Running Tips during these Coronavirus Times
Not many people know that I’m an introvert and loner, but I am. So, running alone and practicing social distancing, as required during these Coronavirus times, is nothing new for me. I love my solo runs. If you’re struggling with running alone and missing your run buddies, here are some tips while we’re waiting for all this to blow over (and, yes, we will get through this!):
*Start early. If you’re working or studying from home, it’s easy to lose all track of time. Get your run done first thing in the morning. Don’t even think about it. Just do it. It also sets you up for the rest of the day.
*Mix it up. Don’t just run 5ks or 10ks at the same pace throughout the week. Include fartleks (alternate fast and slow runs), short tempo and easy runs. I don’t recommend you push too hard this time because we’re not aiming to break record. Priority is to stay healthy.
*Cross train. Running daily can feel like a chore, even to me. Add strength or body-weight exercises, yoga, biking, or other activities into your routine.
*Listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts. I listen to music during fast runs. Nowadays, to manage the anxiety and stress during these times, I’ve been listening to more positive and enlightening podcasts. I believe it’s important to filter the information that goes through your ears because it truly influences your way of thinking.
*Set virtual group runs. We used to this back in the day with blogger friends across the globe. We’d set a date, time and distance convenient for all and run together… virtually. Once you agree to this, you can’t skip it!
*Set goals. Now that there are no group runs or friends to motivate you to run, you have to be accountable to yourself. Set clear goals at the start of each week. Write it down as if it were an important meeting and follow through.
Note: The assumption is made that your government allows for going outdoors and that you are not currently experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or illness.
If you have any questions about your safety while running during COVID-19, here’s an informative article by Runner’s World:
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a31439358/running-during-coronavirus/
