Sponsored by Zappos. All opinions are my own.
We all start off the year with ambitions and more so this year, 2020, since it’s a whole new start of a century. Since January, though, there have been major circumstances that have gotten in the way of that “best year yet” feeling. For over a month now the world has been dealing with a never-before-seen pandemic—one that has caused most of everything around us to shut down, a significant drop in any economic gains, and even worse, causing many people to lose their lives. Although most of us are working from home with more flexible schedules, we are struggling to keep motivated to stay fit and healthy. Even runners, who are generally the most motivated of the bunch, seem to be having a difficult time sticking to any kind of training, since all races have been canceled. It almost feels like we are working towards nothing.
It’s time to turn the light switch on and change our mentality to the positive. Just because there aren’t any races on the schedule until Fall doesn’t mean we should put a halt to our training and goals. I know Fall is even uncertain at this point, but we should use this time to embrace running for everything it is, instead of being solely focused on completing a race or reaching a PR. Those things are great, but running does so much more for our lives than make us fast. It’s a good time to take a step back, reflect on what we should improve, and focus on self-care. It can make all the difference once these crazy times are behind us and life gets back to normal. Put on your best outfits and give your body what it needs during this hectic time—MOVEMENT! My new Mizuno Inspire 16 from Zappos is giving me a big pep to my step these days!
Keep a Routine
The biggest struggle for those who are used to a set work schedule has been maintaining good time management throughout the day. Before when the workday started at 9AM, we were up at 4AM to get that speed work done and feel accomplished. Now almost everyone seems to be sleeping in, scattering work duties throughout a 12-hour day and leaving any training we were thinking of doing for the end of the day, which may or may not get done. Since our big goal races this Spring are not in the picture any more, runners don’t see the need to be so strict about their running schedules. Just for the mere fact that we can all use a little stress relief, running and exercise itself should actually be a priority these days. A little sleeping in is also good for us, but why not keep running on the schedule as the first task of the day? It will make you feel accomplished, refreshed and ready for a productive day. Keeping a similar routine as when you were at the office will also help with the transition of working from home to back to normal life again.
Add in Variety
There is no better time to change up your workout routine than when you have months before your next race. I’ve personally decided to keep running every morning, but lower my mileage and add in a mix of exercises I’ve always wanted to fit in but skipped out on because I was too tired from running. Switching up to new workouts wakes up and strengthens weak muscles and improves our fitness even further—both very helpful for when racing season comes along again. Without a gym and tons of equipment, there are still plenty of options to switch up the program. Since running is still allowed, following social distancing guidelines of course, find a route that passes by a set of stairs and get in a few sets of bursts up in the middle or end of you run. After a month of including these climbs I can notice my legs feel more powerful when I run uphill, which has always been a struggle for me. The Mizuno Inspire 16 have been great for stairs and hills since the WAVEKNITupper is super flexible and helps push off the ground more comfortably than with other pairs. They definitely look and feel extremely light, so you would think they lack cushioning, but the midsole is very plush and gives a soft landing, something that not only makes running feel good, but also when adding in my jump roping, box jumps and the many other plyometric moves I’ve been incorporating these days. So, there you have it—three new exercises you can add in at home to give a boost to your fitness: stair running, jump rope, and plyometrics.
Run Love
As much as I love running, I find myself finishing my morning workout not even remembering anything I saw throughout the hour or two I was out. During marathon training we are always so focused on our pace, form, and hitting certain goals, we often forget to take in the environment around us. If we are lucky to find a quiet route where there are not many people, we should embrace our surroundings. I always talk about how pretty my side of town is, but it wasn’t until this past month that I truly paid attention to everything around me. I run by the ocean every day, which is probably my favorite thing in the world, and scoping out every part of it while running puts a smile on my face. I love easy to moderate long runs where I can relax into my pace, so I’m opting for these most days of the week, because I actually have the freedom now to do the workouts I love and only those if I want. Don’t get me wrong, speed work can be fun and is an important component to improving and reaching my race goals, but I don’t HAVE to be so strict about them right now. Running the way you LOVE can remind you why you started running in the first place and bring a whole new sense of self—less stress, more energy for the rest of your day, and a positive outlook on any situation.
The Mizuno Inspire 16 has been a great medium to long run option. They are cushioned enough to prevent sore feet from the constant pounding, but extremely light so they don’t weigh you down halfway through the run like most well-cushioned shoes. The upper material is also super breathable, which is a major help in the extreme humidity I run through here in Miami. You can shop these in so many other colors at Zappos, which is where I get most of my running gear. Being a Zappos Rewards member has amazing perks—free expedited shipping, free returns for a year, and the best customer service to answer all of your questions and resolve any issues. You can sign up for free and start a shopping list for when these crazy times are over and you can be ready to race your best this Fall!