The Dog Days Of Fitness
By Efren Martinez
Summertime in The Valley means 100+ degree days of heat with very little relief at night. But it’s OK! It’s the Valley, and most of us have learned how to deal with it. Regarding outdoor fitness, I admit I haven’t acclimated myself to the extreme heat this summer. Partially, it’s Mother Nature’s fault. It seems we had Winter-like weather in the middle of May and then enjoyed low 80-degree temps. But enough on the Weather report, you get the message, and I’m sure you feel it too. My best advice is that whatever type of fitness you enjoy outdoors, try and get it done in the early morning or at night after the sun goes down. If you work out early at sunrise, don’t forget the sunscreen and mosquito repents during morning and night workouts. It’s known that mosquitoes are generally more active at dusk and dawn. Being well covered with a light layer of clothes helps, too. This is important because mosquitoes can carry dangerous viruses that can get you very sick. Sunscreen is always a good idea to put on every day, any day of the year.
Another good idea is to remember that if you run or walk with your dog, don’t take them with you if the outdoor temperatures are over 80 degrees. The ground can get pretty hot for their sensitive paws, and they can suffer from severe burns on their paw pads. Please be mindful of this!
Another way to escape the outdoor heat is to join a gym. Work out in a nice cool environment like Planet Fitness. Great news: teens ages 14-19 can work free from June 1st to August 31st at Planet Fitness. Details on their website planetfitness.com. This keeps your teens busy during the summer and helps provide them with healthy habits that will last a lifetime. It’s 12PM! Do you know where your kids are? They are at Planet Fitness!
On another note, I want to congratulate all those who stuck to their Fitness New Year’s Resolution. No matter what, you worked hard to be ready to comfortably run around in your lighter layers and summer outfits to show off all that hard work. Regardless, always love the skin you’re in because God loves you no matter what size you are, and so do I, as well as your dog.
