4.MOLLY RITTERBECK
"I started cycling seriously about two and a half years ago. I was a regular indoor 'spinner,' and I had a little bit of bike experience from competing in a few triathlons, but I didn't really enjoy the solo training aspect. When I was invited on a cycling vacation to Vermont, I figured I'd give it a shot—and I fell in love with group riding. We spent the entire day outside on bikes, exploring new areas, challenging ourselves, supporting each other, and laughing a lot. I was immediately hooked. When I got home, I sought out similar groups in New York, and am now totally immersed in the cycling community here.
"Cycling isn't as easy as throwing on your running shoes and being back in an hour. It's an equipment-heavy sport that's also pretty time-consuming, but the rewards far outweigh the obstacles. My favorite rides are the epic weekend adventures where you discover new places you never knew existed. I've seen some of the most beautiful places on the seat of a bicycle, and I've met some of the coolest, kindest, most interesting people—many of whom are now some of my closest friends.
"Riding a bike has changed me inside and out. Despite quitting my gym membership, opting to get my cardio outdoors by running or cycling, I'm in better shape than ever. I haven't really lost weight but have definitely replaced fat with muscle, a positive change I've noticed in how my body looks and feels. More importantly than the physical, though, I have a deeper sense of inner strength. I've been in some insanely challenging situations on a bike, but I've ridden through them all. And when you do that, you realize that you can get through the hard things in life, too. That in itself is pretty amazing." —Molly Ritterbeck, age 29, New York, New York
5.HEIDI SMITH
"As soon as my mom started working at a gym when I was a kid, I became a gym rat. I know my way around the weights, kettlebells and TRX better than most. But when I went to college, I stopped working out and gained the freshman 50—and my energy levels tanked. My mood fluctuated from angry and stressed to sad and upset. Despite the gym always being a second home to me, it became harder and harder to motivate myself to get there. Working out soon became a chore, and I had so much guilt over my regression that I gave it up all together.
"Eventually, I just knew the gym wasn't cutting it and started looking for alternate ways to get my groove back. I turned to yoga for the body-mind-soul alignment, and found peace for a few years through that. Then I moved from New York City to Connecticut, where I could be closer to nature—working inside at a desk job had made me really appreciate the weekends when I could hike, bike, and ski, and I craved more of that. So I started working for an outdoor sports store, where all my co-workers made sacrifices to get outdoors, even fat biking through snow to get to work. I followed suit and bought two pairs of skis and a road bike in my first year on the job. I realized there was a new level of passion for sport and nature waiting to be discovered.
"Exploring all these different activities—mountain biking, trail running, and hiking, to name just a few—made me realize that outdoor workouts aren't really about competing or trying to lose weight. They're about having the most fun, conquering your fears, and taking risks. The adrenaline rush I feel while weaving my way through a ski trail is like nothing I've ever experienced in a gym. The serenity that rushes over me when I'm kayaking across the lake makes me feel at peace with myself. And the tension that pulses through my muscles as I pedal up a rocky mountain leaves me grateful that I have a body strong enough to do so. Basically, getting out of the gym made my workouts about pushing myself to new heights and embracing the challenge of the wilderness. All of that, coupled with the fresh air and breathtaking sights, is something that just can't be beat." —Heidi Smith, 26, Wilton, Connecticut
6.STEPHANIE SWEENEY
"I've been skiing since I could walk—my parents are obsessed with the sport, so I was lucky enough to get into it at a very young age. Once I graduated college in upstate New York, I knew I wanted to make it a part of my everyday life. So I took a shot and applied for a marketing job at Copper Mountain in Colorado. I landed it and three weeks later, I was out in Colorado living and breathing the lifestyle. Five years later, I love it as much as I did when I first got here.
"For me, skiing isn't just about getting in a traditional workout—it provides so much more than that. You're outdoors breathing in the fresh air and battling unknown elements (like unexpected wind or even a surprise snowfall), and you use muscles that you probably wouldn't otherwise (it gives me solid lateral training each time I'm out). Plus, you get to enjoy the snow beyond making snowmen and having snowball fights. And mentally, skiing is my sanctuary. Around here we call it 'soul food' because it refreshes your mind and relieves any stress you may be feeling. When it's just me and the mountain, and the snow is falling quietly around me while I skirt through the trees, there's something incredibly peaceful and restorative that happens—there's nothing that can ever replace it." —Stephanie Sweeney, 28, Frisco, Colorado
7.AMANDA DOMBROSKI
"I started trail running when my husband and I moved near a land preserve. We wanted to give our newly adopted, very energetic dog a chance to run freely, and there were a ton of trails for us to explore in the surrounding area. Admittedly, though, I'm known for not really doing anything that involves a lot of risk. Trail running was a pretty big leap for me—you honestly never know what could happen when you're scrambling over tree roots, through leaves, and around ever-winding trails. So I really didn't expect to love it as much as I do!
"Over the years, it has, hands-down, become my favorite place and way to exercise. It's a quieter place to talk and think, it lets us explore endless areas, and the trees protect us from unpredictable New England weather (which is way better than being on the open paved road!). Plus, it challenges my smaller muscle groups, improves my balance, and mentally keeps me busy as I dodge rocks and roots or run over snow. To me, it's so much more interesting than road running or slogging away on a treadmill. Getting outdoors taught me that workouts can be just as mentally stimulating as they are physically, and that's carried over into the rest of my life. I focus more, I have more energy, and I feel more creative. I'm not sure anything but trail running could have unleashed something so powerful." —Amanda Dombroski, 26, Guilford, Connecticut
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