Happy New Year!
For many people, the new year is a time for goal setting. Some may want to run further, faster or more frequently.
Keeping New Year’s resolutions can be challenging — but it doesn’t have to be.
Jen Kripki (pictured left) is a certified personal trainer, certified fitness instructor and registered massage therapist with Inner Strength Fitness and Training in Saskatoon. She works with people every day who are setting fitness goals and she shared some advice with the Brainsport Times on how people can stick with their running-related resolutions this year.
Find a running buddy or group to run with
“These are crucial to have to keep you motivated and to get you out the door during the cooler temperatures,” Kripki says.
If you’re looking for a running group, Brainsport hosts free drop-in group runs for athletes of all abilities at the store Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On top of that, many regulars at the Brainsport runs also meet at Gabriel Dumont Park Monday evenings to run hills.
In addition to the free groups, Brainsport hosts coached running academies. Sign up now for coach Pat Somerville’s 18-week clinic that’s focussed on getting people ready to run the half or full marathon in May’s Saskatchewan Marathon or stay tuned to the Brainsport Times for more information about upcoming clinics.
Many people who join the free running clubs or sign up for a running academy clinic find running friends who they can meet up with outside the group workouts.
Meet at the same time for your runs every week
“If you have a consistent time that you meet to go for your runs you’re more likely to have it become part of your regular weekly routine,” Kripki says.
Put your runs into your calendar as if they are appointments
“If you add your runs into your calendar ahead of time then you have already blocked off that chunk of time specifically for it,” Kripki says.
Dress for success
Those running outside over the next couple months will have to contend with cold, dark, ice and snow — but the conditions don’t have to make you miserable.
“Have the right winter gear for running to keep you dry, warm and comfortable,” Kripki advises.
Visit the Brainsport blog for tips on dressing for winter running by Brainsport employee Colin Federow. Brainsport employee Lis Schermann has also put together some blog posts on options when it comes to traction aids and buffs.
Set goals
Start by selecting a long-term goal. For example, maybe you’d like to run 10 kilometres by spring.
“Once you have the long term goal down, you should now set your short term goals,” Kripki says.
Those short term goals are what you need to do to get to the long-term goal. “Maybe you need to make sure you run three days a week or maybe it involves drinking more water,” she says.
