6 Tips for Spring Training

Guest post via Anita Mirchandani from Fitmapped–a new comprehensive, centralized and searchable fitness directory.

By now, you’ve probably been exposed to the plentiful mud race or sporting race phenomenon. It seems like wherever you turn, someone is crawling in mud, jumping hurdles, diving in ice or lifting buckets of sand. Don’t you want in on the fun?

The best way to wrap your head around these races is to eliminate fear. How do you say goodbye to the worries of getting dirty, suffering a bruise from running into a hurdle or finding sand in your pants? Train for it! Strong is the new skinny. Strength is irreplaceable. The ability to push yourself to limits you never thought of before has profound effects on your confidence, emotional stability and physical stamina.

Here are my training tips:

1. Find a race that is manageable based on your strengths. For example, are you a runner? Do you like to do short intervals of exercises? Based on this, you could pick a race that is longer in length (~10 miles) vs shorter (~5 miles).

2. Focus on weekly training routines and map them out. Put them on your calendar as though they are a commitment and stick to them. You may be required to run 3 miles twice weekly or focus on strength elements for 30 minutes once weekly. Whatever it is, plan it and do it.

3. Figure out your nutrition. What goes in does matter! Plan ahead. Buy healthy snacks such as protein options including greek yogurt, unsalted nuts, nut butter with celery or even string cheese.

4. Find a friend who can challenge you and motivate you. Buddy system works! If you know someone is waiting for you at 9am to run hill springs, trust me you will go. No one likes an angry friend.

5. Consider races that benefit a greater cause—especially one that is close to you. Have a sense of connection towards a charitable cause has an effect on one’s commitment!

6. Consider a training program. If you’re in NYC, a good one I suggest is As One. They focus on movement, agility and strength training in order to prep you for obstacle courses and endurance. If you are interested in training with them, sign-up at Fitmapped.com or download our mobile app and use promotion code ‘ASONE’. You will receive a discount code of 10% off a package via email when you sign-up.

Do you have any training tips to add to the list? Share them below.

Anita Mirchandani, M.S, R.D, C.D.N received a B.A. from NYU and a M.S. in Clinical Nutrition from NYU. After finishing her studies and completing a dietetic internship at New York-Presbyterian hospital in 2011, Anita is now a practicing Registered Dietitian. Recently, Anita co-founded FitMapped, a GPS for fitness concept to help users find fitness easily. When she isn’t evaluating pitfalls of the latest diet fad, she is putting together the ultimate workout playlist.

Feature image via