The Covid-19 Conundrum: How to Stay Fit, Active and Motivated During a Time of Social Distancing

“There are a lot of things we can’t control during this crisis, so we need to focus on what we can control.”

-Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Covid-19 pandemic has turned the lives of the majority of us upside-down recently.  In order to reduce the spread of the contagion, most of the world is practicing social distancing.  Here in the U.S., many states and local governments are administering ‘shelter in place’ procedures.  In Florida, most if not all the gyms and fitness studios are closed as of this writing in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.  Mercifully, outdoor activities are still allowed in many areas of the U.S. and elsewhere as long as the activity is conducted while adhering to social-distancing guidelines such as to stay 6 feet away from others and avoid assembling in groups.  Outdoor activities that are allowed can include walking, hiking, running, and biking.  This blog will show some ideas of how one can stay active and fit in this difficult time. 

Do you enjoy running?  Here are some interesting ideas:

Maybe a virtual 5k, 10k, or half marathon strikes your fancy?  There’s a fun virtual Top Run Challenge, themed after the ‘80s movie Top Gun, complete with a great medal, here: https://www.virtualpaceseries.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw95D0BRBFEiwAcO1KDDa_vXZ99_FcWw0AVIMV-PqAlXhioR8YDSzKbmDWe0WOHilA4OL3aBoCDCwQAvD_BwE

Have you thought of trying to Run Every Single Street in your city or town?  Rickey Gates has.  Here’s his fun and thought-provoking video on his quest to run every single street in Los Angeles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy_W5qsjB5U

More of a trail runner?  Try applying the same idea to Run Every Single Trail in your area.  This is the sort of project that can keep you engaged for weeks or even months, depending on the miles of trails available to you and the amount of time you have available.

Bummed that your ultramarathon was canceled due to the virus?  How about this virtual Yeti Ultra 24-hour Challenge in April?  Run 5 miles every 4 hours over a 24-hour period.  That’s 30 miles total.  You can run the miles any way that’s available to you—such as on a treadmill, on road, or on trail,  It can be done on any day in April and you get a cool shirt that supports a print shop in Alabama (and you will also have bragging rights).  Sign up at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=76840&fbclid=IwAR01ZWo8um02TtsH_veywpzNHCaNEipj2M9HilGB56-VGdBtzIvftaBMVsWk

Are you interested in unusual formats for running goals?  How about this Quarantine Backyard Ultra?  This interesting virtual event can fit any goal as it challenges one to complete as many laps as possible:

https://personalpeak.ca/quarantinebackyard/register/

Miss the gym and don’t have a lot of barbells or dumbells laying around the house?  Arnold Schwartzenegger has some great ideas for home workouts using mostly one’s own bodyweight:

https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a31818878/arnold-schwarzenegger-home-workout-plan/

Do you enjoy obstacle course racing (OCR) events commonly called mud runs?  Here are some ideas:

Sam Abbitt of the Savage Race OCR series has some challenges that can be done from home:

https://savagerace.com/savage-anywhere/

Are you a cyclist?  There is a good selection of virtual challenges online for cyclists.  Here’s some links for more information:

The Great Cycle Challenge, https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Pages/how-it-works/virtual-challenges

Race Your Pace Bike Challenges, https://www.raceatyourpace.com/bike/

If yoga is what you’re into, there are many online classes to choose from.  Here are a few:

The non-profit Yoga4Change has a series of yoga videos available: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpwrT1k2hEuHwZwqmh7t2g

Glo offers unlimited yoga, pilates, and meditation classes from 5 to 90 minutes long, https://www.glo.com/

Yoga Download offers beginner-level yoga, https://www.yogadownload.com/

Yoga International offers advanced-level yoga, https://yogainternational.com/start/30days?irclickid=SU-02gykDxyOWFH0MdV3iVCmUki0OuQmPwBWxw0&utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=SPP-2104074-Dotdash&irgwc=1

YogiApproved offers yoga on a budget, https://www.yogiapproved.com/classes/

Want to do other types of workouts from home or in the park? Grokker has cardio, dance, and weight training: https://grokker.com/individuals