Professional runner, Katie Matthews, knows a thing or two about training and being committed to a workout routine. But sometimes it can be difficult to stay dedicated, so she’s sharing her top 6 tips to actually get a workout in. No matter what your schedule looks like or what excuses come up, her simple + practical tips are all you need to break a sweat.
As a professional runner, I’ve found that what I put on my body and in my body are just as important as how I train and condition my body + mind leading into important races. Overall, these facets are the foundation of wholesomeness. Here are my top 6 pieces of advice for incorporating a workout into a healthy lifestyle:
Create a plan… and stick to it.
Sure, you can see if a convenient time pops up in your day to hit the gym, but in most cases, the time really gets away from us. Make a plan for WHEN and WHERE you are going to work out and set it for the week. As a professional, we know these details of our team meet-ups ahead of time so we can plan our meals and sleep schedule around our training. It makes all the difference when you wake up and the choice has already been made to get your sweat on. For an extra motivator, lay out your outfit the night before – it might just be that little spark of motivation you need to get out the door!
Start slowly.
For most of us, starting a workout regimen after even taking a few weeks off can be daunting, even for elite athletes! Body parts are going to ache and your lungs might burn. Start off with a simple plan; if your goal is to run a 5k, start off with walking 2 minutes, jogging 30 seconds. Continue these intervals and slowly increase the running portion as you lessen the walking portion. In a few weeks, you’ll be running 10 minutes, walking 1 minute, and so on. Be kind to yourself and use positive self-talk when it gets tough. I use repetitive internal mantras in my own training and races when I need to find strength and focus. Don’t be intimidated by expert level class instructors or others whizzing by you on the bike path. You do you…..Read more
