ProLine Sports, Nutrition Blog

When Did Holiday Races Become So Popular?

Holidays are a time for friends, family, food ... and group running? It might sound strange, but it's true. Themed runs have been growing in popularity for years as people run through colors, mud, in costumes and more. But holiday runs are something special, a newer trend that tries to bring people together over festivities and street runs around a holiday theme. Take a look at the Turkey Trot, which has a version in many cities across the country. Or check out the Ugly Sweater Run, Santa Dash and the many Christmas Park Runs around the United States. Holiday running is hitting it big and getting more people than ever to join in on the fun.

Why So Popular?

So, what's with the rise in holiday runs lately? Well, in addition to the growing popularity of theme runs, in general, several things make the holidays a great time for group runs. During the holidays, people tend to gather together with friends and family anyway. This means looking for activities that everyone can enjoy, and a simple run downtown or at a nearby park is a great solution to the inevitable question of, "What should we do?" What's even better is that a growing number of these races include options for people with disabilities and children, making it possible for the entire family to enjoy a fun run/walk.

They're also an excellent way to prevent holiday weight gain. Many people's thoughts turn to dieting and food through the holidays, and most don't want to gain any more pounds with all the delicious baking that happens. Thus, holiday runs are a great way for people to feel good about their health and burn some calories before heading back to enjoy dessert. Add to it that people are using fitness trackers more than ever, and perhaps found one in their stocking on Christmas morning. What better way to test their new tech out than with a run? It's also a great time to use gift certificates for a vitamin & supplements store. 

Perhaps most importantly, many of the holiday runs are aimed at highlighting local events, such as the lighting of the town Christmas tree, or a local charity.

Things to Keep In Mind

Holiday runs do come with their own challenges, too. By all means get excited about a new run, but also keep these things in mind when signing up. Rain, cold temperatures, and ice can all plague holiday runs (that's why Fourth of July was the first holiday run day to become popular, not Christmas). If you are going to run, you need to be prepared. Warm clothing with wicking properties, shoes with studs or stud accessories, and other materials will help you stay safe. And when you do cross the finish line, there just might be a cup of hot chocolate waiting for you.

While the holidays can be a great time to get involved in a race, remember that running is not going to be enjoyable if you've eaten too much food or had a few drinks. Run clean and wait to enjoy a big meal or a cocktail until after you've finished.

Your Guide to Training Through the Holidays

Are you looking forward to the holidays but want to keep your fitness lifestyle going strong? The holidays are a tough time to keep working out or running — the food, the events and the weather all seem to conspire against you. But if you want to keep from gaining weight and make sure that your goals stay (mostly) on track, here are several valuable tips for you to try out.

Go Easy on the Goals for Once

We know that your end goals are important, but it's probably a good idea to relax them a bit over the holidays. Instead, sub them out for simpler short-term goals, like "working out five times per week" or "always go for a run after dinner" and so on. Focusing on end-term goals tends to add more stress to the holidays without actually helping you work out more often. So set a couple of short-term goals and let the long-term goals rest easy for a while.

Partner with Friends and Family

Chances are good that you can find a friend or family member who is also interested in working out over the holidays. Use this opportunity to team up, join them for a run, maybe visit a vitamin and supplements store. It's a great way to boost accountability for your holiday practices while also getting to know the other fitness fans around you.

Carve Out a Time

This is easily one of the most important tips for keeping to your schedule during the holidays. Whether you are buying endurance supplements or going for a run, you are going to need to schedule very carefully. The easiest time for working out is early in the morning when kids and family members are still asleep and important activities haven't started yet. But timing and weather may both be difficult to manage, so you should also be willing to cut out half an hour here or there for your running or workouts whenever you need to.

Join Community Runs

Holiday community runs are very popular, with multiple options available around Thanksgiving and Christmas. These runs will help you keep in shape, especially if you want to train a little first. The easier runs are also great for bringing friends and family along for the ride. Take a look at what runs are available in your area and lace up!

Use Intervals When Possible

Your time is at a premium over the holidays, which means making every second count. For the best overall fitness, we recommend interval training or switching between different activities, preferably cardio and strength-training, at quick intervals. You don't necessarily need to sign up for CrossFit, but you should try switching between, say, circuit runs and pushups, or jump roping and weight lifting.

Diet Smartly While Still Enjoying Food

It's time to bring up a little sports nutrition: You can still eat your holiday favorites, but there are a couple things that you should avoid. First, avoid the snacks. They tend to be very high in calories and aren't necessary for enjoying the sit-down meals with friends and family. Second, avoid drinking too much. Alcohol is a problem for both keeping on a schedule and keeping calories low.