Thanksgiving is almost here! That means it’s time to sign up for your local Turkey Trot, Drumstick Dash or your own personal Thanksgiving Day 5K! Studies have proven that your metabolism increases for several hours post-workout, so make a priority to squeeze in some exercise and boost your body’s calorie burning abilities before the big feast. If you do happen to be training for a 5K on Thanksgiving Day, see below for a sample training program that starts on Monday, 11/11. So today, we want you to go for a brisk walk because you need to pick up the pace on Monday!
Note: This an aggressive running plan, as Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. It is highly recommended that you have done some running prior to starting this program, and that you are comfortable running 1+ miles. If you are a beginner runner, make a goal of finishing the 5K through a combination of walking and running. You can easily just walk through this schedule to help prepare for your event of choice.
11/11: Run 1 mile
11/13: Run 1.25 miles
11/15: Run 1.5 miles
11/18: Run 1.75 miles
11/20: Run 2 miles
11/22: Run 2.25 miles
11/25: Run 2.5 miles
11/27: Run 0.5-1 mile
11/28: Race day! Run 3.1 miles!
On days in between runs, focus on cross-training, for example weight-lifting or non-impact cardio (elliptical, biking, swimming, etc.) Allow for 1-2 days of rest each week. Check out past Free Workout Friday videos for cross training options.
Happy turkey trotting and drumstick dashing!