Running and Laughing through the Golden State
Running and Laughing through the Golden State
I’ve wanted to try the Hoka Carbon X 2 for what seems like…forever? Maybe not that long, but a while. To me, the original Carbon X didn’t live up to a “fast carbon plated shoe.” It was a great trainer, but would I race a marathon in it…probably not.
So when the Carbon X 2 came out, I was ready! Let’s be honest here, when am I not ready for new shoes?
If you’ve run any amount of time, you’ve probably had a running setback. Sometimes the hardest part of coming back is getting your confidence back after a running setback!
I know I have from injuries to overtraining to burnout, to even just a “bad race.” Most of us have had running setbacks! Like an injury, each one is different.
This post is part of series about the mental component of running. More posts include:
How to Combat Negative Thoughts While Running
Over the last month, I’ve been working out with the Future App. I’ve really enjoyed the personalized training and coaching to meet my own needs. Plus right, they are giving 50% off and you can try risk-free for 30 days!
This post is sponsored, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
What is the Future App? Future uses a combination of technology and personal trainers to guide you through workouts. It’s a fitness app you can download on your cell phone. You are paired with a trainer that gives you a personalized training plan to follow. They don’t just give you a plan and leave, and your coach is there with you every step of the way. You can facetime your coach. Every workout is coordinated based on your needs, and each one has a reason for you to do it.
First, you choose your coach. You facetime them about goals, your needs, and where you plan to work out. It helps the personal trainer get to know you. My meeting took about 30 minutes. I was nervous to Facetime someone, but my coach was awesome and helped me feel comfortable and excited to start.
Your personal trainer at the Future App provides:
For each question, my trainer answers completely from the “why are doing this activity” to how would this help running.
Your Welcome Kit:
The Future App sends each member a Welcome Kit to get you started. It really helps you feel like you’re part of a community.
Honestly, I was shocked when they said they were sending each member an Apple Watch! The Apple Watch provides custom data, including your heart rate, so your coach knows your effort level. This helps your coach determine if the workout needs to be adjusted or changed.
Setting Up Your Training Plan:
I’ve been guilty of not knowing what to do in the gym. In fact, I told my trainer this. Running seems to come easy, but strength training and mobility overwhelms me, and I don’t know where to start. I go to the gym, bounce around different machines for a while and then leave. I haven’t been consistent with the gym for a while. With the Future App, your training plan is created for you, and you just need to do it. It takes the stress and guesswork out of it.
You have the options for whatever you want if you want to do everything in the gym, great! If you want to do it all at home, your coach can work with you to do it there too.
Here is where things get “fun.” The Future App has detailed audio and video guidance. You have a video of each workout, so you know how to do them. Plus, your coach records messages to you about the workouts, so it’s personalized.
Something that is a bonus is the playlists you can choose with your workouts. You know I love a good playlist, and the Future App has a lot of great options. I’ve found some great remixes that I enjoy too.
One of the biggest draws for the Future App is that you have a coach who checks in with you! I’ve talked to my coach every day since joining the app. I can ask for advice with an exercise or ask about the “why are we doing this.”
It isn’t as if someone gave me a plan and walked away. My coach is truly invested in my time and gains. Even though they aren’t coaching me for running, they ask about that too!
I really like the Future App. I’ve never found myself constantly working on strength training, plus I know what to do. Future is unlike any Fitness App I’ve ever tried, and I’m really excited to see my strength and mobility gains and how it will help with running.
Question for you: What fitness goals are you going after right now?
Wow, a race recap? Remember when I used to blog about those? The Folsom Lake Trail Half Marathon was the first race I’ve done in nearly 15 months. Truthfully, it felt good to pin on a race bib. I’ve missed live races. I’ve come to enjoy virtual racing from time to time, but nothing beats an in-person event.
This week in the newsletter, I talked about precautions the Folsom Lake Trail Half Marathon used, including wave starts, only 3 people across the mat, no communal food, masks at the aid station, and no cups. I felt everything was handled appropriately, and I did feel the risk of COVID was low.
It’s been so long; I might have forgotten how to write a race recap. Anyway…
Another month down…again. April was a busy life month for me. Somehow I managed to fit in most of my runs (not all but most). Read More