Getting out the door tends to be the hardest thing for me when it comes to working out. Even though I love to run, there are days where I just don’t feel like it. I’d rather just stay inside and surf the internet. I thought I’d share a few ideas to make exercise a little more fun. Ironically, as I was finishing this article today, I learned that it’s National Trails Day. Very fitting for this post!
Explore a new hike and bike trail.
Walking is not my favorite form of exercise, but I’ve found ways to make it a little more interesting. Each time we go walking, I do a quick search online to find us a new trail to go on. We are very fortunate where we live to have several trails to choose from. It’s amazing how many awesome trails we’ve discovered, and the neat things we would never have seen otherwise.
If you live in a city or town where you don’t have access to several trails or any at all, you can search online to try to find one near you. TrailLink is a great resource that you can use to search for trails in other cities or towns. I also use Google maps to search for nearby trails. Make a day out of it. Pack a picnic, load up the kiddos and head out to explore.
Find a buddy to go walking or running with.
While I prefer to run alone, I really enjoy going for walks with my husband. It gives us a chance to talk without the distraction of the TV or computers. Having a friend or spouse to go walking or running with can really help. It varies on who helps who get out the door, but there have been many times where we might have skipped if the other hadn’t pushed us to go.
Get a bicycle.
Don’t enjoy running or walking? Get a bicycle and find some trails or bicycle routes in your area. If you live near McKinney, Erwin Park is a popular place for mountain biking. You can also hike it, but just try to stay aware of bicyclists on the trail. It’s currently closed due to flooding, but will reopen as soon as possible.
If you happen to live in city that has a trail system where you can ride a bike for miles, then pack a lunch, throw it in a backpack and head out for the day. This is something we are planning to do sometime in the future. The Six Cities Trail system that is slowly being completed here in our area is going to be awesome!
Read fitness magazines or blogs.
Sometimes just reading someone’s race recap really makes me want to lace up my running shoes and hit the streets. Reading Runner’s World magazine has also helped in the past. Another person’s excitement over running can be really be contagious.
I hope this post has given you an idea or two. I know how difficult it can be to come up with the willpower to work out, but it’s so rewarding in the end.