5 Tips for Reaching Your Summer Fitness Goals

It’s March! The days are getting longer, the temperature is starting to creep up and spring is right around the corner. You know what that means! Time to get serious about your summer fitness goals. Need a little help getting started or staying on track? We got you. Here’s 5 tips we continually visit while we prepare for our big events.

Commit
It’s one thing to say, “I’m planning to do x, y or z,” and it’s another thing entirely to actually commit to it. That means going ahead and signing up for that big race or buying a plane ticket to your adventure destination. Whatever it is that makes it REAL, do it. Putting some skin (cash-money) in the game can be a great motivator.

Plan
Having a plan is critical to arrive at your goal appropriately prepared. If you’re planning a long endurance event like a marathon or triathlon, consider hiring a coach or committing to one of the many free online plans available. If you’re aiming to do something more adventurous like hiking the Grand Canyon that requires more general strength and fitness, ask a friend to be an accountability or workout partner and agree on your schedule at least a week in advance. Putting in the work is easier when you don’t have to wake up each day wondering what you should do.

Gear Up
No matter what your goal, I’m betting it is going to require some kind of gear. Planning to Escape from Alcatraz? You’re going to want a properly fitted wetsuit, non-leaking goggles and body glide. Running a marathon? You might go through a few pair of running shoes throughout your training – not to mention sunscreen, socks and anti-chafe products. Don’t wait until you’re out of something to replenish, or until the day before your event to upgrade your gear. Get it sorted now so there are no surprises.

Dial in Your Nutrition
Now is the best time to experiment and figure out what works for you. Our bodies all have unique needs, so while your best friend might do great on Cokes and Twinkies, that strategy might not work for you. Keep in mind that if you are doing an event where you’ll be working much harder for much longer than you typically do in a training session, your nutrition tolerance may change. Unfortunately, there is no substitute for experience in this arena, but using products (such as GLUKOS) that have limited ingredients and avoid carbs that have to be digested (fructose, sucrose, maltodextrin) is a smart way to prevent nutrition disasters.

Have Fun
Remember that this entire process and experience should bring you joy! If training for your summer fitness goal has become a burden or is a source of stress, perhaps it is time to rethink things. There’s no shame in shifting gears if you’re miserable, but don’t let one tough day totally derail you.