• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • New? Start Here!

RunToTheFinish

Online Running Coach for All Paces, All Ages

  • Training
    • Beginner Half Marathon Training
    • Sub Two Half Marathon Training
    • Marathon Training
    • New Runner Tips
    • Low Heart Rate Training
    • Group Run Coaching
    • Nutrition for Runners
  • Running Injuries
  • Gear Reviews
  • Work Together
    • Virtual Run Club
    • 1-1 Coaching
    • Brand Partnerships
  • Courses
    • Book
    • IT Band Solution
    • LHR Training Plans
  • Blog

Fun Workouts: Bring The Joy Back to Your Workouts

239shares
fitness fun

That’s right, I said it. Fun workouts!

Fitness is FUN or at least it should be. If you’re dreading every single workout, your run down, injured and totally stressed out then you’re doing it wrong.

I know the world is ablaze with “no pain no gain” mantras and “never miss a Monday“, but sometimes what you need on a Monday is to put your feet up and soak in a good book.

In fact, Monday’s are my active recovery day and I don’t feel bad about it at all because I finally fully understand that without recovery there is no progress.

If you don’t give your body a break for your muscles to repair and your system to relax…you will likely slam headfirst into the dreaded over training syndrome or wonder why you’ve plateaued.

A rest day doesn’t have to mean leaving a dent in the couch from a Netflix marathon, it can always include a great walk, some easy yoga or even a fitness class that’s totally for fun.

But enough about recovery, let’s focus on how to make fitness fun anytime!

If you aren't having fun with your #fitness then you're doing it wrong via @runtothefinish Click To Tweet

Fun Workout Ideas

Let’s talk about how to have more fun with your fitness…if you’ve unfortunately lost that lovin’ feeling today we’re going to get it back!

Some of these are no brainers, but we all need reminders!Fun Workout Ideas

1. Tried and True: Workout Buddies

One study, showed that we are five times more likely to exercise if our spouse does! No need to fret my single friends, having a consistent buddy who is counting on you to show up or to help them achieve a goal is just as good.

For many of us workout time may be the only real time we take for ourselves, which is why group fitness classes are booming, friendship.

Michigan State University’s Department of Kinesiology found these results:

Participants who exercised as part of a team kept going, on average, two minutes longer than those who exercised independently with a partner — 22 versus 20 minutes — and twice as long as those who exercised without a partner — 22 versus 11 minutes.

The best news about this study?

The results were the same whether the partner was in person or virtual!

  • Checkout Bande where you do classes on Zoom LIVE – I did a dance class and it was so fun with friends! Something I would not have done on my own.
  • Join the Pelonton App for $12.99 and connect with others during LIVE classes
  • Join our Virtual Run Club where we constantly have group goals, are sharing tons of support and kudos for just showing up!
  • Checkout your local running store to see what group runs they offer. Even if smaller right now, that’s all you need to get out the door.
  • Find a personal trainer to work with over Zoom! You’ll absolutely get the benefit whether they are in person or on a screen and they’ll help you figure out how to work with what you have.

2. Move with Joy (Like a Kid!)

Instead of making every workout about health or a better body, move just because you enjoy it!

I love a dance party at my standing work desk and I love trying out new classes with ClassPass. When you leave the calorie burn or mileage focus at the door a lot of times you might even find the run you were dreading becomes a lot more relaxing.

What are some fun workouts?

  • Jump rope with your kids
  • Toss on some music for a dance party or do a Zumba class
  • Try something totally new like fencing or rock climbing
  • Grab a friend for a walk and talk — this is my personal favorite thing ever
  • Try driving to a new place to hike or walk and enjoy the scenery
  • Snowshoe!! I’m a nervous skier, but I LOVE this exercise to get me out in the winter and enjoy it.
  • Mix up your treadmill time by combining it with a strength workout
  • Go OLD SCHOOL – I found a TaeBo class on YouTube the other day and LOVED doing it, plus it brought back so many memories I couldn’t stop laughing

Make enjoying yourself the only goal.

Shoot yoga on the rocks isn’t a crazy workout, but it makes you fall in love with yoga all over again and that’s part of how you stay consistent!how yoga builds stamina and other running benefits

3. Get Outdoors

A better mood means a better workout a getting outside has been proven to be a natural mood booster! From the fresh air to the vitamin D, to the variety!

