When athletes take their workout routines outdoors, the benefits include better mental well-being, increased energy levels, and enhanced performance through a greater variety of training opportunities.
Adjust your workouts to increase their effectiveness as you transition from indoor to outdoor training. Spring fitness tips to improve your workout routine include varying the types and duration of training sessions and making changes to your routine to make it more engaging.
Switch Between Intensity and Endurance
Varying the intensity and duration of your training session results in more comprehensive, total body fitness. High-intensity interval training (HIIT), with its short-term bursts of intense speed and effort, builds strength, burns winter fat, decreases blood pressure, and can strengthen bones. However, it’s not an everyday workout. Mix in endurance training several days a week.
Endurance training builds heart, lung, and circulatory capacity and mental toughness. When you’re at mile 20 and hitting the wall or facing a final long incline in a road race, you need all the mental determination you can muster. Endurance training helps you build the fortitude you need to empty the tank.
Prepare for Different Types of Weather
Unpredictable weather is a challenge for spring training routines. Be prepared by dressing in layers so you can adjust to fluctuating temperatures.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast, and be flexible with your plans to adapt to changing conditions. If the forecast includes falling temperatures and precipitation, you don’t want to train at high altitudes when a spring snowstorm blows through. Additionally, spring features unseasonably high temperatures. Keep your water supply filled and be ready to sweat more with a lightweight sports headband that diverts sweat away from your eyes, preventing the sting and blur when it rolls down your forehead.
Include Rest Days
Although it may be tempting to take advantage of beautiful spring weather to train hard every day, include rest days in your routine. Allowing your body to recover is essential for preventing overtraining and injury. Follow the standard yet good advice of getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious diet, and incorporating some easy days into your training schedule.
Now that you're equipped with these tips for improving your workout routine this spring, it's time to embrace the challenge and get ready for your next race.