Minnesota Stories:

Kristin: Winter Outdoor Exercise in NW Minnesota

This week we're beginning a series of stories from Minnesota voices. A regular contributor is Kristin Eggerling of Hallock.

Living in Minnesota can be a challenge in the winter for people who like to exercise outdoors, but paradoxically don’t care to expose themselves to the cold. I am one of these people. I don’t enjoy being cold and, thus tend to prefer to stay indoors at this time of the year. I know that I shouldn’t even admit it but unfortunately it is true. Now, that I am working from home I can go for days without leaving the house and, sad to say, I don’t even mind. Some days I can ’t even bear to go out to the mailbox at the end of our driveway to pick up the mail or the daily paper and will wait until my husband comes home to catch up on the news.

Thankfully we have exercise equipment in our basement that we take full advantage of even during the warmer months, but it’s hard to beat walking outdoors. Working out in the basement just doesn’t always cut it. Challenges aside, I never regret it once I get outside and start walking. I have braved all the elements to go out and get some exercise. I have even walked when it was 30 degrees below zero on icy surfaces.

You have to know how to dress in the cold. It requires experience and a little skill to dress warm enough but not too warm. It’s amazing how hot you can get when it is so cold out. I’ve found that I need at least 3 layers of clothes. My face is usually another story. If I haven’t covered my face well enough frost forms on my eyelids, eyebrows and mouth and even though I can’t see myself I can feel it and I imagine that I look like some strange frozen monster.

My eight year old doesn’t seem to mind the cold as much as I do. During these cold days he gets a ride to school along with his brother. But on days when he has no afterschool activities he walks home and, for the most part, he does so without complaining. He’s frozen for sure when he gets here but it’s a good way for him to process his school day, connect with nature and burn off some energy.

While I have to admit that I’d prefer walking outside in Mexico while a warm breeze caressed my exposed skin, there is something much more satisfying braving the extreme Minnesota elements just to get a little exercise.

Kristin Eggerling lives with her family in the far northwest corner of Minnesota in Hallock. She currently serves on a number of local, regional and state boards and works as a freelance writer.