When people talk about hitting the trails, I usually think of hiking in rugged places such as the Rocky Mountains, or at the very least, someplace farther afield, like Wisconsin. The local terrain seems to be too flat to have any decent trails. However, “hitting the trail” has benefits beyond finding elevation gain. For one, it's nice to get away from the busy, stressful streets filled with car traffic. Another benefit: walking or running on crushed gravel is much more forgiving on the joints than pounding concrete sidewalks. In fact, if you run or walk regularly, you might want to consider …

I ran a lot this summer. I tried to do other things, such as cycling and weight training, but mostly I just ran. However, as the weeks ticked by, I could feel my upper body getting weaker and my legs becoming rigid from so much repetitive motion. A little voice in the back of my mind reminded me about the importance of cross training and strength training. I tried to do some weight training on my own, starting with lofty goal of 45-minute sessions. That goal quickly morphed into 30 minute sessions, then 15 minute sessions, then finally a few meager push-ups while watching TV. I knew I needed …

Summer is a great time to do something ambitious and physically challenging like, for example, hiking a thousand miles through the mountains. But since August is already on the horizon, it's probably a tad too late to embark on such an endeavor this year. However, there's still plenty of time to do it vicariously via Cheryl Strayed's engaging book Wild.   Wild recounts the story of Strayed's solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey she undertook one summer several years ago. The book has been generating buzz for months, ever since Oprah announced it as the reason she was reviving …

Last week, I wrote about training plans for runners who are planning to do late summer or fall races. This week, however, I'd like to highlight a different kind of training, one that requires immediate attention because the opening ceremonies are less than a week away. Yes, it's time to employ the London Olympics Spectator Training Program. Training your eyes The first task is to get your eyes ready. The last thing you want is to be confused while watching the Track and Field finals because you can't tell which athletes represent which countries. Take a moment to sit down in front of your …

Although we're currently stuck in the heat of summer, the cooler weather of autumn will soon be here, and along with it will come plenty of running races: 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons, and even the queen of the Illinois running calendar, the Chicago Marathon. But if you're planning on a fall event of any distance, you should be doing some kind of training program. The first time I did a half marathon, I didn't train for it. Oh, sure, I prepared, but I didn't follow a training plan. In fact, I didn't even know training plans existed. I just ran on a regular basis and tried to make my weekend runs…

High summer temperatures have become frequent visitors this summer. While ice cream sales are probably up, many exercise routines are down, since exertion during a heat wave can be dangerous. But instead of looking at the heat as an obstacle, view it as an opportunity to mix things up. If you are usually a mid-day exerciser, try getting up to run in the pre-dawn hours when temperatures are more moderate, or wait until evening to hit the pavement. That may mean you have to run or bike with a headlamp for safety, but consider it a part of the adventure. Your regular running route may have a …

Recently, I saw an ad for Pilates Boot Camp and realized that the term “boot camp” had officially become over-used in the fitness world. What's next, yoga boot camp? Meditation boot camp? I'm embarrassed to admit, however, that despite the plethora of boot camps, I had yet to try one. To rectify that, I went to Tower Road Beach one day last week for a traditional-style boot-camp class, Beach Body Fitness, offered through the Winnetka Park District. The idea of a beach boot camp at Tower Road started back in 2008, when local fitness guru Jennifer Solberg taught the first session, which quickly…

It's fitting that we're in the middle of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, because I have spent most of May searching for the right sunscreen. Usually chilly spring temperatures keep me covered in long sleeves until sometime in June, but not this year. This lovely stretch of weather almost demands some kind of outdoor activity, but there's a drawback. Walking along the lake, kayaking in the lagoons, working in the garden, playing golf, enjoying a long run or bike ride – all of these result in substantial time out in the sun. Just like I would never hop on my bike without first donning a helmet, I …

May, apparently, is a busy month. It's Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, National Military Appreciation Month, and even National Moving Month. But wait, there's more. According to the American League of Cyclists, May is also National Bike Month. To celebrate, why not take a ride on some area bike routes? Short or long, near or far, on trails or on roads, the North Shore offers lots of local options. Green Bay Trail On the short, straight, and car-free end of the spectrum, the Green Bay Trail makes for a nice, casual ride. It runs just east of Green Bay Road, through …

I was driving in my car earlier this week, trying to find something other than Adele on the radio, when I stumbled upon Terry Gross on NPR talking about exercise. She was interviewing Gretchen Reynolds, who writes the New York Times Phys Ed column. Ms. Reynolds has a new book out which questions some long held fitness-related notions. The book is called The First 20 Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer. Reynolds began the interview by noting the many negative effects of sitting all day. The solution for those of us stuck in front of a …

