Winter is coming! It’s time to let your inner adventurous spirit unleash

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You’re not looking to cloud your day, but winter is knocking on your door! Snow comes early, and it will be plentiful, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

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This month expect incredibly windy and snowy days that are unusually cold. The country is facing a “freezing winter” with “notable swings in temperature in the polar mountains.” Christmas in Ontario is going to be particularly “brutally cold.”

With the pandemic still lingering and the shorter days upon us, this could be the world’s harshest winter yet. So who better to help you persevere than the top finisher in the world’s toughest race – Rea Kolbl?

Kolbl and his Canadian teammates took an incredible second place in the grueling seven-day Eco-Challenge expedition in Fiji, covering 670 km with paddles, mountain bikes, feet and ropes. “We get a little sleep every two or three days. It totaled 14 hours during the seven days of the race, ”Kolbl said in an exclusive interview with Postmedia recently.

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For Kolbl, 30, it was his first adventure career. The coach and self-proclaimed mountain adventure addict trained very hard for half a year, and also did an eight-hour adventure race to prepare: “Our team finished second, which lit the fire to be even better. Since then I have done a couple more races. “

Winning takes perseverance, something Kolbl knows a thing or two about. His team’s commitment fueled his determination, along with the fact that he has FOMO: “I hate to miss something. When things were really difficult, I always told myself that nothing hurts so much in the moment as regret that I did not do everything I could do, later I would.

And, for us ordinary people, winning next winter will require some courage and determination. “My first tip would be to try winter sports. I love the change of seasons because they bring me the change of sports, ”said Kolbl, who became a multisport athlete in 2017 and is now a celebrated professional athlete, including three OCR (obstacle course) world titles.

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Then get a good team. “Winter recreation can be surprisingly comfortable if you’ve got good gear, and I’m rarely cold outside, at least once I’m moving.”

And if winter still feels mostly unpleasant, he recommends looking at it as a build of character. “The inevitable life will lead you to uncomfortable situations … The more you expose yourself to uncomfortable situations, the better you will be to handle them when it really matters.”

Dr. Haley Perlus recommends accepting what is and taking action on what you can control. “It’s easy to mismanage our energy and focus on all the obstacles winter brings to Canadians. We focus on them, get depressed, and lose motivation, even for what we enjoy doing.

“Instead, just like elite athletes who have to deal with uncontrollable conditions in their sport, we have to accept what it is, that is, more darkness, cold temperatures, a persistent pandemic,” Perlus said in a recent interview. . “Once we accept what it is, we will not waste energy on them and then we can take action on what we can control, such as going outside during the day, preparing cozy meals that are healthy, planning physical activities indoors, patterns of healthy sleep, etc. “

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Like Kolbl, he also recommends embracing winter. Find something about the season to enjoy, it could be the beauty of winter, the holiday season, campfires, puzzles, comfortable clothes, or hot yoga. “When we turn our minds to enjoying winter, our emotions will be more pleasant as we will have a better overall experience,” said Perlus, a sports and performance expert at drhaleyperlus.com .

Also, focus your attention on being disciplined and energetic, as elite athletes must be to achieve high performance. This will help prevent seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Feed your body healthy foods, sleep and get fresh air every day; even a few minutes can affect your mood and renew energy.

Stay physically active throughout the winter. “It may not be perfect or what you love to do, but moving your body for at least a minute or two every hour will get your blood flowing and giving you energy,” Perlus said. “Additionally, consistent exercise will work to maintain lean body mass and renew the mental and emotional energy needed to endure and enjoy long winters.”

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Stimulate your spirit with a good pair of boots

Stimulate your spirit with a dose of the great outdoors. You will enjoy the season much more with excellent footwear that provides staying power in the coldest temperatures:

Control the winter. The elegant and comfortable Aidan’s Boot by Olang features a unique outsole with a pivoting grip comprised of folding and rotating studs that increase traction on ice and snow. You can fasten it or take it off, and the breathable reflective aluminum film insole keeps your feet warm down to -30 ° C; $ 260, olangcanada.com .

Take on any outdoor activity with the Revel IV fleece boot of Keen, be sure to keep your toes warm and your feet firmly on the ground. The Revel IV offers the warmth of a puffy jacket without the bulk. They have been designed and tested to meet the non-slip standards of the WinterLab of the KITE Research Institute of Toronto; $ 230, keenfootwear.com .

Stroll through winter wonderland in style and warmth with the lightweight Thermoball with laces boot from The North Face. Stay cute and cozy during the coldest days thanks to the special eco-insulation and best of all, it will stand upright during the worst winter conditions; $ 154.99, thenorthface.com.