Of all people who have the right to complain about snow, I don't. I just got back from my trip to New Orleans for a half marathon. It was sunny, humid, warm, heavenly, etc. Two days later, here we are getting a foot of snow. Did I mention I have no right to complain? Here's why:

I have a roof over my head, a gym membership, a bike on a trainer staring at me in my living room, bottomless cups of coffee, and kitty foot slippers. For those of you who share the same blessings as I do, good luck finding an excuse not to workout on the snowiest day of the season. Here's what you do:

1. Find a yoga youtube video and work on your flexibility. On a typical day, you are sitting for 8-10 hours doing "work" or driving. Today is not a typical day. Stretch!

2. Hop on your bike trainer or treadmill. In your case, that might mean putting your boots on (people in Kansas have those, right?)  and getting to your clubhouse to run or walk on the treadmill or lunge your face off around the house. 

3. Share with a friend (or me if you don't have any) what your fitness goals are this year and make sure they know you're counting on them to remind you of what you are trying to accomplish.

4. Go shovel for someone who can't. Lift with your legs….

Whatever it is you find yourself doing today, stop making excuses and move a little!! (My bike trainer is taunting me but don't worry, I snuck into the gym early to get a quick swim in.) 

Have a safe snowstorm!

Tired of this weather? I'm not. Yes, it's been below 10 degrees more days this winter than the last 6 winters combined. The Farmer's Almanac additionally is predicting a mess of weather this February to top it off. To get through the cold and snowy days this winter, you've got to get a little more creative to stay as fit as you are in the peak of the summer.

- Find a fitness class on YouTube that has a high number of views to conveniently sweat in the comfort of your own home.
- Area bike shops and fitness stores have indoor cycling classes where you bring your own bike, some even provide bike trainers for a small fee.
- Swimming is a great indoor activity and can be very therapeutic if you're feeling those lazy winter aches and pains from sitting all day.
- On days when the roads and sidewalks aren't clear, find a friend and go running in a multi-level parking garage (as long as it's not rush hour!). I like the lots at Johnson County Community College and the garage by Capitol Grille on the Plaza and can run about 45 minutes without getting bored (as long as your friend is chatty). 
- The cross country skiing is excellent out at Shawnee Mission Park and even has groomed trails if the amount of snow is significant enough.
- Fitness classes at your gym. Try a new class you've never tried. I have found a great spinning classes at the Jewish Community Center and have been getting the itch to try their CrossFit class.
- Gear up and get outside. Even on cold days, during most of the winter months the sidewalks are clear. Get into a Garry Gribble's store to find the right clothing and accessories to keep you warm and help you forget about the temperature. 

Whatever it is you find to do, share with your friends and help us all stay out of the winter funk. February is the shortest month of the year so spring is almost here!

MOVE!!!


We have a culture full of sitters - at work, in the car, on the couch, at a restaurant, etc. With excessive sitting comes aches and pains that can lead you straight into the doctor or chiropractors office. I have wonderful friends who work in both fields and have learned from them and my own experiences with injury over the last decade. We don't move or stretch enough, plain and simple. If you could be pain free by simply spending five minutes of your day devoted to pain relief, would you do it? 


Try doing this once in the morning and once before you sleep:


1. Floor Bridge - laying on your back on the floor with your knees bent and feet on the ground, lift your hips and glutes off of the floor, squeeze your bum for 2 seconds and lower back to the floor. Repeat 20 times.
2. Standing Knee Hug - In a standing position, grab one knee with both hands over the kneecap, pull for one second and alternate to the other knee. Repeat 20 times.
3. Standing Quad Stretch - Standing, reach back with one hand to grab the top of your foot and reach into the air with the opposite arm, pull and alternate. Repeat 20 times.
4. Standing Leg Cradle - Standing, place one hand on the outside of one ankle and the other hand on the outside of the same knee and pull your shin up to your chest in a position where the shin is paralell to your chest. Pull for one second and alternate to the opposite leg. Repeat 20 times.

I do these exercises everyday before I workout, which mostly consists of running. Since taking up this dynamic warmup prior to running, training for my fifth marathon has felt much easier than the previous ones. You see, I spend about 3 hours everyday commuting between my clients' homes and that makes for tight hip flexors and a sore back when it comes time to do my own workout.


If you have chronic aches and pains, give this a try. Of course, it could be much more serious than a bunch of tight, weak muscles so use discretion when it comes to contacting a doctor about your condition.