As the days get shorter, the sun's strength wanes and the temperature drops, there are certain activities that Boston winters simply don't allow. Going for a jog after dinner means darkness, biting temperatures and treacherous snow and ice.
Putting warm-weather activities aside and foregoing exercise until May rolls around is extremely easy to do, but for fitness-minded students, staying active in the winter is a simple matter of focus, determination and a little creativity.
Mike Pimentel, the director of Tufts Personalized Performance Program (PPP) and head strength and a conditioning coach for Tufts teams for the last 20 years, said winter fitness is tough on a college campus, where busy students can easily prioritize other activities over exercise.
"Many people find it more challenging to stay active in the winter months," he said. "I use the word 'challenging' as a politically correct way of saying many would use the weather as a convenient excuse to not get out and move."
Student trainer and senior Marten Vandervelde, who has worked for PPP for almost two years, agreed. He said part of the reason people stop working out during the winter is that they tend to keep their bodies layered in clothing.
"There's less motivation during the winter, as people only see your forearms and your face," he said. "Over the summer, you never know when you'll be in a swimsuit."
For students who are committed to staying fit over the winter, the season often entails frequent visits to the fitness center. Those who crave sunlight and fresh air, however, may find such a routine difficult to sustain.
Vandervelde recommended that these students do what they can to recreate their outdoor experience inside.
"Try to do what you like indoors," he said. "If you like to bike, get on a stationary bike ... If you row crew, get on one of the rowing machines."
Vandervelde said there is far more to the gym than many Jumbos tend to assume. Students can utilize the indoor track, weight room, swimming pool or basketball courts.
The cage, he said, is a perfect place to recreate pastoral afternoons playing pick-up games on the quad.
"You can use the cage to play lacrosse, or you can even throw a baseball in there, or a Frisbee," he said. "The cage is a big place to do stuff."
He said gym-goers can also make their way upstairs for racquetball or handball. Gantcher offers a variety of options, and designing one's own workout regime is simply a matter of finding the right exercises.
For those having a hard time navigating the gym, Vandervelde said Tufts PPP offers an easy and free way to get help designing a workout.
"Get a trainer," he said. "[Every Tufts student] gets five free sessions, and sometimes, that little push in the beginning to get started is all that some people need."
Other students, like the members of Tufts Ski Team, are committed to getting open-air exercise despite the cold. The team is open to people of all skill levels, according to head coach Rob McCune.
"[It] provides an opportunity to go skiing every weekend, hang out with friends and learn how to ski race in a fun and supportive environment," McCune said.
The team trains every Wednesday at Nashoba Valley and competes on various different slopes in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Other students are drawn to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Only 20 minutes away from Tufts, in Weston, Mass., the Weston Ski Track has over 15 kilometers of terrain for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
"Cross-country is one of the best forms of exercise. Cross-country skiing is a full-body workout, like swimming; it is good for the respiratory system and works all the muscles," Vandervelde said. Like Nashoba Valley, Weston Ski Track offers rentals for those who don't have their own equipment.
Tufts students who find the "up" direction to be more thrilling than "across" can join a small legion of dedicated indoor climbers at Tufts. Senior Hannah Shaw, who began climbing during her first year at Tufts, said it is a good way to tone the entire body.
"Climbing is great cross-training for any sport, not to mention excellent exercise on its own," she said. "After you climb for the first time, you'll discover muscles that you never knew that you had because they'll ache so much."
The Tufts Mountain Club (TMC), which organizes trips to the climbing gym, is a great place to get started.
"TMC takes people to Metrorock [climbing center] almost every day of the week," Shaw said. "They send out e-mails telling you when and from where they're leaving, and anyone can hitch a ride."
Ice skating just might be winter's most picturesque form of exercise. Bay State Skating School, Inc. offers lessons at several rinks in the greater Boston area, two of which are in Medford and one in Somerville. Depending on the package and the number of weeks involved, the price of lessons can range from $50 to $155.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation posts a list of skating rinks with free open skate times on its Web site. Skate rentals range between $4 and $5, and rinks are generally open for two-hour time periods.
To truly stay fit over the winter months, Vandervelde recommends small lifestyle changes, such as walking or taking the stairs whenever possible.
And for those who do want to exercise regularly, Pimentel said, wintertime can be an opportunity to try something new.
"I don't find that someone loses their motivation to stay fit," he said. "They still want the same outcome; however, what they experience is perhaps more boredom. Look for something new - take up a new activity and learn. Let your state of fitness become the natural consequence of having fun."
