Lexington, KY - This has been a long, cold winter that made many things difficult, including working out. But before the warmer weather approaches in the coming weeks, it's a good idea to look at your exercise gear prior to hitting the pavement, courts, links or gym.
Just as your house needs some spring cleaning, so does your collection of exercise odds and ends. Workout gear and apparel are not just about style, they're about function. Good gear not only looks and feels comfortable, it can help your performance and can keep you healthy.
Here are some things you need to check on to be ready when the warm weather hits:
Shoes. This is the most important aspect of your workout gear. Bad feet are the enemy of every active person. Check your shoes, for all your sports, and see if it's time to invest in some new ones. Don't just look at the soles to see if they are worn - many shoes can still have soles that look good but have no cushioning left. To test the cushioning, put one of your old shoes on one foot and a brand new shoe on the other. If you notice a big difference when you walk around, it's time for a change. Shoes have a lifespan (miles, months, etc.). A good rule of thumb is to change your walking/running shoes every 400 miles. If you walk to play golf and play a couple of times a week, one or two seasons is all you will get out of your shoes. If you play competitive tennis a few times a week, four months will be about it for your shoes. Bad shoes can lead to bad things, such as plantar faciaitis, knee pain, hip pain and lower back pain.
Clothes. Assess how long it has been since your workout gear has had a makeover. If you have not changed or added to your wardrobe in the last five years, you are working out in ancient technology. There have been many changes in the materials used for working out, tennis, golf and walking/running clothing. These new materials can help you stay warm, cool, dry and even protect you from UV rays. Hats are also an important piece of clothing. They are great to block the sun from your face, but if you don't have a hat made of a more modern material, it can cause you to overheat and hinder your performance.
Do yourself a favor and spend some time looking at some of the newer clothes and see if you can make your workout experience more pleasant and even safer with proper clothing.
Sunscreen. This isn't just for women worried about their skin - sunscreen is for everyone. Protecting yourself from the sun is a basic safety precaution that everyone should take. There are no excuses left as to why you would not use sunscreen. The messy lotions are gone -
now you can use instantly drying sprays that do not leave your hands or your clothes greasy. Make sure you have some readily available.
Fuel. As you get ready to spend more time outside (away from the fridge), make sure you think about foods and drinks that are both good for you and easy to carry. There is a wide variety of food products that will not melt or spoil that are actually good for you, and many drinks that can fuel you without loading you up with sugar or caffeine. You will have to put a little work into finding which foods are best for health, performance and your waistline. Check the web or ask your fitness or nutrition professional.
These are just a few of the things you should spend some time looking at as you get ready for spring. Having the correct workout gear does help and it does keep you healthy and safe. Enjoy the nice weather.