1). Include your children in your fitness routine. This is something that Stroller Warriors do so well! Throughout the school year, many of us have older children at school during the day. As for me, many of my runs and workouts include my youngest in the jogging stroller (and our dog) right after I drop off my older kids at school. During holiday break, I am shifting gears to ensure that I get in my daily fitness with my older two children home from school— planning running routes that are scooter and rollerblade friendly, adding a park pit-stop midway when I decide to do a longer run, opting for a shorter run to a local coffee shop and a walk home through the town square (the Christmas decorations in our town are lovely).
3). Diversify your strength training. Strength training does not have to happen in a gym setting— it can happen anywhere! As I was in the middle of cooking dinner a few days ago, I set my workout timer on the EMOM function (every minute on the minute) and for every minute for 60 minutes completed 10 air squats. This past weekend while doing yard work, I pulled my barbell out from the shed and completed 8 rounds of 5 heavy deadlift in between shoveling leaves into giant paper bags.
4). Make hotel workouts quick. I am not a fan of running endless miles on a hotel treadmill. Create a workout that keeps you engaged. Here are a few examples:
- 1 minute intervals on the treadmill for 20 minutes (1 minute fast, 1 minute decreased speed)
- 4 rounds of a 400 meter run at an incline with 25 sit ups between each run.
- 10 rounds of 10 jumping lunges, 10 push ups
It is a festive time of year, so remember to keep running and fitness enjoyable and merry!
Happy Running!
-Rose