With cold weather, individuals either brave the cold with as many layers as they can, or stripping those layers off working out in Ping Center.
The frigid trek to Ping Recreation Center in the winter is never an easy one, even for a group fitness instructor.
“Walking in the snow is not something that makes me want to work out, and I’m wearing tennis shoes so they get all gross,” said Brooke Remington, a psychology pre-physical therapy major and INSANITY instructor at Ping.
Fashion options are usually limited when it comes to working out in January weather. For those choosing the gym, bundling up is still necessary for the brisk walk over.
“I take (layers of clothing) off as I warm-up,” Remington said. “I actually prefer to wear pants when I work out all year because it’s more comfortable when I do floor work.”
Thanks to heating in Ping, shorts, T-shirts and tank tops are still prevalent cold-weather gym attire. Starting this year, group fitness instructors are required to wear their purple instructor shirts with pants of any kind. Shorts are prohibited.
Some students, however, still choose to brave cold weather workouts.
“The treadmill is hell; I can’t stand it,” said Michael Warning, a freshman studying media arts and studies. “I like having a visual representation of how far I’ve gone and a breeze in my face.”
Warning said he recommends a sweatshirt, long-sleeved shirt, shorts, running tights, gloves and a hat for running in the winter. For anything below 15 degrees, add sweatpants, ski socks and a facemask.
Adrienne Ashcraft, a freshman studying industrial systems engineering, favors leggings, wool socks, touch-screen gloves, earmuffs and lots of Under Armour when running outside.
Items such as thermal long-sleeved shirts or half-zip jackets with breathable or moisture-wicking fabrics are ideal for staying warm on the walk and cool in the gym.
For Maren Levering, a sophomore studying integrated mathematics, she said she likes to dress up for a good work out session.
“Yes, absolutely (I like to look cute at the gym),” Levering said. “But just clothes-wise and hair-wise. I don’t like sweating in makeup.”
Sacrificing cuteness for comfort can also be avoided by a matching color scheme. Accenting a black thermal and running pants with a brightly colored hat and gloves, or matching jacket color with the color of a pair of gym shoes are ways to spice up the dullness of the weather.
“My favorite outfit recently has been black capri leggings with a t-shirt that has the shoulders cut off,” Levering said.
Abby Fairbanks, a junior communication sciences and disorders major and cardio dance instructor, explains that Ping is usually packed full of people after winter break. Numbers start dwindling when the sun comes back out.
Remington said fashion is not the most important thing while exercising.
“I would say if you look cute while you’re working out you are probably doing it wrong,” Remington said. “Sweat now, dress cute later.”
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