I don’t know about you, but this long Boston winter didn’t do any wonders for my running routine. Since November, I’ve only ran outside twice, once on a freakishly warm day and then last week at the Girls Night Out event. And I simply haven’t been running much on the treadmill because I just don’t enjoy it that much. Sure, I’ve thrown in some indoor interval runs here and there, but that’s about it. I’d rather cross train in other ways, such as taking spinning or boxing classes, doing rowing workouts, or tacking on cardio finishers to my strength workouts.
I won’t lie, even when the weather is nice, running isn’t typically my first workout of choice. However, I do like to incorporate 5k loops, sprints, and/or stadium runs into my training during the warmer months because sometimes the last thing I feel like doing is being indoors. And after being cooped up all winter long, I’ve been dying to take my workouts outside again. I can’t wait to take my classes outside for bootcamp, baseball diamond, and park bench workouts, and I just want the option of running outside to be there. Ya know!?
If you’re like me and feeling a little worn out after the long winter, here are some tips for igniting your spring running routine!
Ignite Your Spring Running Routine
Check out Couch to 5k.
If you are a beginner, the couch to 5k program is a great place to start. It’s scaled appropriately for someone to gradually ease into a running program, and it will ensure you don’t do too much too soon! You’ll alternate between walking and running small distances until you feel ready to run the full 5k distance.
Join a local running club.
It really grinds my gears when I hear people saying that they can’t afford to workout because there are SO many FREE fitness resources right at our fingertips. For my Boston folks, November Project is a great place to start, and it’s actually also expanded into a ton of other cities across the country. You can find a few other Boston based running groups here, and often times local fitness apparel stores will host running groups too!
Find a running buddy.
Set dates, and lean on each other for accountability. It’s always easier to stick to your workout when you make it social!
Explore a new route or trail.
I definitely get bored if I take the same route over and over again when I go for a run. Make it fun, and check out new parks, scenery, and different parts of your city during your sweat sesh.
Sign up for a local race.
Cool Running is a great resource to find races in your area, and having a race on your calendar gives you a tangible goal to work toward.
Take it up a notch.
If you’ve been doing steady state cardio for a while and aren’t training for longer distance races, try incorporating more speed and interval work into your routine. It’s great for fat loss and conditioning, nevermind the benefits it has on your midsection, and it also saves time. I am looking forward to doing more stadium runs, hill sprints, speed work at the track, etc. this spring to ignite my own routine, and I’m looking for friends to join me!
Recently, even though the temperatures didn’t feel like spring, Tim and I decided to hit up a local track and field to change things up a bit. We did a quick circuit workout that involved figure eight sprints around the field, followed by some bodyweight exercises together. If you’re intrigued by adding some speed or circuit work to your current running routine, you may like the workout we did:
For the figure eights, you basically start at one end of a field/court and jog to the halfway line. Then you sprint across as fast as you can, jog the next sideline, sprint across the end, jog, etc. You basically make a figure eight as you go. Tim and I warmed up with a half mile run for this and then did wheelbarrow pushups, walking lunges, and straight arm plank claps in between each round of sprints. If you’re on your own, you could do regular pushups and straight arm plank shoulder taps instead of the partner moves. We were very humbled by this one, but done with our workout so quickly! Bonus.
Finally, one last thing that always helps spruce out any workout for me is a new workout outfit! I was recently sent a new pair of running sneakers, a shirt, and tights from PUMA through my relationship with Fitfluential, and I was happy to test them out during our workout.
Here’s the rundown on each item:
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PUMA Ignite Women’s Running Shoes: PUMA is marketing these shoes as their most responsive running shoe ever because of the superior cushioning material that disperses impact forces while providing optimal responsiveness and energy return so you can run faster. The heel of the shoe incorporates ForEverFoam to provide durability. Because of the Ignite’s minimal upper design, I found the shoe lightweight, flexible, and comfortable. I’ve also been dying for a pair of black sneaks!
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CoolCELL PR Pure Fitted Short Sleeve Tee: This shirt is designed to wick away sweat from the skin while providing temperature regulation and air flow through the mesh. It features flatlock seams for less friction and higher comfort, and it uses Cleansport NXT to control odor. I thought this shirt was super flattering, and it didn’t ride up while I was sprinting.
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Essential 3/4 Tights: These pants are made with dryCELL material that draws sweat away from the skin to help keep you dry and comfortable during exercise. It has an internal waistband as well as a waistband pocket for storage. I reviewed a similar pair of PUMA pants on the blog before, but I love the cute mesh stripe down the side of my new pair.
Now I just need the warm weather to get here so I don’t have to cover up my cute new top with three other layers! C’mon spring!
Let’s chat! Did you maintain a running routine through the long winter? What are your tips for igniting your spring running routine? Do you know of any running clubs in your area? Are you signed up for any 5k races? Do you have any sprint or speed workouts you want to share? Have you tried any of the PUMA Ignite products mentioned?
This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of PUMA. As always, all opinions are my own.
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