Having a full-time job and doing anything else during the day can be very difficult—especially exercise. Endurance training takes time, so feeling discouraged about training is not uncommon. The goal of successful training is simply being able to fit it into your schedule and get it done! There are a few different ways this can be accomplished, and a lot of it comes down to understanding who you are and what habits you naturally have in your day-to-day routine.
Early Bird Gets the Worm:
Some people find mornings work best. As soon as their eyes open, they are ready to get moving. Many use this time to head to the gym and knock out their training session before heading to work.
Productivity Does Not Stop After Work:
Some people prefer constant motion and don’t stop to relax after their shift is done for the day. For these individuals, it might be easiest to find a gym or training route on their way home from work.
Midday Movers:
Others find they are most productive in the middle of the day during their lunch break. If you have an onsite fitness center, this can be a very convenient time to fit in a workout. Many facilities have treadmills or safe paths around campus to help you complete your training for the day.
Some people struggle with finding places to run, and that can be difficult if there is uncertainty about where to go. While it might feel challenging to get out and explore possible routes or locations, there are a few good places to start.
Parks:
Parks are a great starting point. Most include peaceful paths through fields or wooded areas that can provide mental clarity. In some cases, there are trail loops laid out for users that offer varying distances, difficulties, and terrain. If there is one near your workplace or home, that’s a great place to begin!
College Campuses:
College campuses are another good option. They usually have plenty of paths weaving throughout the campus, so there is almost never a shortage of new routes to try. Universities often feel like their own little bubble, meaning less traffic and fewer interruptions, which can help you stay focused.
When in Doubt, Look Online:
If you live in a big city, there are usually plenty of websites or forums that are regularly updated with new or popular routes that avid runners enjoy. These can also be great opportunities to meet both new and experienced runners and walkers.
Another aspect to consider is how to train for common road-running events like the 5K, 10K, and mini marathon. A great way to start is by running or walking 2–4 days per week during the first couple of weeks. From there, gradually build the frequency of your runs. Once you are comfortable with that routine, add an extra mile or two occasionally to push your comfort zone.
After that, a good next step is to run a little faster one or two days each week and slowly progress your speed over time. Another important habit to develop is adding at least one cross-training day each week. Cross-training can include activities like biking, rowing, swimming, or strength training. These exercises help prevent injuries by reducing the repeated pounding on your legs while still providing the endurance training needed to continue improving cardiovascular fitness. And remember—always stretch after each workout session, no matter what type of exercise you are doing.
Training for a race while working a full-time job can be challenging. Finding a way to fit training sessions into your workday isn’t always easy, but it is possible. Finding safe and enjoyable places to run can feel intimidating at first, but there are always places to start. If you have figured out how to fit training into your schedule and found places to run, then you are already on the right track. From there, it’s simply about gradually increasing frequency, intensity, and volume.
This should give you a good starting point for your training journey. Best of luck!



Individuals can get held up by the numbers on the scale, and for good reasons, but it's also important to consider the changes in mood, energy, and strength along the way. These changes are often overlooked, yet they are often the first signs of progress and can be just as important as the numbers on the scale.
Everyone is always wanting to know what the top trends for health and fitness each year are and in 2023 we are seeing concepts we can get on board with and fully support! Check out these tops trends and why we support and encourage our corporate fitness center members to adapt these trends.
When going through one’s fitness journey, there are often times when working out becomes repetitive and boring. When that feeling of monotony starts to take place it’s generally a good idea to find a way to spice up your training. You can do so by varying your intensities during training, which in many cases is a great idea. But another way to add some variety to your training is by simply substituting movements in on a cyclical basis. Let’s discuss why this is helpful and then talk about some ways to change up your routine.
The first thing you want to do before building a workout plan is to start with the end in mind, what is your goal? Are you looking to lose weight, get stronger, increase flexibility, run a 5k? Once you figure out why you want to exercise it becomes easier to plan how frequency, duration, and what exercises you should do.
As organizations are planning to reopen their offices in the weeks and months ahead, many questions are swirling around what the new office landscape will look like for both employers and employees. Some organizations are telling their employees if they can work from home full-time, they’d like for them to continue doing so permanently. Others can’t wait to return to normal office operations while also recognizing a hybrid telecommuting model will likely be the outcome.
When waking up early in the morning, it can be extremely difficult to make it through a morning workout by yourself or perhaps you may not push yourself as hard through the last round of squats as you power through alone. There is a quite a bit that can be said about exercising in a group and how it births motivation.
As more companies welcome their employees back to the office, they are also developing reopening strategies for their onsite fitness centers. It’s one thing to establish social distancing protocols in office spaces, breakrooms, etc., and it’s a whole other ballgame managing traffic in and out of the dynamic environments of locker rooms and fitness centers full of movement. NIFS has been helping our clients prepare their reopening plans so they can do so with confidence that this engaging space is safe for their employees. As your organization considers its reopening plans, review these considerations and align policies that best support your space and programming expectations of your members.
While many may have feelings of uncertainty come to mind with everything we’ve endured thus far in 2020, we’ve also experienced inspiration from the dedication of our healthcare workers and educators and witnessed innovation in how many industries are adapting to remote workforces and revised service models.