Keeping "Big Mo" during the Winter

With the loss of daylight savings time and the increase of wet and cold days, many people struggle maintaining sight of their personal fitness goals. Whether you are a regular exerciser, a weekend warrior athlete, or on the verge of winning the Tour, Boston, or a local 5k we all fight the same battle this time of year. The battle of "Big Mo". If you are unfamiliar with "Big Mo", it is our Motivation, the voice deep down inside of us that says, "Get out there and get'r done!".
Here are some of the things that team Thrive AR do to maintain the activity levels during the winter to maintain our level of fitness...
1- Set goals
2- Set up Race Schedule
3- Team Adventures
4- Thrive Community Fitness
5- Become involved in a weekly group activity
Setting Goals:
Everyone needs goals, and there is no reason that we should wait until New Year's to make resolutions. Rather, set them now and call them GOALS. Simply doing this will allow you to achieve small successes and in turn motivate you to set new ones. The members of Thrive AR all use the SMARTER acronym for our goals: S= Specific, M= Measurable, A= Attainable, R= Relevant, T= Timely, E= Extra Effort, R= Revise and Repeat. Once you have figured out your goals, now it is time to achieve them. GO FOR IT!!
Set up Race Schedule:
Check out the local events for races and activities that are coming up in January and February of 2010. Once you find a couple that are intrigued by, put the money down and commit to them. It is always a smart thing to put the $$ where your mouth is.
Team Adventures:
One thing that Thrive AR has done is set up monthly activities that are fun and effective. More than just improving your fitness levels, this is a great tool in sharpening your team dynamics. I recommend rotating the person that organizes each activity, so that you add variety to the adventures. Make sure that the activities chosen can be enjoyed by everyone and will encourage and not discourage teammates or friends. Remember, "variety is the spice of life".
Thrive Community Fitness:
If you haven't already become a member of Thrive CF then it is time. Thrive has 8 different locations to choose from and most have stellar group fitness classes that you can be a part of. Class offerings vary, though my personal favorites are... Spin, Body Pump, and Body Flow. Check them out and learn to not just live. . . but to Thrive!!
Become involved in weekly group activities:
Most communities have organized weekly runs or bike rides that are available to you. A lot of time all it takes is asking some questions to your local Parks and Rec department to get pointed in the right direction. If you are in the Anacortes area, here are a couple of things that I am involved in during the winter: Tuesday and Thursday - Group MTB rides at 6pm; Wednesdays - Group Trail and Road Runs. Find an accountability partner and get out there!!