeze. But, it's good for the soul to get out, get fresh air and endure the elements.

I was noticeably more tired trying to haul through the long snowy grass, so expect that if this is your situation as well.

Hill Work:

  • 1 40 yd walk
  • 2 40 yd sprints
  • 5 75 yd sprints

Totally done.

Some Tips for Winter Hill Training

1. Know when the sun sets. If you procrastinate until even as early as 4:30PM you miss out on the sun which drops the temperature big time.
2. Dress in fitted layers. Baggie layers like oversized hoodies and baggier training pants will make you feel colder because cold air gets trapped between the layers and your skin. Use more fitted layers even if they are thinnner, use your own body heat to keep you warmer.

3. Don't wear long pants. I mean the kind that drag under your sneakers a bit. Just like in the rain, the bottoms will get wet from the damp or snowy ground and that cold wetness will bleed up the pant leg and feel miserable and distracting.

4. Cleats. You've probably been using them anyway but if you haven't, you'll want to now so you don't slip.

5. Wear a hat and gloves. You lose most of your body heat through your head and hands so a quality pair of gloves and a comfy winter hat of your choice will serve you well.

6. Warm-up before you get there, or at the very least don't show up to the hill tight. You'll just get cold going through a low impact stretch regiment when the temperature is in the teens. I just walk one first, then jog one, and then get after it. You have to go by feel.

Little luxuries of planning ahead:

1. Chapstick - yeah guys, you too. Those little cracks you get in the corner of your mouth suck and you know it.

2. Have a Travel Mug of coffee. A hard-earned hot chocolate or whatever else you might be into: green tea, whiskey, whatever, will be totally awesome after your session on the ride home.

3. Change your shoes. I don't know many people that would want to drive with cleats on, but if you're the co-pilot and thought you could get away with it, you might not want to. Sliding into toasty sneakers you kept in the car will warm your feet nicely as opposed to staying in cold, uninsulated cleats.

Never done it? You should try.

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