Looking to ‘Shake Up’ Your Run for the New Year? Explore the Benefits of Running or Walking on Varied Terrain!

Land, lever, lift…repeat. Too much of the same repetitive motion over and over limits exposure to activities that could lead to breakthrough fitness opportunities. Take the human foot and ankle; together, they support body weight and act as a lever for walking and running. By ditching the monotony of solely pounding hard surfaces, it allows the 27 bones in our lowest extremity to articulate differently than what they’re used to. So, lace up for a change of scenery! Varying your running or walking surface offers a plethora of benefits. Here’s why mixing up your substrate is a game-changer:

 **Muscle Engagement:** Different surfaces engage different muscles. Pavement provides stability, while trails challenge your stabilizing muscles.

**Joint Health:** Softer surfaces like trails or grass can be gentler on joints, reducing the impact of each step. It’s a win-win for your cardiovascular health and joint longevity.

**Mental Refreshment:** A change in scenery stimulates the mind, making your run or walk more enjoyable. Nature’s beauty can provide a mental boost and alleviate exercise boredom.

**Balance and Coordination:** Navigating varied terrain hones your balance and coordination skills. Uneven surfaces force your body to adapt, enhancing overall stability.

**Injury Prevention:** Regularly switching surfaces can help prevent overuse injuries associated with constant pounding on a single type of terrain. It’s a proactive approach to keep you running or walking longer!

**Leg Lift:** Leg lift is key to effective leg turnover for efficient running. Off-road presents an opportunity to address leg lift in the form of root and other obstacle avoidance.

 **Awareness:** To avoid a fall, it’s vital to maintain a clear view and awareness of the path before you. Keeping your head in spine alignment permits a focus on what’s to come.

So, whether it’s dirt trails, sandy shores, or the soft embrace of grass (kick the shoes off here and go with unshod feet!), mix it up! Your body and mind will thank you for the adventure.

2024 has arrived, and we’re eagerly embracing the freshness that a new year brings. While we’re always excited for Tri-Now each new year, there’s something uniquely renewed about this one.

Every year, we reflect on Tri-Now, asking ourselves, “Are we serving our athletes to the best of our ability? Are there ways we can better serve our members, personal clients, athletes, and race participants?” This year, we took that reflection a step further. We asked, “What needs to be renewed in us?” Health and fitness have always been priorities, along with our love for swimming, biking, and running. However, we realized we were missing out on our own training and participation.

There’s an expression that goes, “The cobbler’s children don’t have shoes.” While this saying might entail complexities, to us, it reflects the idea that as professionals, it’s easy to overlook our own needs when immersed in our work. We might let our own training slide or plan the Tri-Now calendar without considering what we’d personally love to train for and accomplish. So, as we added events to the team calendar, we also signed up.

We wanted more togetherness, more group training, more community. As much as we adore coaching and cheering you on from the sidelines, we also want to be right there with you—swimming, biking, and running!

If you can relate to needing a renewed excitement for getting active, we invite you to join us! At Tri-Now, we embrace all abilities and generations, welcoming you just as you are.

We would love for you to explore some of our offerings. Here is a glimpse of what we have added to cater to you this year: new group training programs from Rookie to 70.3, monthly coach connection calls for members providing advice, consultation, or encouragement. Additionally, we introduce the Forward Women’s Program, specifically designed for women seeking a fresh and holistic approach to kick off 2024 with a focus on health and fitness.

As always, we offer our club membership option (12 month and 3 month options available), providing you with group workouts, discounts on training and events, plus a vibrant community! 

Looking forward to seeing you in 2024! 

 Debra & Frank Cortese