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There’s nothing like a challenge to keep you motivated to stay fit. It doesn’t have to be a huge challenge and, as research shows, aiming for a realistic keep-fit goal is more likely to be achievable than setting yourself a goal that might sound great but in reality is too difficult to stick to.
In December, I pledged to run every day. The minimum daily outing would be 25 minutes or three miles, whichever came first. I kept a blog of this Run Every Day in December Challenge and regardless of weather (often horrible), health (I battled a cough and cold for two weeks), commitments (work, family, festivities) and hangovers I managed to stick to the challenge.
There were days when it seemed like it would be impossible to squeeze in a 25 minute run but somehow I found the time. Some days I had to get up an hour earlier than usual, while on other days I ended up running late at night.
When the weather was icy, windy and truly appalling it would have been so easy to give in to the temptation to stay warm and dry indoors but I put on waterproof kit, or strapped ice grips to my trainers, and forced myself outdoors.
I even did a run after a huge day out walking in Scotland’s mountains.
The daily exercise was great for both my mental and physical health. Mentally I felt very satisfied after each daily run. Even if I jogged slowly around the shortest course I felt good about myself for actually getting outdoors and running even when I felt sluggish and under the weather.
Physically the daily runs gave me a great fitness base from which I have been able to launch a good New Year keep-fit plan.
I also believe that the daily running helped me to get over the winter bug faster than I would otherwise have beat it. While my partner stayed indoors coughing on the sofa I kept up my running and I have come through the illness far faster and with a much more positive attitude.
The first half of the month felt mentally tough, but by the time I’d past the half-way mark I was on a mission to complete the challenge. When, on the final day, my partner and I returned from a challenging mountain hike, I could easily have said a big fat no to a run. It was New Year’s Eve as well and we were due to head out for a big Hogmanay party. I had even half run a bath when my conscience got the better of me.
There was no way that I could substitute a hill walk, however tough, for run. That wasn’t the challenge. So I pulled on my running kit and took my aching legs for a short run. I reckon my legs felt the benefit and the next day I wasn’t suffering the same muscle aches as I would normally expect after a day of mountain hiking.
In January, some of my friends pledged to walk or run every day. But January can be a difficult month for motivating yourself. It’s cold and dark a lot of the time. So that’s why I’m suggesting a Fabruary challenge in February. February has the least number of days, and despite this being a Leap Year there are still just 29 days on which to walk, run or do at least half an hour of exercise.
The Fabruary Fitness Challenge
The Fabruary challenge is to spend at least half an hour every day working out. The effort should be cardiovascular if possible but it’s up to you to set your own challenge.
If you exercise every day for just 30 minutes you will feel amazing come March… and soon enough the warmer weather will arrive and you’ll be feeling confident about wearing spring clothing.
Go on, join the ThinQ Fitness Fabruary Fitness Challenge.
