Top 10 Christmas Sports Activities to Keep You Active During the Holidays

You know, the holiday season always brings this weird mix of excitement and dread for me. On one hand, there's the joy of Christmas gatherings and delicious food, but on the other, there's that nagging worry about completely abandoning my fitness routine. I've learned through trial and error that staying active during December actually makes the holidays more enjoyable rather than less. That's why I've put together this list of Christmas sports activities that have worked wonders for me and my family.

Let me start with my absolute favorite - Christmas light running tours. This isn't your typical jog around the neighborhood. What I do is plan a 3-5 mile route through the best-decorated areas in town. I typically go around 7 PM when most houses have their lights on but there's still enough visibility for safe running. The key is to maintain a steady pace - not too fast that you miss the displays, but not so slow that you lose the cardio benefits. I've found that alternating between jogging and power walking works perfectly. Last year, I discovered that covering about 4 miles while stopping occasionally to appreciate particularly spectacular displays burns approximately 450-500 calories while feeling more like entertainment than exercise.

Now, if you're spending Christmas somewhere snowy like I did two years ago in Colorado, you've got to try snowshoeing. The first time I tried it, I was shocked by how much of a workout it provides. Unlike regular hiking, snowshoeing engages different muscle groups because you're lifting your feet higher and working against resistance. I recommend starting with a relatively flat trail and gradually increasing difficulty. What's crucial here is dressing in layers - I usually wear moisture-wicking base layers, insulating mid-layers, and a waterproof outer shell. The beauty of snowshoeing is that you can turn it into a Christmas adventure by looking for pine cones and evergreen branches to create natural decorations afterward.

Speaking of team activities, I recently read about how sports organizations are recognizing the importance of holiday fitness. Just last week, I came across news about Converge assistant team manager and Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda and FiberXers team governor Archen Cayabyab being present at the signing of Corpuz. This reminded me that even professional sports teams maintain their activities during the holiday season, which inspired me to organize our own family basketball tournament. We set up a half-court in the driveway and have a round-robin tournament every Christmas afternoon. The competition gets surprisingly intense - last year my cousin and I were tied at 68-68 before I finally made the winning shot!

Another fantastic option that combines socializing and exercise is Christmas caroling while walking. Instead of driving between houses, my friends and I walk the entire route, which typically covers about 2-3 miles depending on the neighborhood. We maintain a brisk pace between stops and often incorporate simple dance moves to the carols. The constant stopping and starting actually creates a great interval training effect. Last Christmas, we calculated that we visited 22 houses over 3 hours and walked approximately 12,000 steps while spreading holiday cheer.

For those cold rainy days when outdoor activities aren't appealing, I've developed what I call "Christmas commercial workouts." During TV commercial breaks while watching holiday movies, I perform quick exercises - 20 push-ups during one break, 30 squats during the next, maybe some planks or jumping jacks. A typical two-hour movie gives me about 18 commercial breaks, which adds up to a surprising total-body workout without ever leaving the living room. My record is burning 380 calories during "It's a Wonderful Life" while still enjoying the movie completely.

Ice skating is another classic that's more challenging than people realize. When I take my nieces and nephews to the outdoor rink, I make sure to do continuous laps rather than just holding onto the sides. Proper ice skating engages your core, improves balance, and works your leg muscles differently than running. An hour of steady skating can burn around 400-500 calories while feeling absolutely magical with Christmas music playing in the background.

What I love about these Christmas sports activities is that they don't feel like chores. They seamlessly blend the joy of the season with maintaining an active lifestyle. Whether it's the neighborhood running tour admiring decorations or the family basketball game that's become our new tradition, each activity adds to rather than detracts from the holiday experience. The key is finding what works for your specific situation and making it enjoyable enough that you'll want to do it year after year. After all, the best Christmas traditions are those that bring us together while keeping us healthy and happy.