“Breathing fresh air opposed to the recycled kind can create a feeling of euphoria, which comes from the body’s release of feel-good endorphins,” says Robert Gotlin, DO, director of the Orthopedic and Sports Rehabilitation at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.

“It’s not that your muscles respond better to it, but rather your mind does, which in turn makes you want to work harder.”

ABC news also reported:
Exercising outside also creates greater feelings of revitalization, energy, and positive thinking than does working out indoors, according to a report published in Environmental Science and Technology.

What’s more, after an 30-minute walk in the park, 71 percent of people feel less stressed, while 72 percent of people who take their walks indoors actually feel more stressed.

If you’re struggling to get out the door in the winter, checkout these winter running benefits – from burning calories to a better immune system.

  • Just take your yoga mat outside
  • Do your strength training in the driveway (trust me after 2020 no one will thing that’s weird)
  • Walk around the neighborhood
  • Switch your morning run to a lunch time run so that you can get some sunshine
  • Remember you deserve breaks during the day and take a second to step outside and breathe.

4. Explore Variety with Apps

Maybe your lack of fun is because every workout feels the same? No cash to try out a ton of classes? Good news, there’s an app for that!

  • DailyBurn 365 – try a new workout every single day (most are good for any ability level)
  • Zombies, Run! – just in case you need to be prepared for doom’s day
  • KrowdFit – join group challenges, get entries to big giveaways each time you workout
  • Thank Dog – get fit while teaching your dog obedience, that’s multitasking at it’s finest
  • Strava – I’m not in to it, but man the competitive streak it brings out in a lot of you is incredible

Added bonus? New research has shown that “gaming” can both enhance your motivation to work hard and to stick with a program! Checkout these free apps for runners>>

One study by Dr. Natalia Lawrence, concluded this:

“It is free, easy to do, and 88 percent of our participants said they would be happy to keep doing it and would recommend it to a friend. This opens up exciting possibilities for new behavior change interventions based on underlying psychological processes.”What is mindfulness vs meditation

5. Set Yourself Challenges

One of the reason I LOVE the online community is you can always find a challenge that will tap in to our primal drive to measure progress and have a bit of friendly competition.

You can also challenge yourself by changing your goal!

  • Run for time instead of miles
  • Try an obstacle race
  • Try running stairs
  • Test your skills at pull ups or push ups instead of cardio
  • Focus on increasing your run/walk intervals
  • Try lifting heavier for less reps instead of max weight reps
  • Try doing something every single day for an entire month
  • Try doing something new every day for an entire month!

Head over to Facebook to show off your fitness fun!!

How do you keep it fun?

Other ways to connect with Amandarunning coach
Instagram Daily Fun: RunToTheFinish

Facebook Community Chatter: RunToTheFinish

Sign Up to Receive a Weekly Newsletter with Top Running Tips and Laughs

 

How to Make Fitness More Fun (year round!)
239shares

Posted by amanda Categories: running coach

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. wendy says

    November 22, 2015 at 7:56 pm

    See, I'm not the crazy one who runs outside all winter! Turns out it's the other way around!
    My recent post Road therapy

  2. Kate says

    November 22, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    I absolutely agree. Great list.

    Keeping it efficient is another thing that helps me feel great about a workout (and have more fun). For example, if I’m going to an easy run, I’ll sometimes listen to an audiobook or my favorite podcasts.

  3. cpalentri says

    November 22, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    We hiked this a.m. and then mountain biked this afternoon in the chill and snow! So fun! Everything (every workout I do!) is all about having FUN! Tomorrow- a trail run!

  4. Mary Beth Jackson says

    November 23, 2015 at 5:53 am

    A friend always makes that workout better! The long run is so boring by myself but I do love being outdoors! Everything is better outside. New adventures are waiting I hope to find something fun this long weekend! :)

  5. Carla says

    November 23, 2015 at 6:11 am

    by ALWAYS MAKING THE WAY I MOVE MY BODY PLAYFUL!
    I totally associate the no pain no gain with jane fonda.
    Hopefully that will some day be all over and passe…
    My recent post National Adoption Month

  6. christineyu69776410 says

    November 23, 2015 at 7:41 am

    I definitely need to add more fun into my fitness and I love these ideas.
    My recent post Family Meals Made Fun: Tips for Cooking With Kids

