FitSugar

6 Ways to Beat Boredom on the Track

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 04:22:56 PDT

Now that school is officially out, the track at your local middle or high school is probably available for your running pleasure. Whether running around a track is new to you or a place you've always worked out, the monotony can be very calming and meditative, but it can also be extremely boring. I know it's not the most exciting place to get your run on, but since it's also not the most popular place, you can try these creative ways to beat boredom without worrying about other people giving you strange looks.

Do interval training without having to think by sprinting the straights and walking the curves.
Work on becoming a faster runner with speed training. Do this by timing yourself while running three laps. Each lap you run, try to beat your previous time.
Practice negative splits. Run a mile by running the first two laps at a slower than normal pace and then speed it up for the last two laps by running slightly faster than your normal pace.
Strength train on the move. Do walking forward lunges on the straights and walking side squats on the curves. Be sure to switch directions on the curves so you're leading with the left foot first and the right foot the second time around the curve.
Time your mile. See how fast you can run around the track four times and use this as a point of reference. Repeat every month or so, trying to shave off a few seconds every time.
Vary your steps. Since the terrain of a track is flat and predictable, you can safely practice varying your steps while running to prevent repetitive stress injuries. Here are some ideas: take baby steps, lengthen your stride and take giant steps, lift your knees high up to your chest with each step, zigzag, run sideways, or run backward.

10 Ways to Pass the Time on Cardio Machines

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:52:00 PDT

If you can't get outside for a run or bike ride, using a cardio machine is a wonderful alternative. Since the weather is always perfect indoors, you never have an excuse not to work out. It can be agonizingly boring though, so here are some suggestions from FitSugar readers to help beat the boredom and make your cardio machine time more enjoyable.

Kimpossible and laellavita suggest doing interval training. Switch between moderate running and sprinting to keep your mind busy. This is also my favorite way to work out on a cardio machine.
You can also do intervals with the incline, as suggested by syako. Pump up the incline for a few minutes, then lower it for a few minutes.
FitSugar reader tangentlines suggests reading big novels to pass the time, but if you don't like flipping pages, shiningeyes suggests listening to audiobooks.

To hear the other great ideas,

Your Top 10 Ways to Exercise

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:50:00 PDT

A few weeks ago I asked you guys to tell me what your favorite ways to exercise are, and you all gave me some great responses - I'm even motivated to do a little more dancing and dust off the old Rollerblades.

After tallying up all the votes, I've narrowed down the most popular activities. So for the most desirable ways to exercise, just

read more. Here are your top ways to get moving:

Running tied with swimming
Walking tied with yoga
Dancing
Weightlifting
Hiking
Pilates tied with biking
Elliptical tied with kickboxing
Inline skating tied with Wii Fit
Tennis tied with rock climbing
Golf

Agree with the top 10? Does your favorite fall on the list? Share your thoughts below. Source

Beat Treadmill Boredom: Compete With Yourself

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:45:00 PDT

A lot of people tell me that they just cannot run on the treadmill because it's just too dang boring - plain old running at 6.0 mph for 40 minutes. To that I say, no kidding. I couldn't agree more.

This is why you need to try and beat the boredom by switching it up. My current favorite way to keep motivated is by competing with myself on the days when I feel like I could not possibly run over ten minutes on the treadmill.

I'll tell myself in the beginning, "OK, I'm going to run for 20 minutes." When 20 minutes comes along, I say, "OK, I bet you can't go five more minutes." When just five more minutes passes, I say, "You are going to be so proud of yourself if you go just five more minutes." Then I'll say, "OK, run as fast as you can for five more minutes and you'll feel amazing."

Breaking it up mentally really helps me make it through and I am always proud of myself for making it way past 20 minutes. So find ways to compete with yourself. If you have any suggestions for everyone, share the ways you compete with yourself in the comments section below.

Source

4 Reasons to Try TRX Suspension Training

Leta Shy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:45:17 PST

It may have been developed for the Navy SEALs, but you don't have to be in secret-weapon shape to work out with TRX. The concept of the TRX suspension training is pretty basic: you use two cables on your feet or hands to partially suspend your body and use your own body weight as resistance. The muscle groups you work as well as how hard you work them all depend on the positioning of your body on the cables.

To find out more about the benefits of the workout, I spoke with Randy Hetrick, former Navy SEAL and current CEO and founder of TRX, at the unveiling of the newly expanded TRX Training Center in San Francisco, CA. If you've ever wondered about all those odd-looking straps hanging in your gym, read on to find out more about working out with TRX.

It's for anyone: So, who should do TRX? Everyone, Randy says. "People who like yoga and Pilates tend to like TRX because there are some crossovers. But it's also great for runners, cyclists, or anyone who is an endurance athlete and wants to have more strength training." Even reluctant "power lifters" are usually swayed by the workout once they see how effective it can be at building muscle, he says.
It's beginner-friendly: Another reason to try a TRX class - it's easy to tweak exercises to your own level of difficulty and ramp up when necessary. "It's all user-defined," Randy says. "You determine how hard or how easy you really want to go. So really advanced or really beginners can work out in the same class and get what's right for them."

