HAPARI Fitness Feature: Five 5ks Before Thanksgiving

HAPARI community! This month we’re challenging you to run five 5ks before Thanksgiving! Yes, you read that right. There’s about 2.5 weeks until the big feast which means you need to complete about two 5ks per week. A 5k is just over 3 miles, 3.1 to be exact, so it’s totally doable! Are you up for the challenge?!

Read on to learn more about our HAPARI Fitness Challenge: Five 5ks before Thanksgiving!

Let’s train for the Turkey Trot!

In many parts of the country, Thanksgiving morning means waking up early to run a Turkey Trot race. If you’ve never done one of these races, you’re missing out. People dress up in their best turkey-inspired gear and run as fast as they can through the race. It’s a fun community event!

The goal is simple: burn as many calories as possible before the big feast. The best part is you don’t have to be an expert runner to enjoy the race; kids and adults of all skill levels and abilities take part in turkey trot races. Now because the length of the race is typically 5k, or just 3.1 miles, most people don’t usually train for these races. Our HAPARI staff got to thinking -- how much more fun would the race be if actually trained for it? And that’s how the Five 5k’s Before Thanksgiving challenge was formed!

Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels

Why running?

We love advocating for running as an exercise. Not only does it help improve cardiovascular health, endurance, and strength, it can also help improve your mood and fight off depression. With daylight savings coming to an end and it getting darker much earlier, it’s important to make time and space to exercise daily, especially in the winter. In fact, running has been called the closest thing to a miracle drug in terms of benefits to the body and mind.

The other thing that’s so great about running as a sport? It’s accessible. There isn't fancy equipment or supplies needed to do it. It’s not a seasonal sport and doesn’t require a court or track. Just put on some running shoes and head out. Running is also a great way to get “me” time. Grab some headphones and meditate, or listen to your favorite podcast or music and just chill out. Running has so many great benefits so why not challenge yourself ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday to do it more often? And, on average a 5k can burn between 200-500 calories, so it’s a great way to scorch calories.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

How do I start?

The best way to start running is to just start. Lace up your shoes and go for a run. If you haven’t been actively running in a while, going straight into running a 5k will be difficult. Start slowly by running one or two miles a day. Give yourself grace and take breaks or walk when you need. Slowly start trying to build up to 3 consecutive miles. If you’re going to join us in our Five 5ks before Thanksgiving, you’ll need to complete about two 5ks a week to stay on track. It’s going to be a challenge, but it’s totally doable. Grab a friend to do it with you or tell your network you’re going to do it to help hold yourself accountable. And, imagine how great you’ll feel Thanksgiving morning running your Turkey Trot with all this training under your belt. It’ll be a breeze!

Photo by Maksim Goncharenok from Pexels

Need some workout gear? Shop now and BOGO!

Now that you’re ready to start running, you may need some new workout gear to get you motivated to get out there. You’re in luck! All of our HAPARI activewear is included in our buy one get one free sale going on now.For a limited time only when you buy a HAPARI swimsuit or activewear piece, you can get one free when you use code: FREE. We also have our Deal of the Week and our clearance section with items as low as 10 bucks! It’s a great time to stock up on activewear pieces or swim pieces for next Summer. Some exclusions may apply, and hurry, this deal won’t last long.

Ready for more lifestyle articles, product features and healthy living tips? Check out the other articles in our HAPARI blog. We include special product spotlights, healthy eating and fitness advice, and exclusive insider deals on our swimwear.

Header Photo by Daniel Reche from Pexels