The Holidays are here and we couldn’t be more excited! It is such a great time to relax, rejuvenate, and have some fun!

We hear a lot of people say that fitness is how they have fun or balance the “madness” of the season, while others take a “break” from fitness during the holidays.  Either way, it got us thinking about holidays traditions that involve fitness and activity in some way. We reached out to our friends and fans on Facebook and Twitter, and they shared some of their “fit” holiday traditions. Here are a few ideas to get you moving!

Merry Fitness Holiday Traditions:

  • Find local running races and fun runs around the holidays. Austin has many running races that take place between Thanksgiving and New Years. Get your whole family to sign up together – some will run, some will walk, and you’ll all meet at the finish line to celebrate! Even more fun? Family team t-shirts! >> From Stacy on Facebook: Turkey trot in Chicago for Thanksgiving, football the day after, the Resolution Run in Round Rock on New Years Day… and a lot of eating in between!
  • Make your own annual event. If there is an activity your family is into, make it into an event — think: strength challenges (like, who can do the most burpees/pushups/etc in 3 minutes?), running race, relay race, time trials on your bike. Your family will look forward to this event every year and a little healthy competition can encourage fitness year-round. >> From @weiland on Twitter: 
    New Years day we have a tradition of an uphill time trial. It’s .5 mile avg. 6.1% this year the 7yo is gunning to do it without stopping

  • Give an active toy. Give someone a gift of a football, soccer ball, foxtail, frisbee, nerf gun, or something similar. It’s always fun to start a pick-up game of soccer or play catch in the yard.
  • Enjoy the great outdoors. Venture outdoors to the amazing hiking, mountain biking, and road cycling spots around Austin. Enchanted Rock, Reveille Peak Ranch, the Veloway, Town Lake Trail, the Green Belt, and more.
  • Take the plunge! When I was growing up, my dad would take me and my 4 siblings for a long walk around Town Lake and a polar bear dip in Barton Springs after opening presents on Christmas morning! Because the water is at a constant temperature of 68*, it actually feels WARM compared to 30-40* air temps. Try it this year! Be sure to bring your big robe and fuzzy boots, you’ll want to bundle up afterward! >>@erintruslow on Twitter: Turkey Trot every year and Polar Bear Swim at Barton Springs.

    Photo credit: Bonita Sarita http://www.flickr.com/photos/sararobertson

While the holidays are a great time to rest and recover, there are so many fun ways to sneak a little activity into your day. Plus, by doing so, you’ll encourage others around you to be more active and to someday make fit family traditions of their own. We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Prosperous New Year!

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