  7. mommyrunfaster says

    November 23, 2015 at 8:03 am

    Great ideas! I completely agree that fitness should be fun. And then when my rest day comes I am ready for it and fully enjoy it, too!
    My recent post Get Fitter and Stronger in the Off Season [Challenge]

  8. Krysten says

    November 23, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    I have been taking more time on my runs to enjoy nature, take pictures, and just breathe. It has helped remind me why I love running so much!
    My recent post Meal Planning + Weekly Workouts + Grief

  9. youngandrungry says

    November 23, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    New apparel or work out clothes always help me keep things interesting and trail running is my all-time favorite way to keep running fun! As far as other fitness, I love anything with an element of adrenaline like rock climbing or mountain biking!
    My recent post Soundtrack to My Weekend

  10. thisrunnersrecipes says

    November 23, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    Great ideas! Fitness should absolutely be fun, especially if it's done outside! Pretty scenery and fresh air always makes a workout fun, and so does a furry little running buddy.
    My recent post Mile Markers 11/16/2015 – 11/22/2015

  11. Allie says

    November 23, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    I'm lucky in that just a gorgeous day for a run is FUN for me :-) I'm so thankful for every day my legs and lungs work!!
    My recent post The Rundown – Love/Hate Relationships

  12. Mark says

    November 23, 2015 at 7:37 pm

    Once fitness changes from a "grind" or a "chore" and becomes a habit, that's when it becomes fun. I go to the gym because it's a habit now, like brushing my teeth, and I love every minute of it.
    My recent post Tips on What to Do To Build Lean Muscle

  13. [email protected] says

    November 28, 2017 at 9:30 am

    I would love to have a fitness buddy but it’s so hard to find someone with the same schedule!

  14. Kimberly Hatting says

    November 28, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    These are all great tips! I think variety is key, as well as being outside, and honoring rest/recovery days. I have a friend who runs the exact same 6-mile route everyday, always in the same direction, and almost always at the exact time of day as well. And, her toes are constantly in bandages and her back needs ongoing chiropractic attention…a rest/recovery day would serve her well….

  15. Aimee says

    December 22, 2020 at 9:32 am

    I love getting outside with my husband as we walk the dogs right now. I am recovering from knee surgery, so we don’t go too far, but it is a great time to get some walking in and be able to connect during the hectic holidays! Do you think that qualifies as still getting a workout in? My at-home PT exercises are probably more of a workout, right? Hope you have a great holiday!

    • amanda says

      December 22, 2020 at 12:55 pm

      I call walk and talks one of my favorite things!