Recently, I made a gruesome discovery. I was putting away the suitcase I'd taken to California for my biking vacation, and discovered a plastic bag of clothes stuffed in the side pocket. As soon as I saw it, I was frightened. I'd taken my riding clothes from the last day, rolled them up tightly and shoved them into a corner where they stayed, smelly and damp, for over a week. Fortunately, I had one of my favorite things on hand: a bottle of Sport-Wash. A few washing machine cycles later (I ran them through more than once, just to be safe) the clothes were clean and smelled fresh. Sport-Wash …

I just got back from a biking vacation in California where I spent long days riding past vineyards, through farmland, and up never-ending hills. Our group was out on the roads for hours at a time, and at rest stops our support van gave us the opportunity to replenish with energy bars, fruit, and....Coke? I nearly choked on my water at the thought. But some riders eagerly grabbed the carbonated soda, saying the combination of sugar and caffeine made it a great choice for refueling. I have a love/hate relationship with caffeine. I spent years hooked on coffee, to the point that I was quite sure…

Go out on a sunny Saturday morning, and you'll find the roads clogged with cyclists, runners, walkers and others getting in their daily workouts. But have you ever wondered why runners wear those funny looking shoes, or why cyclists yell at each other? Here are answers to some of your burning questions. Why do runners run on the street instead of the sidewalk? There are definitely the sidewalk people and the street people. I'm a street person, for several reasons. In the winter, the streets are always less icy than the sidewalks, since they get treated in addition to getting plowed. The rest …

The Winnetka Community House is a vital part of my exercise routine, but not a part that I love. It's where I drag myself, reluctantly, to run on the treadmill during cold, dark winter mornings. Don't get me wrong, the staff members are always friendly and helpful, but the treadmill is simply something I'd rather avoid. Recently, however, I was at the WCH for a different kind of exercise, to take advantage of their Group X offerings. I've done classes there in the past, when they were part of Rhonda Gordon Fitness, but have only been there sporadically to check out the new options since WCH …

While the skeptics still live in fear of one last cold blast, it looks like warm spring weather is here to stay. That means there's no excuse to stay indoors. It's time to get outside for golf, tennis, or a long walk in the woods. However, if you're looking for something a little more challenging than a stroll on the beach, you're in luck. This time of year there are dozens of organized athletic events nearby. Whether you want to run your first 5k or try a two-day, 200 mile bike ride, there's something for everyone. Thanks to the web, finding an event has never been easier. Check out sites …

I have to confess that I'm all about the legs. Running, biking, spinning: I like the cardio fix. As a result, I tend to overuse my legs and neglect all-over toning. I do yoga and functional training, but only as tools to stave off injuries from my biking and running habits. But as I stood in front of Gray Boutique the other day, admiring the beautiful arm- and back-bearing sundresses in the display window, I realized that my cardio-only focus has left me unprepared for spring fashions. Granted, I don't exercise to look pretty. In fact, exercise usually has the opposite effect on me. When I …

According to the weather, if not the calendar, spring is here. All the signs of the season have appeared. The birds are singing. The forsythia are blooming. The sidewalks, streets and trails are full of cyclists, runners, walkers and roller-bladers. With the rising mercury, people come out of the woodwork, or at least out of their living rooms, and ramp up their exercise routines. But this year, the season has taken us by surprise, leaving us slightly unprepared. Before saddling up for a long ride or lacing up for a challenging run, take a moment to plan ahead. Cylclists should consider …

Yoga is most often associated with zen-like peace and a strong mind-body connection. That made it all the more surprising to come across this headline in the New York Times Magazine recently: How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body. Wreck? What about all that relaxation, peace and love? People frequently turn to yoga to recover from or prevent injuries. Now the New York Times is telling us it can ruin our bodies instead of healing them? RELATED: Yoga 101 Yoga injuries are out there, no question about it, probably because so many people are doing yoga these days. Once a fringe activity, largely for …

Looking to get your heart rate up this weekend? Well, if you want a little jolt, the Glencoe Park District is offering a chance to jump in the lake with their Leap in the Lake fundraiser Saturday morning. It's touted as a new fund-raising event in honor of the Park District's 100th anniversary, although personally I prefer the more traditional celebration of eating cake and ice cream. Polar plunges have become more common in recent years, but they are certainly not new. In Canada, “Polar Bear Swims” are a New Year's Day tradition. In fact, there is an annual event in Vancouver that dates back…

October seems far away, particularly when we're still plagued by weather forecasts calling for a “wintry mix.” We can imagine, if we try hard enough, the thin warmth of spring, but the oppressive heat of summer and the perfectly balanced days of fall aren't even on our radar yet. But that didn't stop the Chicago Marathon, slated for Oct. 7, 2012, from selling out in record time when registration opened on Feb. 1. In fact, the 45,000 participant capacity was reached in a whiplash-inducing six days. Yes, it took less than a week for all those crazy runners to decide that sweating it out for 26.…