Read on for more reasons to try TRX.

Where Are All the Single Geeks? 5 Places You Might Find Them

GeekSugar — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:18:03 PST

In my social circle, I hear the same question often: "Where are all the single geek boys?" If you're a single gal, you may be asking yourself the same, so I'm taking a stab at playing matchmaker. Below, you'll find five possible places to uncover scores of single geeks, hopefully bringing your dating search to an end. By the way, you can still leave your other tech-related questions on our Facebook page, in the comments, or in our Ask a Geek Girl group to get the answers you need!

Online - According to new research, 66 percent of Gen-Y daters know someone who found love online, and there are lots of places to look. From Cupidtino to DateCraft (the insanely popular World of Warcraft dating site), you're sure to find that special geek wandering the Internet. You may even stumble upon a geek worth talking to in forums and comment sections on your favorite websites. Keep your eyes peeled - they're out there.
Sunnyvale, CA - OKCupid's recent Valentine's Day poll shows that there are more eligible geeky bachelors in Sunnyvale, CA, than anywhere else in the country. It's in the heart of sunny Silicon Valley, so if you're ready to settle down with a hard-working software engineer, tech expert, or entrepreneur, then head west my friends. You may also get a good tan in the process.

See the rest of the list when you read more.

A Reader Shares Her Boredom-Busting Printable Indoor Cardio Workout

Fit Community — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:06:22 PST

Reader FitFabCities has a boredom-busting workout for your next stint on the treadmill, elliptical, or bike. She shared it with us in our FitSugar Community.

Since you've all had Winter weather for awhile, you might be getting a little bored with your usual indoor-cardio workout. Well, here’s a new printable workout that you can do on any cardio machine, and it’s sure to beat your boredom. It combines hill work, sprint intervals, and longer intervals, so find an elliptical trainer, treadmill, or bike, and you’re good to go!

Breakdown

The workout is broken into three parts. If you’re new to working out, you can do one or two sections, or if you’re looking for more of a challenge, you can do all three.
The workout totals about 43 minutes of cardio.
Part A is about climbing a big gradual hill.
Part B consists of 30-second sprints.
Part C includes longer intervals of two, three, and four minutes with one hill.
If you’re using a treadmill, feel free to walk the whole workout and use the speed guide to help complete the intervals.

See the workout and find out how to print it out after the break.

Don't Hate Running: 7 Ways to Beat Boredom

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:30:45 PDT

You have a love/hate relationship with running, but lately it's more on the hate side - repetition is breeding some serious ennui. If boredom is standing between you and a good run, here are some ways to spice up the affair so you're psyched to lace up your sneaks.

Save your beloved tunes: You know how pumped you get when listening to a new song or your favorite CD? That's the kind of excitement you want on your runs, so have a list of favorite tunes or new ones that you reserve strictly for running playlists. The only way you can listen to them is if your feet are a-runnin'.
Run a new route each time: If you're an outdoorsy runner, finding the perfect three-mile loop can be tough, so when you do, it's tempting to stick to it. Looking at the same houses and trees all the time is boring? Mix up your routes each time you run, or run your route backwards.
Download an audiobook: Keep your attention with a captivating plot or saucy characters by listening to a novel while pounding the pavement. You'll be so distracted with who's zooming who, you won't want to stop running.

Keep reading for more tips on how to beat boredom when running.

Cardio Workout: Elliptical Speed Play

Susi May — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 02:54:36 PDT

It may be a joint-friendly machine, but the elliptical can be a little monotonous. This workout is rather straightforward (that's a clue that there's no backward pedaling in the workout), but it's full of quick speed changes to beat cardio boredom. Plus, intervals are great for torching calories and boosting your metabolism. Check out the speed-play workout when you read more.

3 Important Reasons to Run Outside This Fall

Leta Shy — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:00:40 PDT

Gone are the searing Summer days that forced you to find refuge inside a gym, but before long there will be stormy skies to thwart any outdoor exercise plans. Before Winter arrives, here are three reasons to get off the treadmill and get on the trail.

Burn more calories. You go outside, run the same distance you usually run on the treadmill, and wonder why you seem so much more out of breath. The fact is, the treadmill helps propel you forward by pulling your legs back as you run, and the lack of wind resistance helps you, too. Without that extra help while you pound the pavement, you burn more calories running outside than on a treadmill - about five percent more, according to studies.

Become a better runner. In addition to burning more calories, that wind at your face and those obstacles at your feet can make you work harder during your outdoor route, which means you'll see improvements in your endurance and stamina much faster than if you stuck to your treadmill. If you're training for a race, want to increase your endurance, or otherwise want to up your runner's game, it's essential that you incorporate a few days of outdoor running into your normal schedule.

Beat the monotony. I love a good treadmill session for catching up on Bravo reruns, but sometimes you just can't stand another 30 minutes of channel surfing (or staring at the wall). Running outside can turn boredom into fun, and you may be amazed at how much scenery you're missing when you're in a car or on the bus. Plus, you can download a smartphone app to track your progress, pace, and route without having to stare at a countdown the whole time.

Whether you're new to running or just new to running outside, here are five important tips for beginning runners.