When it’s chilly outdoors the motivation to get out of the house and get moving has a better chance of diminishing, which is why joining a club that’s active during the winter months can be an ideal solution to keeping up with winter workouts.
Whether skiing, biking or running, among other physical fitness outlets, clubs offer a way to hold oneself accountable and provide a social outlet. But most important, joining a group can motivate you to get off the couch.
Adrianna Hoff — Digital First Media
The Conshy Running Club runs the Schuylkill River Trail. (Submitted Photo)“It provides motivation and accountability and there are other people out there freezing with you,” said Max Kasten, race director of Sly FoxTrack Club (not affiliated with Pottstown’s Sly Fox Brewing Co.) based in Montgomery County. “If you run with other people it’s always better.”
This time of year you can find Kasten, age 39, doing weekday and weekend runs with various running clubs, including the Conshy Running Club. He dons a headlamp and joins twenty to forty people as they take on various rail trails in the dark for two to six-mile runs (depending on runner preference) starting around 6 p.m. Walkers are also welcome.
Adrianna Hoff — Digital First Media
The entire Conshy Running Club poses for a fun photo outside of the entrance to the Schuylkill River Trail by Conshohocken Brewing Co. (Submitted Photo)“You start and end in the dark,” he said of the runs that take place during the winter months, adding the location might be the Perkiomen Trail one week or the Schuylkill River Trail another.
Finding the right club
Kasten, who lives in Norristown, said it’s about finding the right club for you since there are many running clubs in the area from which to choose, including the Pagoda Pacers.
“If it’s not a great experience you might want to try another one,” he said, adding it might be the actual trails of focus for a certain club or how well you connect with the people that might make an impact on your overall experience.
Kasten shared the benefits of running on the trails in the wintertime.
“Running on a trail in the winter is nice because you’re not fighting for space since it’s less crowded,” he said.
Mountain biking is another physical activity that utilizes our local trails during the winter months.
Bob McClennan, a board member with BAMBA (Berks Area Mountain Biking Association) enjoys mountain biking in the winter versus road biking for a variety of reasons.
“I like mountain biking in the wintertime since you’re not going fast, you’re protected from the wind and it’s not as cold as riding a road bike,” he said.
McClennan, age 58, has been mountain biking for about thirty years.
“I ride with members from BAMBA and other cyclists,” he said, “If you have been biking a long time it expands your contact group.”
Meeting other cyclists
McClennan, who lives in Wyomissing, sees one of the primary benefits of belonging to a club, group or association is their ability to facilitate meeting other cyclists.
“You learn new trails, you meet new people, you make new friends and meet up for group rides,” he said.
All of BAMBA’s rides, including their organized weekly ride on Tuesday evening that is for all abilities, take place in Berks County.
“We rotate between Mt. Penn, Neversink (Mountain), French Creek and Blue Marsh,” he said. “If there is bad weather we cancel the ride, otherwise we do them year-round.”
Locations for each organized ride can be found on BAMBA’s Facebook page.
“You don’t have to be a member to join the rides,” he said. “All you have to do is follow us on Facebook.”
Perks of being a member
McClennan shared the perks of becoming an actual member of BAMBA, which has over 200 members and is an affiliate of the International Mountain Biking Association.
Aside from getting the opportunity to learn about all of the local trails and meet like-minded people who enjoy biking, you also get to participate in trail maintenance activities as well as social activities off the trails.
“We have quarterly membership meetings,” McClennan said, adding their most recent one was held at Canal Street Pub and Restaurant in Reading, Berks County. “At the end of the year, we have a holiday social.”
Like-minded people
Like-minded people spending time doing something they love is also at the core of the Flying Dutchman Ski Club where membership entitles you to discounted lift tickets at resorts such as Bear Creek Ski Resort in Macungie. Snowboarders in addition to skiers are welcome to join.
In addition to receiving discounts, the club organizes annual ski trips for members that enable the group to mingle on and off the slopes.
“Currently we have 450 members,” said Bob Fehl, president of Flying Dutchman.
The club, which has an adult ski school within the club, is also active throughout the whole year with opportunities to train for the ski/snowboarding season through kayaking, hiking and biking opportunities in the off-season.
Fehl shared his favorite aspects of being a part of Flying Dutchman.
“Being a part of a ski club, I look forward to winter and I look forward to skiing,” he said. “It gives me a reason to get off the couch and I enjoy the outside air.”
For more information
Sly Fox Track Club
Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club
Conshy Running
BAMBA (Berks Area Mountain Biking Association)
Flying Dutchman Ski Club
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