May is nearly over, which means we’re another month closer to Bridge to Brisbane Day! As the big day catches up to us, it’s important as ever to stick to your training plan, in order to be on track to achieve your end goal. But it’s one of THOSE times of the year: work is piling up faster than you can tie your trainers, it’s getting a wee bit chilly in the mornings and afternoons…and it feels a whole lot easier to just stay in bed.
Excuses, excuses! In an effort to help you smash those PBs, we’ve compiled a list of tips that will make your next run so much more enjoyable, you’ll be bouncing out of bed.
Have a killer playlist
Music is a great motivator when you’re not quite in a running mood. Make a playlist that matches your running speed and you’ll feel like you’re starring in your own music video!
Obviously, everyone runs at different speeds, but studies have shown that 180 steps per minute is the ideal number. However, 180 beats per minute (BPM) is actually a very fast tempo for a song. While you will find a handful of songs in the 170-190 BPM range, you’ll find HEAPS more that are around 90 BPM, and will have you running at the same speed. To make it easy for you we’ve made an official Bridge to Brisbane Day playlist on Spotify.
Take a buddy
Kill two birds with one stone and combine your daily run with a buddy catch-up. The kilometres will fly by before you know it. It’s also good to work out with another person so that you can encourage each other to achieve your goals and smash your personal bests. Why not continue the catch up and treat yourselves to a coffee afterwards? You worked hard, you deserve it!
Wear your best gear
Who says you can’t dress to impress even when you’re exercising? Every now and then, bust out your best, brightest, most fun exercise clothing combo.
Believe it or not, studies have shown that the clothes you wear directly affect how you think, and what you do. So, if you wear some particularly awesome activewear, you’re more likely to feel like going for a run. It’s an easy motivator! If you need some inspo check out @brooksrunningau.
Choose a scenic route
Exercising with a stellar view will have you feeling extra exhilarated! Running along the beach or a river is super motivating when you’re working up a sweat, especially if it’s a warm day and you can go for a dip after. Or, push yourself a bit harder by finishing atop a hill or a mountain with beautiful metropolitan views.
For a change of scenery, check out our guide to Brisbane’s best training tracks.
Set goals…and smash them!
Goal-setting is a great way to track your progress and see results over time. Set a goal for each run, and try to beat it each day. Even if it’s just by a couple of metres, you’ll feel such a sense of accomplishment.
Running goals can be as small or as large as you like. If you run in the same area each day, telephone poles are an easy way to track your run. Each time, push yourself to make it to the next pole! If you listen to music, run for a certain number of songs, and run for one more next time. Or, if you’re a bigger dreamer, try something like counting the number of bridges in the city that you run over, or iconic landmarks that you run past.
How do you make running more exciting? Tell us in the comments below.