Step outside your comfort zone: Making fitness fun through events

Written by Emma Beale

Emma is the Marketing Manager for Workout Ashton

If you have never taken part in a structured fitness event before you might have had thoughts like; “These events aren’t for me”, “I’m not fit enough to take part”, or “I’m worried I won’t be able to complete it”. Which are all completely understandable feelings but they are also very far from the truth. There are fitness events that cater to everyone, at every level, the key is finding the one that will be achievable for you whilst also providing a challenge.

The majority of fitness events are suitable for beginners and offer a range of entry levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced etc) or distance options (5km, 10km, half marathon). I would choose something that you find fun, is at least 6 months in the future and has an entry option that is slightly above your current level.

For example, if you enjoy running and can run 5km why not sign up to a 10km run or a 5km trail run in about 6 months time. Either would give you something to train towards that pushes you to try something new and offers you the time in order to put that training in place.

Why you should try a fitness event:

1. Adds Accountability

Signing up for a fitness event can provide a sense of accountability and focus, they allow you to set realistic goals and track your progress. You will have a clear goal (complete the event) and timeline to work with (the deadline of the event day). This can make it easier for you to stay on track and build consistency in your workouts. Work back from the event date and look at the timeline you have to train towards your goal. Add smaller incremental goals along the timeline and plan what you need to do weekly in order to move towards those goals. A lot of larger events will offer a free training plan you can follow, or you can write your own more specific plan, all you need to do is stick to it.

2. Adds Motivation

You may find the challenge format of an event more engaging than a general workout plan, keeping you motivated for longer and preventing you from falling off track. Fitness events often incorporate different types of movements, encouraging you to add a wider variety of exercises to your training plan. This new variety may lead to you developing new hobbies and keep you fitness fun and enjoyable.

3. Adds Health Benefits

Regular exercise, even through a structured challenge, can lead to increased energy levels, improved sleep, and a reduction in stress, contributing to overall well-being. Fitness challenges can provide motivation to kickstart your fitness journey and help you see results quickly. By taking the time to consistently train for an event, you can establish healthy habits that you can then carry on and become healthy lifestyle changes.

4. Adds Achievement

Once completed you will come away with a new sense of accomplishment, boosting your confidence and widening your comfort zone. You can feel proud of yourself for your achievement and let that motivate you to try pushing yourself to try new things in other areas of your life.

How to start:

Begin with shorter distances or challenges aimed at beginners, and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts. Remember that the goal is to have fun and get active, not to necessarily win or compete with others. Let the competition come from within, if you can run a 5km race in 40mins this time, then try and aim for a faster time in the next event.

Select events that match your fitness level and interests, if you want to get better at running then make your first event a fun 5-10km race, and you can then work up to a marathon if you want to. It's always a good idea to train for the event beforehand to prepare yourself properly for the challenge, but remember you don't need to be an expert in order to participate and that things are only really outside of your comfort zone until you have tried them.

Why not choose an event that you can compete in as a pair or team? Grab your gym buddy and train together towards an event and then share in the achievement.

If you are looking for a fun, beginner friendly fitness event then our sister company Superhuman Sports has these events on thier calendar in and around Bristol:

Epic Wales - Brecon 1st June
Superhuman Games - Bristol 28th June
Epic Bristol - Ashton Court 12st Oct