Primary Sidebar

Filter by Category
  • Select a Category
  • 10 miler
  • 10K
  • 13.1 marathon series
  • 15K
  • 30 Day Challenge
  • 5k
  • About ME
  • Abs
  • Active Travel
  • alaska
  • Amanda Brooks
  • Arizona
  • Asics
  • Austin
  • Baltimore
  • barefoot running
  • beauty
  • Biking
  • birthday
  • bloggers
  • blogging tips
  • body fat
  • body image
  • body weight exercises
  • book reviews
  • Boston Marathon
  • breakfast
  • California
  • Camping
  • Canada
  • Caribbean
  • chicago
  • ChiRunning
  • Clean Eating
  • cold weather training
  • colorado
  • compression
  • Costa Rica
  • Crockpot
  • cross training
  • CrossFit
  • dairy free
  • dessert
  • egg free
  • electrolytes
  • emotional health
  • Europe
  • family
  • Fit Together
  • fitness gear
  • Fitness Tracker
  • fitness vacation
  • florida
  • foam roller
  • food sensitivity
  • Fort Lauderdale
  • France
  • Funny Running
  • Gift Guide
  • Gluten Free
  • GPS Watch
  • Green Smoothie
  • Guides and Tips
  • habits
  • Half Marathon
  • Hawaii
  • HBBC
  • health coach
  • healthy eating
  • Healthy Home
  • Healthy lifestyle
  • Heart Rate Training
  • HIIT workout
  • hiking
  • hiking
  • Hip Strength
  • Hoka One One
  • Holistic Health
  • Hormones
  • hydration
  • Iceland
  • injury
  • inspiration
  • instagram
  • Ireland
  • IT Band
  • IT Band Recovery
  • Jerusalem
  • key west
  • knee injury
  • Kona
  • Love
  • low heart rate training
  • Maffetone
  • main dish
  • Marathon
  • marathon training
  • marriage
  • meal planning
  • Meditation
  • Memphis
  • mental marathon training
  • Mexico
  • Miami
  • Motivation
  • New York City
  • New York City Marathon
  • New York City Marathon Training
  • NYC marathon
  • Oregon
  • Orlando
  • Palm Beach
  • Philadelphia Marathon
  • physical therapy
  • podcasts
  • Prague
  • Product Review
  • Race
  • race costume
  • race medal
  • race photo
  • race report
  • Ragnar
  • Recipe
  • recovery
  • recovery meal
  • relaxation
  • relay race
  • resolution run
  • review
  • Rock N Roll
  • run club
  • Runner's World
  • running accessories
  • running books
  • running coach
  • running form
  • running fuel
  • running gear
  • Running Group
  • running motivation
  • running music
  • Running Shoes
  • safety
  • salads
  • san diego
  • Saucony
  • Seattle
  • skin care
  • Soup
  • South Beach
  • South Carolina
  • South Florida
  • speed work
  • sports nutrition
  • Stand Up Paddle Boarding
  • Steamboat Springs
  • Strength Training
  • stretching
  • sugar reduction
  • Thanksgiving
  • trail running
  • Training Group
  • training plan
  • travel
  • travel running
  • treadmill
  • treadmill workout
  • triathlon
  • ultrarunning
  • vegan
  • Vegas
  • vegatarian
  • vegetable
  • virtual run
  • wedding
  • weight loss
  • winter
  • women's running
  • workout
  • workout motivation
  • workout schedule
  • Yoga

5 Secrets to Improve Your RUn

Start Making Quick Progress on Your Goals (I swear it's easy) no matter your current fitness level. The tips I share with the runners I coach.

Recent Posts

  • Running Workouts to Improve Speed and Stamina
  • What to Eat Before a Run | Best Pre Workout Snacks
  • Budget Friendly Workout Gear |That Fits and Works
  • Running Twice a Day | Pros and Cons
  • 30 Day Core Challenge | Abs, Glutes and Hips

Must Have Gear

Comparing GPS Watches

Best HR Monitor for Running

Best Foam Rollers

Best Running Books

Running Jackets for Every Condition

fitness partners

Please note that affiliate links {such as Amazon} may pop up on RTTF from time to time. They do not cost you anything to use, but are a huge help to support the ongoing content creation process. Click here to do your shopping!

Welcome!!

Hello runners! I’m Amanda Brooks, a certified personal trainer and running coach. I’ve been coaching over a decade and distance running since 2002. My philosophy is that running isn’t about your pace or the distance or your body. It’s about showing up for yourself, loving the process and doing it injury free!

 

online running coach

Footer

Get the Free 5 Day Better Runner Challenge

Start Making Quick Progress on Your Goals (I swear it's easy)

About Amanda Brooks

Amanda Brooks is a Certified Running Coach, Certified Personal Trainer and long time distance runner with a passion for every facet of running, which leads her to do more reading, research and running than necessary. Find all the tips, tricks and tools you need from this running coach for your best injury free running. Read More…

Popular Posts on RunToTheFinish

  • Piriformis Syndrome Exercises: Alleviating a Pain in the Butt
  • 17 Funniest Running Memes – Which One’s Do You Relate To?
  • Why Your Workout is Causing Weight Gain
  • Best Virtual Races and 11 Reasons You Need to Do One
  • T25, P90X3, PiYo – Can it Improve Your Running? Complete Comparison

runtothefinish

Amanda Brooks : Run Coach
SHARE THE ONE that resonates most with you. 🏃‍♀️🏃🏾🏃🏽‍♂️
 
It’s true, I’ll never stop talking about the warm up 😂. But right now the idea that running is HOPEFUL really strikes a chord.💜
 
We show up mile after mile always looking to what’s ahead and what’s possible.
 
