No matter who you are or what your situation, there will be times when, try as you might, the end of the day rolls around, and it starts to look like you won’t have time to get in your workout. Has that happened to you?
It’s a sad feeling, not terrible, but it’s not the way you want to end your day. It’s just one reason why running early in the morning makes sense, if you can swing it, because then, if something interferes, you still have options. Maybe it means you go out and run on your lunch hour or maybe on your afternoon coffee break or, hopefully, you have some flexibility in your afternoon time, but all that is really beside the point of this podcast. This episode provides you with a safety net for those days when, no matter what, no matter the reason, you just weren’t able to get out and run.
In such cases, BAT workouts provide mental reasurance because you know a BAT workout will prevent any loss in fitness. BAT workouts are your running training safety net.
Now, what does this have to do with Halloween? Nothing, except that when I was about to record this episode, I got to thinking that bats and Halloween go together; I’ve always called them BAT workouts, which stands for best alternative training, but it was just a coincidence that I recorded this episode the week before Halloween.
By alternative training I mean alternative to actually going outside to do your planned workout. This BAT workout will keep your fitness from sliding backwards. Even if your schedule – and your daily life – results in you only having time to run on two weekdays, if you do this workout on the other days, you’ll be fine. You can still continue to improve your running fitness with just those two running workouts and your two weekend workouts. So, these BAT workouts can be critical.
Two great things about this workout:
- It’s completely customizable. Once you understand the structure, you can swap out exercises or change the time frames.
- It can be a complement to your running. Feel free to add in one or two BAT workouts per week. BAT workouts don’t have to be just alternatives for days when you don’t have time to run.
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Newer runners tend to be too hard on themselves, often pushing too hard, running too much or at a level too intense for their current state of fitness. If you’re feeling tired, this could be the reason – or at least part of it.
Running, every day, requires a constant stream of motivation, but then, when the mercury starts to rise, it’s super easy to make the choice to do something else, anything else, any other activity, as long as it can be performed in the air conditioning. 
I want all beginner runners to have an excellent experience at their first 5k race, but with so many 5k races out there, how do you decide which one is right for you?
Walk to run workouts are, hands down, the most effective, safest, and surest way to become a runner. 
Runners tend to be incredibly friendly, and most experienced runners are extremely supportive of beginner runners, happily offering advice. 
