The Morton Arb

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5 Outdoor Exercise Tips from The Morton Arboretum

Beat the winter blues by heading outside for an invigorating workout

LISLE, IL (December 18, 2012) – Looking to push your exercise outside the box (and the gym)? Don’t let dropping temperatures keep you indoors. Layer up and head outside at The Morton Arboretum to play and get fit fast! You can blast calories and sculpt every muscle by hopping off the treadmill and conquering the great outdoors. Here are five quick and spontaneous tips for outdoor workouts:

  1. Bundle Up. The trick to cold weather comfort is choosing easy-to-remove layers and the right clothes to keep you warm without getting over-heated (sweaty gear can heighten the chill.)
  2. Be Spontaneous. There’s something to be said about the spontaneity of hills, obstacles, weather, and the great outdoors. Find a bench or picnic table and step up with the right leg leading followed by the left. Step back again with right leg leading. Be sure to get your whole foot onto the bench. Try 15 reps with your right leg leading. Then switch and do 15 reps with your left leg leading.
  3. Climb Something. The hills here constantly challenge your body and burn more calories. Runners will attest that Frost Hill or Simonds Road to Thornhill (after you cross the bridge on the Arb’s West Side) can be quite the challenge.  A few years ago the Northwestern University Women’s Cross Country team trained by running up and down Simonds Road–10 times.
  4. Pace Yourself. Picking up the pace isn’t just for competitive types. Shift your walk into a run by using trees as a guide. This is a speed interval workout in which you will alternate between an easy, recovery jog pace OR walk and a much faster sprint run. After an easy 10 minute warm-up, jog easy from one tree to the next and then run fast (or sprint) to the next tree.
  5. Take a Hike. Think it’s too chilly to head into the woods? You can take a quick hike around Meadow Lake (right outside the Visitor’s Center). Twice around and you’ve gone more than a mile on this .6 mile loop.

The 2012 rates are:
$12/adult, ($8 on Wednesday), ages 18-64
$11/senior, ($7 on Wednesday), ages 65 and over
$9/child ($6 on Wednesday), ages 2-17
Under age 2 is free. Parking is free.

About The Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized outdoor tree museum on 1,700 acres.  Plant collections, scientific research, and education programs support the mission to plant and conserve trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.  Throughout natural landscapes are specialty gardens, 16 miles of trails, and nine miles of roads.  Other offerings include tree-focused events, activities, and services for adults, children, professionals, and communities.   The Arboretum welcomes 800,000 visitors annually and serves 34,000 member households.  Located 25 miles west of Chicago in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open daily 7 a.m. until sunset.  More information is available at www.mortonarb.org.

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