Tips and Tricks for Staying on Top Shape
During This Racing Off-Season

Your performance during the coming season depends on how you train this off-season. Without proper training, your performance will go down. Plus, it may expose you to future injuries. That’s why you should stay fit. Hit the gym. Join yoga classes. Have the right training schedule. It’s all about a healthy diet. Remember, running can cause serious injuries. Staying fit and flexible minimizes injuries. Here are top tips and tricks for staying in top shape during this off-season.

Set A Fitness Challenge

Run every day. Have a running schedule to keep yourself fit. For instance, you can set a challenge for yourself. Stick to your running routine. Developing a fitness challenge pushes you into achieving better goals. During this time, eat well. Choose healthy foods.

Cross-Train More

Invest your time in cross-training. Go to the gym and get some training on yoga and cardio kickboxing. Ice skating and snow-shoeing are also excellent ways to interact with others while being active.

Do It For Fun

Pick up a race for fun. Don’t do it for a time goal. Instead, do it for fun. You may also want to consider going on a holiday run with your friends. Add more fun to your racing by wearing a unique costume. This will help you to stay relaxed as you focus on achieving specific goals.

Consider Setting Short-Term Goals

Set specific goals. What do you intend to achieve? Stating your objective will keep you motivated throughout the training. Without specific goals, you can easily blow off exercise for several days or even weeks. And this can completely ruin your fitness plans. Having a clear structure for your week will help you stick to your goals.

Strength Training

Aim to improve your strength training. Plan for two to three sessions a week. Do a mix of the lower body, as well as, core exercises. This will significantly improve your fitness. If you can’t strength train alone, consider doing it with a friend.

Don’t Use Your Watch

Forget about your pace or distance. Running without your watch can make your running more enjoyable. Staying relaxed will improve your mental health during an intense training session.

Get Out Of The Comfort Zone

Try a new fitness challenge. The off-season is an excellent time to try new things. So, be flexible and dynamic. Indoor rock climbing, for instance, is an incredible challenge. It feels great pushing your body to greater heights. Not only does it improve your physical health, but it also plays an important role in boosting your confidence.

Personal Trainers Can Help You

Find yourself a good coach. With the help of a personal trainer, you’ll be able to develop realistic goals. You’ll have access to excellent training skills and be sure that your training goals are achievable.

Fitness Goals

Set short-term fitness goals. Don’t wait to test yourself at a race. That could make you fail miserably. If you’re planning to do a marathon, for instance, try doing a solo mile during the off-season. Schedule a date, as well as, a goal time. Then, list down the workouts that’ll help you achieve those goals.

Goal-setting will keep you motivated and inspired. Plus, it’ll improve your fitness and freshen up your daily routine. Remember, your fitness goals shouldn’t be all about racing. You can as well focus on stretching, meditating, and warming up.

Consider Treating Your Injuries

Did you know that you can self-treat your injuries? Well, there are many ways to treat body aches and pains at home. From foam rollers and Sidekicks to lacrosse balls, there’s a recovery tool for every injury.

As an athlete, you should take advantage of these tools. You can self-massage without having to see a medical expert. All you need is to purchase the right tools and use them appropriately.

Strengthen Ignored Areas

This is the time to work on your weak muscles. Focus on your glutes, core, as well as hip muscles. According to experts, these areas are the weakest in most runners. Working on them will prepare you for the season ahead.

Think about glute activation. Work on your core strength. Conduct mobility drills. Most yoga classes offer this training. Use different training and exercise videos to improve yourself during the off-season.

Schedule

Set a schedule. Follow it. Following your routine will benefit your mind. For instance, if the schedule says you have to wake up at 6 am, don’t wake up at 7. Discipline is very important when it comes to training,

Wake up early. Eat well. Go to the gym. Run as scheduled. Don’t lazy around. Remember, running is all about discipline. You should follow your schedule to hit your targets.

It’s not possible to stay motivated every day. However, you can call your friends to run with you. Join a running club. Getting involved in the community will motivate you to wake up and run each day.

Tips And Tricks for Preventing Running Injuries

Running can expose you to injuries. But that shouldn’t scare you from hitting the ground. With the right tips and tricks, you can prevent injuries, especially during the off-season. Stay hydrated. Don’t overstrain. Consult your doctor. Use the following tip and tricks to prevent injuries.

Proper Footwear

Choose the right footwear. Choose the best running shoes. You cannot use any type of shoes and expect excellent results. Plus, certain types of shoes can expose you to injuries.

Choose the right size. Ensure that your foot fits into the shoes. They should not expose you to any discomfort. They should leave a little space around your toes. Getting proper fitting is important. Remember, you will also wear socks. Thus, the shoes should allow space for socks.

Also, proper shoe maintenance is important. According to experts, running shoes should be replaced every 400-600 miles. In other words, running shoes should not be used for more than 6 months.

Flex The Muscles

Keeping your body loose as well as limber will minimize injuries. Thus, include flexibility exercises in your training schedule. A flexible body will achieve a better motion range. It will also minimize injuries.

Think about yoga exercises. Yoga exercises are perfect for improving your body’s flexibility. They leave your body calm. Plus, yoga exercises will make you mentally focused.

Go To The Gym

Make your muscles stronger. Hitting the gym will strengthen your muscles. In the gym, engage in strength training exercises. Increasing your muscle tone, endurance, as well as bone density. Lift the right weights. Use the right training.

Respect The Body

It’s all about your body. Thus, listen to it. Don’t run when your body feels bad. If you are feeling unwell, don’t hit the road. Rest more. Give your body time to recover. Don’t let ambition push you into overworking. You can skip certain days and rest. The body requires enough time to recover.

Build Strength Progressively

Start slow. Don’t take things so fast. It will lead to injuries. Instead, consider taking things slowly. Start with smaller distances. Increase the distance gradually. Start with a low pace and increase the speed as your body gets used to running. Distance and pace intensity shouldn’t be increased during a single week. Schedule each item for a different week.

Consult Your Physician

Liaise with your doctor. Doctors are trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries. Thus, he/she will offer you suggestions on how to prevent injuries. If you suspect that something is amiss, talk to him/her. Follow all the instructions from your doctor. Also, ensure that your kids are healthy. This gives you the peace of mind to continue training. Take them to urgent care facilities for optimal healthcare services.

Evaluate Your Form

Ask an expert to evaluate your running form. Allow him/her to conduct a gait analysis. The analysis will assess your biomechanical movements and how you are moving. This analysis takes into account where a runner lands on his/her foot. It also uncovers where you place your knee. This analysis will examine your posture.

According to experts, this assessment can increase your efficiency and lower your risks of getting injuries. If your form is bad, it will correct it. Both novice runners and veteran athletes can use this evaluation to increase efficiency and lower the risks of developing injuries.

Cross Train

Marathon training will increase your chances of developing injuries. However, you can add cross-training. Cross training is designed to help you recover quickly, especially after high-mileage marathon running.

Adding this training will help the body get used to training. It also strengthens the muscles. This training can benefit the already-inured runners. Be sure to use the same effort level (i.e., cross-training and running efforts).

Warm Up, Cool Down Properly

Warm up the right way. Cool down properly. Take about 5 to 10 minutes to warm up. Use 5-10 minutes to cool down. Warming up allows your body to familiarize itself with the movements. Cooling down is instrumental in lowering the heart rate. It’s the best way to relax.

The Bottom-Line

Racing is a physical sport. Proper training is important. To stay in top shape, you should train well. Hit the gym. Think about strength training. Eat well. Embrace yoga classes. Follow a strict training schedule. Use the above tips to stay in top shape.