Don’t let winter freeze your fitness

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  While many people tend to hibernate, get lazy and put on weight during winter, many Airmen maintain physical training schedules to ensure compliance with service fitness standards.

"There's no excuse for not staying fit in winter," said Tech. Sgt. Lisa Campo, 436th Airlift Wing NCO in charge of command post training and unit physical training leader. "Some are hardcore and still run outside no matter how cold it gets."

Mr. John Walters, Health and Wellness Center exercise physiologist, agrees with Campo.
You have to adjust the training you are doing, said Mr. Walters. You also have to stay persistent and dedicate time to fitness. You have to keep pressing on even when it gets hot or cold outside.

"Fitness is like a horse ride," he said. "Sometimes you fall off; make sure you get back on and finish the race."

Appropriate clothing for the conditions is essential to safe PT.

The Air Force authorizes Airmen to wear standard issue PT pants and jackets with optional leggings and knit winter caps.

Although appropriate clothing helps, personal motivation and performing the activity in the environment is also a necessity for proper winter PT and a good fitness assessment, said Mr. Walters.

"You must train for the actual assessment," he said. "What I mean is don't run on the treadmill for four weeks in January for an assessment on the base track in February. Airmen should get out and run in the cold conditions to prepare their body, lungs and minds for the assessment."

Mr. Walters believes that dedication and mentally pushing through the discomfort of running in the cold will also help.

"I truly feel you can run more efficiently in warm weather," said Mr. Walters. "But, when talking about 1.5 mile run for about 10-15 minutes, weather doesn't play a big part. It is mind over matter."

Remaining healthy is paramount to any military mission, whether bearing the unpleasant, chilly Dover weather or serving at ice-cold, sub-zero assignments in places such as Alaska, North Dakota and Greenland. Even if it's riding a bike indoors, jumping rope or other self-paced calisthenics, there is always something Airmen can do to prevent the winter weather from freezing their fitness regimens.