Time to Get INSPIRED.
By Coach Jackie Pirtle-Hall- Trainer, Coach, Olympic Trials Competitor- Masters Runner
Finding yourself shuffling the same route, pumping those arms on this same elliptical at the gym, or maybe you've become the king or queen of the stair stepper at your local gym - ehem - lol
Well, whatever you've been “working on” lately-you may need to get a little inspired!
When Working Out Becomes a CHORE- or what I call- uninspiring! Here is a list that will bring life and purpose to those sometimes mundane sessions.
Meet up with a friend or a local running club like Fleet Feet or the St. Louis Track Club.
Sign up for a Race (run or walk it, but something that scares you but- this will get you motivated to train). Training is the purpose - the achievement is the cherry on top! Why not make training more focused and fun.
Have a plan- whether you find a plan in a book or you want a more specific plan from a certified running coach, try to stick with it- If weather or fatigue sets in- have options instead of an “all or nothing” attitude. For instance:
Plan A: Run 3-6 miles outside after work
Plan B: Interval training on the treadmill after work
Plan C: Strength training at home after work
Hire a Personal Trainer: If you know you just won't stick with your plan, then it's time to invest in an in person trainer or coach who schedules your workouts and shows up for you. Emerge Fitness Training has the best trainers in the area- no doubt. Give us a call. We build relationships and care for our clients - we are invested in watching you succeed, feel good, and live YOUR life to the fullest.
Take your running workouts to the gym: If you need a break from running whether your running tissues are demanding it or you mentally just need something new for a bit- here are some options:
Plan A: THE BEST- MIX ALL BELOW!
Plan B: Strength training- this may be the best time to hypertrophy those tissues. We know that simultaneously executing a strength training and running routine is HARD. The hard run workouts and the mileage can leave you tired enough not to mention lifting heavy weights that further cause tissue breakdown. In fact, if you are in a periodized running program- during race season- your training should be power then maintenance training(still very important if you want gains in off season! SO, off season or breaks are a great time to build that speed through glute, hamstring, and core strength!
Plan C: Sign up for some daily/weekly yoga classes to focus on getting your stability, balance, core, and mobility back to a level you can then just maintain once you add more running or other activities to your routine. For me, I do yoga 1-2 times a month and this is perfect for me within my time constraints. The hour long classes are excellent if you are really working on that goal to get your balance and strength back, but once this is achieved, as runners, we can't afford an hour 1 plus times a week for a yoga session so we maintain it by using mobility and short routines on our own around our runs. HOWEVER, this may be the perfect time to sign up for these classes several times a week to get your alignment back and this will translate well to your future running!
Plan D: Take your running plans to the elliptical or bike - this is a great opportunity to diversify your training and actually reap fitness gains with intentional workouts! Trust me- I have run marathon PRs on weeks of cross training. Joan Benoit Samuelson had knee surgery and cross trained for over a month before winning the ‘84 Olympic marathon.
Happy Running- I mean- HAPPY TRAINING!
Jackie Pirtle-Hall is a multi Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier, multi 2:40 marathoner, 16:20s road 5k, 8th fastest female trail 50 miler in the country, and 3rd place Pikes Peak marathon finisher. Jackie is a certified RRCA Certified coach, NASM certified coach, Veteran Physical Education teacher, and has a Masters Degree in Professional Counseling. Mostly, Pirtle-Hall has a passion for sport, health, and psychology.
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