Which one hits home for you?
.
.
.
#runningmotivation #runninginspiration #medalmonday #fitnessmemes #runningmemes #runningquotes #runnerslife #runnerlife
AVOID HITTING THE WALL (save this and review befor AVOID HITTING THE WALL (save this and review before races) -AKA  Bonking. UK friends giggle at that, but it’s a term just like fartlek.
.
It’s that painful moment when your mind tells your legs to stop and it feels like there’s nothing you can do to turn the tides. It leaves emotional scars!🥵
 
WHAT TO DO!
1️⃣Train differently - seems obvious, but consistent training that follows a plan which progressively and smartly builds your miles and strength and speed...ya it works.
 
2️⃣Fuel, fuel, fuel - force yourself to eat before races and long runs even if not hungry.
.
Starting fueling sooner than you think you need to and keep doing it. During races your body is running on more carbs and needs that steady flow of energy. 
.
🧠 Your brain functions on CARBS, stop depriving it or it will tell you to stop running. If food while running is an issue for you, checkout something like @genucan.
 
3️⃣Pacing - Stop going out too fast because you’re excited, it absolutely catches up to you. Ideal is even pacing start to finish.
 
4️⃣Pay attention to your brain. @fitzgerald.matt in How Bad Do You Want it does a great job of showing how the brain can limit performance if you don’t know what’s happening up there.
 
5️⃣Recover better - Stop over training and give your body tools to help it destress from all the work...the best one is SLEEP. I also love @resiliencecbd to help with nerves prior to a race and quality sleep during training.
 
❓❓Helpful?? Have more race day questions?? Or an epic story of hitting the wall?? I wanna know.❓❓
.
.
.
Thanks to @moxie82co for capturing this weird moment, it worked great for this post.
HIT THOSE HIPS!!! I’ve given you a couple hip mo HIT THOSE HIPS!!! I’ve given you a couple hip mobility workouts, now we add strength!
//
🥳For the next 30 days in the Virtual Run Club we’ll be going hard on all the pre-hab work for hips, glutes and abs. Because running isn’t just about the miles.
//
That’s one of the reasons I’ve been consistently doing @insidetracker bloodwork since 2015.
.
It’s helped me identify low Vitamin D causing fatigue or catch my wayyy high cortisol to embrace easy runs as key part of the process.
📌 (Save this post because the last screen has a 25% off discount code and you can get free access to the 30 Day March Challenge.)
👉LINK IN BIO FOR BOTH
✅✅✅✅
3 CORE MOVES
|||
You can use these as a progression or do all three, they’ll target the hips, glutes and core in different ways with each variation.
 
Aim for 15 reps prior to a run or do multiple rounds as part of a workout!
 
1️⃣Side Plank Kneeling Hip Raise - Really focus on your core engaging to raise up and keeping your elbow under your shoulder.
 
2️⃣Side Plank Kneeling Leg Raise - Again core should be tight to keep hips lifted, not sagging towards the ground. Then focus on your hip and glute to raise the top leg.
 
3️⃣Straight Leg Side Plank Leg Raise - Engage the core to keep hips high and press the bottom foot in to the ground to really engage your glutes. Slow and steady to remain stable while raising and lowering top leg.
❓❓❓❓
Talk to me!!!
Who’s in for 10 min a day in March?
Who’s gotten blood work to improve their health?
Who’s excited it’s almost spring?
👉👉Me to all 3! And more info in stories!
 
 
 
#runtothefinish #insidetrackerpartner
RUN DAYS ARE THE BEST DAYS😊 I had training tips RUN DAYS ARE THE BEST DAYS😊 I had training tips planned to share today, but really just wanted to say I hope you get in some miles today and they make you smile.
 
Let go of the pace.
Let go of the distance.
Let go of HR for a day.
Just run.
We GET to.
 
Where in the world are you running today?
.
I’ll be embracing one warm day before snow here in Boulder, CO.
EMOJI POLL: Round or no? ⏰ give me whole numbers EMOJI POLL: Round or no?
⏰ give me whole numbers
👍wherever I stop, it stops
🙃I don’t use no stinking watch
||
THAT’S A LIE 😂. I can’t do it. I need the round number and when I get that close to a whole number...I need it!
Follow on Instagram
Website written, managed and maintained by Amanda Brooks, a certified running coach and personal trainer. Any advice should be taken as general information and not a personalized plan. All opinions, tips and reviews are based upon her personal life experience and the experiences of those she has coached. View our full privacy and review policy.

Copyright © 2021 RunToTheFinish

Copyright © 2021 · RunToTheFinish V2 on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in