Spend some quality time with Mom this Mother's Day weekend on a run, at yoga class, or at a healthy brunch. Photograph courtesy of Shutterstock.
Mother’s Day brunch: good. The extra calories that come with it: not so good. The solution? Fit-friendly Mother’s Day alternatives that’ll let you enjoy a guilt-free brunch after. Hit up your local barre studio together, run a race, or channel your inner oms as one.
Run the Mother’s Day 4-Miler
Potomac River Running hosts the 2013 Devotion to Children Mother’s Day 4-Miler on Sunday, May 11, at 8 AM. All runners will receive a T-shirt, and moms will receive a flower, too. $35.
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and if your mom is the type to pick an outdoor run over a decadent brunch, you’re in luck. We rounded up ten awesome fitness products for her, from a stylish gym tote she won’t be embarrassed to lug around to a flattering endurance dress that can be worn during a workout or while hanging with her girlfriends.
New muscles will get worked after switching from road running to trail running. Avid trail runner Doug Hay of the blog Rock Creek Runner says be prepared to run slower and get a little dirty. Photograph courtesy of Shutterstock.
Don’t get us wrong—we love running the Monument loop and through the streets of DC. But urban running has its downsides: catching every single red light, inhaling car exhaust, and weaving through pedestrians on the sidewalk, to name a few. That’s why Doug Hay of the blog Rock Creek Runner switched from road running to trail running a few years ago. “When I moved to DC I was running just roads, until three years ago when I realized we have so many trails in our backyard.”
But the transition to trail running isn’t easy, says Hay, who does approximately 70 percent of his training on trails. One thing to get used to? Getting wet. “No one loves running in wet shoes,” Hay says. “But there’s just no way to not get your shoes wet.” Read on for more of Hay’s trail running tips.
1) Go slowly.
Those used to running on the road may find going slower on trails the hardest adjustment, says Hay. “My advice to people when first starting out is to not focus on pace or distance.” For example, instead of timing a three-mile trail run, plan to run for 30 minutes and “just see how far you go.”
If you’re still at a loss for what to get the fitness lover in your life, you can breathe easy. We have lots of ideas, including a sweet running-themed iPhone case, padded socks, and even workout-friendly sunglasses. Here are 11 of our finds, with more than half of them less than $30.
These days, if you’re not tracking your caloric intake, heart rate, sleep cycle, and running mileage, you’re way behind the game. From a quarter-size wireless activity tracker to the highly touted FitBit One that records your every single move 24/7, these new gadgets will keep any fitness buff on track this holiday season.
The fitness lover in your life will thank you for getting a jumpstart on his or her at-home gym with this space-saving equipment.
The holidays call for delicious desserts, hearty meals, festive drinks . . . and weight gain. But for that relative or friend who can’t get enough of working out—while still enjoying a holiday cookie or two—equipment for an at-home gym is the perfect present. From a space-saving kettlebell set to Nike’s new personal training video game for Xbox 360, these gifts will keep the fitness lover in your life happily sweating indoors.
Gifts for the Fitness Buff |
Unique Gifts for Cyclists |
The Complete Washingtonian Gift Guide |
Whether you're off to the beach for Memorial Day weekend or just in the mood to learn something new, the following books are sure to be a captivating read. Need some new recipes to add to your cooking repertoire? Want the answers to all of your burning fitness questions? These expert-recommended books have got you covered.
Fitness
Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?: Fitness Myths, Training Truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries From the Science of Exercise, by Alex Hutchinson
"I like this book because it's almost a verbatim list of the questions I receive regarding how to use either cardio or weight for gains," says Mint personal trainer Will Noel. Another perk: The book may be filled with study-based answers, but even a fitness novice "could dive into this book and come away feeling well-informed as a result."
Slideshow: 12 Water-Friendly Gifts for Swimmers
Slideshow: 12 Gifts for the Tennis Lover
Know someone who yearns to be the next Serena Williams or Roger Federer? With the help of local tennis coaches Jack Schore and Craig Hardenbergh, we picked gadgets, apparel, and more that’ll make the tennis lover in your life feel like a champ.
For more holiday gear guides, click here.
Various area spas have great holiday discounts on various treatments. Photograph courtesy of the Four Seasons
The holidays can be a stressful time. Between airport delays, crushing mall crowds, and untangling all those damn Christmas lights, the winter vacation can leave you needing, well, a vacation. Help that stressed-out parent or on-the-go friend of yours unwind by giving him or her a day at the spa. We rounded up local companies’ holiday discounts on manis and pedis, massages, facials, and more that will help your loved ones start the new year off fresh.
