Getting out and about and exercising during the summer months is so rewarding. We get nicer weather to make the most of, longer days to utilize and everybody tends to feel a lot happier about themselves. It's a one-way ticket to success if you start your workout regime at this time of the year, but few people tend to see that. They stick with the idea that starting off at the gym and getting fit and healthy in January is the way to go. Who wants to push their body to the limits in the cold when you've got the option of embracing nature and the outdoors when the temperature starts to rise?
We get summer for a few months each year. There are places all around the world that are lucky enough to have it almost all year round, but for the majority of us, we are stuck with the seasons. And who can begrudge that? It offers variety to our training regime and ensures that we are not bored on a day to day basis.
We see different things when we are out running and it gives s the chance to get creative with our routes. Stick to the same thing every single day, and you'll soon begrudge the reason that you're running and grow complacent and bored with what you're doing. While the weather is fair and you can get the most out of your days, try and extend your running path a little further each time. Most marathons and training events happen over the summer, so entering yourself for one at the start of summer to complete at the end is a perfect goal to aim for.
It's easy to forget just how much more water your body needs when it's warmer than it does compared to the colder months. It's also easy to forget that you need to switch up your foods to cater for the fact that your body will naturally burn more calories in warmer weather.
If you are looking to run for weight loss rather than fitness; then supplement with something like Royal 21 Queen and ensure that you are eating a balanced diet. However, if it's solely for fitness, then you need to make sure that you are taking care of your body in the way it needs to be taken care of. Eating the right food for your body is like fuelling a car; if you are running on gas, it's silly to put diesel into it. It won't work.
It's the same with what you eat before a big run. If you are eating a lot of the wrong foods, your body won't work in the way that you want it to. You need complex carbohydrates to give you a slow release of energy throughout. Make sure that you have drunk plenty before you set off if you are averse to carrying water around with you. Think about the treats that you can have after your run – the healthy eating binge doesn't have to last forever!
If you have a smartwatch such as a FitBit, it's easy to keep track of how many calories you are burning, what your pulse rate is like throughout your run and how far you have traveled. It's a good idea to take a note of these statistics and have them on file. There are a few reasons for this.
The first is that it's a real motivation for you to see how far you've come from the start of the summer to the end. It's a great feeling to look down and see that you've burned X amount of calories as well as running X amount of distance.
The second is to be able to gauge how many calories you are burning over a period of time to be able to fuel yourself efficiently.
The third is to notice any anomalies in what you are doing and bring them to attention. If you have noticed that your heart rate is deviating from the norm after you have reached a plateau, or are seeing that you're not running somewhere as fast as you were and reached your destination in a time that reflects the amount of work that you've put into your training, it may be time to seek the help of a professional.
Even if it's just a false alarm, it's still a good idea to get checked over to ensure that you are doing everything right and there's not something happening within your body. This can be harder to pick up on in colder months as your body has to continually adapt to the temperature outside and takes longer to warm up. Use the summer months as your motivation to finding out the cause of a problem, if there are any.
Get Social, Pick A Buddy!
The tremendous thing about running in the summer is that you will have people who are willing to do it with you. Whether they're novices or advanced in their field, running with a partner in tow can do wonders for your motivation – and theirs. Remember to take it at a pace that suits the both of you, or pair up with other people who are on their level if they are uncertain that they'll be able to keep up at all.
We all had to start somewhere, and it bodes well to humble yourself and remember that when trying to introduce other people to a sport that you may well be a whizz at. It takes a certain amount of dedication, a pinch of time and a whole lot of luck and talent to be exquisite at something, so nurture the person who decides to take this step and support them on their journey. If they don't like it, don't worry – it's summer, and you are totally free to do what you want!