Winter weather freezes fitness

Many area residents still not fit to be called "outdoor people"

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

In Pennsylvania, residents don't usually follow this philosophy, especially when it snows.

"We're not an outdoor people," said John Pfau, program director of the exercise and sport activity program at the University.

"You'd be hard pressed to find cross country ski tracks around here," he said.

However, Geoff Brugler, owner of Appalachian Ski and Outdoors, 324 W. College Ave., said he has sold more snowshoes in the past five years than in the previous 15 years.

Snowshoeing and other outdoor activities such as winter mountain biking have increased over the past few years, Brugler and Pfau said.

"I've seen people change their perception of winter dramatically by purchasing cross country skis," Brugler said.

But even activities that can continue throughout the entire year, such as running, are affected by winter weather.

Running, hiking and biking are all part of Lynn Kolditz's routine workouts in the summer. But Kolditz, a State College resident, said she finds these activities difficult to do in the winter.

Although Pfau said many people choose not to run in the winter because they think it is too slippery outside or the air is too cold for their lungs, he said the main problem with cold-weather running is protecting the skin.

"A big part of it is dressing for it -- you can go out in 10 degree weather and perspire heavily," Brugler said.

Nonetheless, many people resort to indoor gyms for exercise.

"The conditions outside play a major role in the use of the treadmill," said Trish Lucarelli, director of personal training at Body Works Health and Fitness Center, 127 Sowers St.

Although there is no evidence that stationary machines are less effective than other forms of exercise, Pfau said indoor machines can be very boring.

"If you're bored (when you workout), you won't persevere," he said.

There are two mental strategies to exercise -- association and disassociation, Pfau said. While more serious athletes typically "associate" with their workout, or concentrate on the actual activity, Pfau said most recreational athletes disassociate by listening to music.

Body Works and East Coast Health and Fitness, 236 W. Hamilton Ave., have responded to possible boredom by installing television sets in their gyms.

And although Pfau said there is no difference in the effectiveness of the two different workout strategies, Lucarelli said some studies show that people who are not distracted from their activity tend to perform better.

Brugler said there is no comparison for him between indoor and outdoor running.

"You're getting much more visual stimulus (outdoors)," Brugler said. "For me, it's very therapeutic."