Planning for a Tough Mudder? Better get fit! (Coren Morgan, Kerry Blackmer & Lainey Ashker)
In honor of Thanksgiving, I think we should talk about getting your rear in gear, and getting in shape. The winter is a great time to start things that you don’t have time for in the usual hustle and bustle of competition season. While you’re giving your horses some well deserved R&R, why not get your own fitness regime up to snuff? We can’t all be total BA’s like Lainey, but we can aspire towards that kind of fitness! Workout endorphins are just what the doctor ordered to combat the sadness that we all feel with the ever-darkening days and the bitter cold. Coming out in 2013 fitter than ever will only boost your self confidence, and your performance on horseback, so let’s get to it!
Everybody knows that at the end of the day, after mucking, riding, clipping, mucking and walking about 1,000 miles to catch that one horse that’s a total butt to coral, you’re not really in the mood to do much of anything other than sit down, eat some carbs, and peruse Eventing Nation. So that’s why I suggest the morning workout! I’m as bad as anybody, and trust me when I say that I know what it feels like to hate the first five minutes when you have to wake up and get out from under the covers in the dark. Here are some tips to making it work through the winter months, wether you go to the gym, or go for a run down the road, these suggestions should help keep you on track.
10 Tips For Becoming a Morning Gym-Goer:
- Schedule it. You probably wouldn’t miss an appointment with your doctor, your farrier or your vet. Just like these appointments, make your morning exercise session something you can’t skip.
- Get out your gear the night before. That way, you won’t arrive at the gym without socks or with your shirt inside-out. Also, you don’t have to think when you’re in that I-just-woke-up-and-it’s-dark-outside haze.
- Write it down. Jot down an exact workout plan before going to bed. Sometimes, plan out an entire week.When you wake up, you won’t have to think about what machine to do next or how long you’re going to run. You plan your horses’ fitness, right? Same goes for you.
- Consider a workout you have to pay for. You wouldn’t miss a riding lesson, right? So make workouts the same. It doesn’t have to be every day, but if you participate in some “fitness lessons” in the morning, you’ll be much less likely to stay in bed. Think how much money you’ll waste if you miss a session!
- Find a buddy. Maybe it’s a friend who’s also trying to get fit, or maybe it’s someone you meet on your first early-morning trip to the gym. Make a commitment to each other that you’ll show up and hold each other accountable.
- Make it a competition… with a reward, of course! If you and a gym buddy are both on a quest to make early exercise dates a habit, come up with a little challenge. Maybe you’ll decide the first one to miss a day has to do 20 extra push-ups, or muck the other’s entire barn. If you’re working out solo, treat yourself to a trip to the tack store after a solid month’s worth of commitment.
- Do a class. Many gyms offer one-hour classes that start around 6 am. Since no one wants to be the person that walks out in the middle of the class, I’d be willing to bet you’ll stay through the end.
- Take baby steps. Start by setting back your alarm by five minutes this week. Next week, go for another five. You’ll be getting up an hour earlier before you know it.
- Have something tasty to look forward to. Some experts say the golden window for post-workout nutrition is 30 to 60 minutes after we finish exercising, so make breakfast your next priority. Try a blended smoothie with greens, protein powder, and frozen berries or a parfait with granola, yogurt, and fresh fruit.
- Preserve those endorphins! Make great feelings last by writing them down. Write down how the new fitness you’ve achieved is positively affecting your daily activities both on and off the horse. Next time you feel like hitting the snooze button, you just have to have a quick look at all the progress you’ve made, and you’ll be back at it!
Another tip? Plan to participate in a Tough Mudder!
