Top Training Tips

If you’re participating in this year’s 2019 Christchurch Plunket Fun Run & Walk, we wanted to share some tips from the awesome health and wellness duo, Megs and Soph. They’ve whipped up some informative and inspiring training tips for everyone, including new parents, to help the preparation for the big day.

1. Planning

Sit down and plan your sessions for the week. Write them in your diary on your fridge or on your phone and tick them off as you complete each session.

2. Drink lots of water!

Remember to hydrate yourself. Especially if your breastfeeding it is really important to re-hydrate after exercise to ensure you keep your milk supply up.

3. Focus on fueling yourself properly before your sessions.

Take note of the foods that make you feel more energised and if it sits well in your tummy throughout your session (good to know come race day).

4. Invite a friend, or family member.

It’s nice to have company on the longer training sessions. You could even try doing a circuit round in your backyard or local park together. We’re sure they’ll enjoy it just as much as you do.

5. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Try get a faster kilometre or add extra repetitions in to your circuits.  You could also even try run up that hill you’ve always avoided.

6. Keep yourself accountable.

Tick off your workouts in your training diary as you complete them. Make sure you show it off to your gym trainer, husband, parents or even a friend! It’s nice to be able show it off and look back to see all the hard work you’ve put in. Plus, it is also a great way to track your progress.

7. Sleep!

As a parent, sleep is often one of the things that can easily go out the window.  Although it is important to get your training in, it’s also just as important that you’ve had enough sleep. So, listen to your body and if you truly haven’t had enough sleep, then maybe your training can wait until the afternoon after you’ve had a nap. Just try not to let sleep become your excuse to skip a session.

8. Listen to podcasts or good music.

Listening to a motivational podcast or upbeat music can sometimes completely change the mood of your run (if your running the streets with you headphones on, just make sure that you can still hear the incoming traffic).

9. Take your training somewhere new.

As the kilometres start to build up you might feel as though your running the same training routes over and over again. This week, we encourage you to find a track you’ve never tried be before and do your training there.

10. Get yourself some decent socks!

Seriously invest in some good socks and test them out during training so you know they’re the lucky ones for race day. Nothing worse than your socks hanging out down near your toes in your shoes during your race.

11. “Keep Going”!

As the kilmetres start to build, you may be finding some of the sessions tough, or maybe you’ve had a few bumps in the road. Just try to keep going! Visualise yourself crossing the finish line! We can’t explain how good it feels to cross the finish line or complete a goal you set out to do after putting in all the hard yards. It is incredible and your not far away from race day so give the last few weeks a good push.

12. Recovery.

Your recovery is just as important as your training sessions. Here are a few wonderful ways to help your body recover, help to avoid injury and you will definitely get a lot more out of your sessions:

• Get on that foam roller, stretch in front of the TV or outside.
• Have a bath with Epsom salts or, if you’re brave, why not try an ice bath?
• Make sure you wear your recovery tights.
• Treat yourself to a massage.
• Use your shakti mat.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at the big day! If you haven’t already registered or know of someone who’s keen join in the fun, you can buy tickets for 2019 Christchurch Plunket Fun Run & Walk below.