Walk Into the Future

Why not use your walk into the future to work on your physical well-being?

A lot of people make January resolutions to motivate themselves to get fit.  You don’t have to limit your motivational time frame to January, you can decide to work on your physical goals anytime of the year.

Check your local area for 5k races and sign up.  There are multiple ways to get ready for your first 5K (3.1 miles).  A very popular program is called ‘Couch to 5K’ which will start you out with a walk/run platform and build your endurance, so you can start and complete a 5K.  You can use this or a similar program to begin the process of joining in the fun of a race weekend when ready.  Remember to set measurable goals for yourself.  Example:  Complete your first 5k under 35 minutes.  Your training and mindset should be geared towards meeting or exceeding your measured 5k goal.

Another area you may want to explore is strength training.  Building muscle is a great way to reshape your body and enjoy yourself in the process.  Start slow and give yourself time to get use to the ‘gym culture’ and build an individual program.  You may want to utilize a personal trainer as you get started to learn proper techniques and to create a program to maximize your results.  Again, set measurable goals for yourself and make sure you stretch those new muscles.

My walk into the future has allowed me to update my personal fitness goals.  I read on Men’s Fitness.com about a guy who decided to walk/run a 5k daily to help him lose weight.  He was able to drop over 50 pounds with this process.  He started out walking and built himself up to being able to run a full 5k within his documented schedule.

I’m not trying to lose 50 pounds but plan to leverage a similar approach as I gear up for my next half marathon in October.  I have completed two half marathons so far this year (Rock and Roll New Orleans and Nashville).  My stated goal for 2018 was to run 4 half marathons.  I’m well on my way to meeting this written goal.  I recently adjusted this goal a bit to include running a half marathon under 2 hours.  My personal record for a half marathon is 2 hours and 15 minutes (2:15).  I believe adjusting to the daily 5k program will help me increase my mileage base and speed as I gear up for the next half marathon.  We will see how this new approach and mindset will work for me. Gearing up for the USO Armed Forces Half in October:  http://jaxusohalfmarathon.com/#info

(FYI—I completed 12 5k’s in July).

What fitness goals did you set for 2018?  How’s your progress towards meeting or exceeding those goals.  Don’t be afraid to adjust as needed but keep moving forward—you can do it!

SAMPLE Training plan below:

When’s the last time you took a spin class?  Well, decided to get back in the saddle today and tried spinning again.  Wanted to enhance my current cardio routine with something challenging without having to go out and fight the Florida heat and humidity summer brings.  Found a local church with a Fitness Ministry where they offer multiple class formats and times to reach a larger population.

The church allows registered participants to attend the first class for free.  This was a bonus as I have been searching for additional ways to supplement my cardio and half marathon training program.  Thought spin would be a fun and challenging way to burn more calories and interact (network) with others in the community.

Our instructor was very nice and made everyone feel welcome.  She had to spend a little extra time with me to get my bike set-up since I haven’t been on a spin bike in about 4 years.  Once we got my seat and handle bar height levels corrected, the fun began.  Several warm up routines got us physically and mentally prepared for a hard, fun and energizing 45-minute ride.   The instructor made a point to let us all know the ride would be at our individual pace.  We were coached to take breaks, adjust pedal tension and get water whenever needed.  This made the class an enjoyable experience for me.  There were several times I didn’t know if I could make it over the next ‘hill’ but our instructor kept me moving forward and I was able to complete the entire 45-minute circuit.  Not bad for my first time back in the saddle after a 4-year layoff.

Looking forward to getting back and taking my next class.  Thinking about buying a package of classes since I know they will get used especially over the hot summer months.

An extra benefit of spin class was the mind cleaning aspects the ride had.  I was able to completely focus on riding my bike over the next hill.  The breathing techniques we utilized helped free my mind and created a unique experience for me.  I know it was just a spin class, but the enjoyment of the ride was eye opening and has me looking forward to my next visit.

This Fitness Ministry is an excellent way to give back and help the community!  Well done!

What have you always wanted to try or do but never make the time?  When will you free your mind with a ‘spin’ class?