Ruck in All Conditions. That's the Practice!

Hey League!

How much does the weather impact your decision to get outside for your workouts? I’ve found that if I use the weather as an excuse, I will keep pushing that line out further and further.

On a -40 morning in January, when our roads are covered in snow and ice, I find myself hardly waiting for a warmup so I can enjoy outdoor workouts that don’t require base layers. I tell myself that once it’s above 0º, I can get out every day again! But as early spring rolls around and the roads clear off, suddenly, 25º feels cold, so I tell myself I’ll get out when it’s 40º in a few days. But then we have our first 65º day, and 40º feels cold, and so on

Barring truly threatening weather, I get outside every day. But I often make excuses about why the weather isn’t conducive for a ruck (or other outdoor workout). The number of truly unsafe weather days here is probably fewer than 5 per year. We might have a day or 2 with dangerous cold or heavy snow. Or a day with torrential rainfall, minor flooding, and lightning. Sometimes, the smoke from wildfires burns my eyes and makes me cough. But overall, as long as the temp is -20º to 90º, I have little reason to avoid going outside for my workouts. It might only be 20 minutes if it’s cold or hot out, but most of the time, once I get moving, I can keep going for an hour.

As Dan mentioned recently, taking a couple of minutes to be prepared the night before can save you time, effort, and decision fatigue the next day. Because our weather can vary so much day to day, I include checking the forecast as part of my plan. The other day, it was 35º when I woke up. Today, it was 3º. So last night, I made sure I had a warmer hoodie, a hat, and light gloves set aside for my morning walk. That way, I could just head out the door rather than debating whether I wanted to go and having to do extra work to find the stuff I needed.

I also find that planning the day before gets my mind right for the activity, and I wake up excited to go versus having to convince myself to take the first step – because I already did that part. I decide for future-me, knowing that tomorrow, present-me will make excuses.

While temperature is a major factor for many, I am often surprised how many people stay in when it’s snowing or raining. Those are the best times to get out on hiking trails because everyone stays home. Getting out in the rain and snow can be great fun! It also adds another element of environmental conditioning. You do need to be cautious of hypothermia when it rains. It can be 65º, but if it’s raining, you can still become hypothermic. So take caution with your clothing choices and how much time you spend in the rain. Don’t wear cotton that will soak through and keep you chilled. Merino wool is a great choice because, even when wet, it will keep you warm.

Rucking is especially fun in the variable weather. If you see a lot of heavy rain, you might consider picking up a rain cover for your ruck so that water doesn’t get in through the zipper. In the heat, make sure you have ample water and limit your time during the hottest part of the day. Dawn can be an excellent time to get out, as is the evening. Or put on a headlamp and get out in the dark!

Always make the best choice for yourself. But in the League of Wildness, we don’t let a little rain, snow, humidity, cold, or heat keep us indoors for months of the year. Environmental stress and discomfort breed resiliency and allow us to adapt and function in a larger variety of conditions. That’s a good thing!

Get out there!
-Kim

Ruck in All Conditions. That's the Practice!

Reading next