Hello runner friends!
Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series
MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!
Now let's get started by talking about something that's happening on March 13 at noon. The Bass Pro Shops Fitness Series of Events is opening up for registration!!! I know! Exciting right??? That means you can get signed up for the Bass Pro Half Marathon/Full and/or the Dogwood Canyon trail runs. I don't know about you, but I like to get a little crazy in November so I always register for both events! They are my favorites of all time!
Now if this has you saying, "Calm down Melissa. I'm not quite ready for that yet. I just started running," I'd like to share with you 13.1 Reasons to Run a Half Marathon (with my two cents thrown in of course) to inspire you to join us this year. And since a half-marathon is the perfect distance for a runner looking to challenge themselves both mentally and physically while having a training schedule that will fit into their busy lives, these are all valid reasons to get signed up for the Bass Pro Half!
So without further ado, check out these reasons to get signed up on March 13...
1. Take Your Running and Fitness to the Next Level
While it’s not impossible to run a half marathon without training, we definitely don’t recommend it. This is where months of training come into play! If you’re looking to take your cardiovascular fitness to the next level or even lose a bit of weight, improve your mental health, training for a half marathon is probably going to get you there. It involves months of training, not to mention the final big event (aka race day).
2. Make New Friends
Since the training for a half marathon is much more intensive when compared to a 5k or 10k, it offers a great opportunity to meet other like-minded people. If you join a running group, you, quite literally, spend hours with the same people. This means you might just make a few new friends along the way which last long past the finish line.
*Official Bass Pro training groups will start in June. OMRR (Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners) will lead them out in the Springfield area and FFG (Frog Fitness Group) in the Fort Leonard Wood area. You'll not only make friends in these groups but get some great training advice and encouragement. And they're free to join so that's always a plus.
3. See New Places
Looking for an excuse to travel? Have you been wanting to check out that next big city in the state over? Sign up for the half marathon! Doing so gives you a great reason to travel and take a run-cation.
Plus, there are some pretty cool places that hold annual half marathons, including Vegas, Salt Lake City, Miami, and more. Even the Great Wall of China has it’s own half marathon.
Looking for an excuse to travel? Have you been wanting to check out that next big city in the state over? Sign up for the half marathon! Doing so gives you a great reason to travel and take a run-cation.
Plus, there are some pretty cool places that hold annual half marathons, including Vegas, Salt Lake City, Miami, and more. Even the Great Wall of China has it’s own half marathon.
*None of these places will compare with the Bass Pro Half though so set your sights on Springfield, MO this fall. There's a lot to do there, including exploring the Bass Pro Shops and the world famous Wonders of Wildlife. With ample shopping and lots of places to explore, this town is one of the best you'll find in the Midwest.
4. Get One Step Closer to a Full Marathon
If your ultimate goal is a marathon, starting with a half gives you the stepping stone you need to take your mileage up a notch. Once you conquer the half, you, somewhat, know what to expect for a marathon. You can also continue amping it up by signing up for 30k races or any other mileage in between.
*A half marathon will get you ready for being full fledged crazy when you sign up for the Bass Pro Marathon in 2025 after doing the half marathon in 2024. Unless you want to remain only half crazy. And that's certainly okay to do.
5. Give Yourself Some Serious YOU Time
If there’s anything the last couple of years have taught us, it’s that taking care of yourself and your mental health is of the utmost importance. You can’t give your best without feeling your best. While training for a half marathon is very much a physical endeavor, it also provides plenty of time for you to de-stress, mentally unwind, and feel good about yourself.
If there’s anything the last couple of years have taught us, it’s that taking care of yourself and your mental health is of the utmost importance. You can’t give your best without feeling your best. While training for a half marathon is very much a physical endeavor, it also provides plenty of time for you to de-stress, mentally unwind, and feel good about yourself.
6. Gain Some Killer Swag
Who doesn’t love some great race swag? With many half marathons, you get awesome t-shirts, hoodies, finisher medals, and more. So, if you’re looking for reasons to run a half marathon… This could be it! You can even flaunt your swag after the fact, providing a great icebreaker or conversation starter at your next gathering, party, or event. Additionally, accumulating that collection of various race medals is ultra empowering.
Ask any runner: The post-race party is where it’s at. If you run a half marathon, you’ve earned a brew or whatever else you wish to indulge in. Inevitably, healthy food is also an option. But you deserve to let loose! Many finish lines have a post-race party filled with snacks and music galore. Many of them also feature free beer. So, if you need an excuse to have fun, a half marathon might just fit the bill.
8. You’re Less Likely to Injure Yourself When Compared to a Full Marathon
Are you looking for reasons to run a half marathon over a full marathon? Distance aside, injuries are less likely during a half marathon when compared to a full marathon. Simply put, your body experiences 50% less stress during a half marathon. All in all, it’s just a much more manageable distance and training regime.
9. You’ll Burn Tons of Calories
Within those 13.1 miles, you can burn between 1000 to 1600 calories. The exact number entirely depends on your weight, metabolism, running intensity, and other factors. Yet, if your goal is weight loss, this could top your reasons to run a half marathon. You’re bound to achieve some serious caloric burn.
Within those 13.1 miles, you can burn between 1000 to 1600 calories. The exact number entirely depends on your weight, metabolism, running intensity, and other factors. Yet, if your goal is weight loss, this could top your reasons to run a half marathon. You’re bound to achieve some serious caloric burn.
10. There are Health Benefits!
Besides maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight, you also reap some other serious health benefits. You improve your cardiovascular and respiratory health. And while, yes, this improves your overall fitness. It is also an excellent way to reduce your blood pressure or keep your cholesterol levels under wraps.
Besides maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight, you also reap some other serious health benefits. You improve your cardiovascular and respiratory health. And while, yes, this improves your overall fitness. It is also an excellent way to reduce your blood pressure or keep your cholesterol levels under wraps.
*The Bass Pro Half Marathon has the best pacers in the world! They will not only help you reach your goal but will have you laughing along the way. And laughter has lots of health benefits!
11. Afterward, You Have Bragging Rights
Want a reason to boost your confidence? Something to make you feel empowered and capable? A half marathon is it. The half marathon is also a completely achievable goal. With a few hours of training a week, you could run this distance in a matter of months. Then, afterward, you can brag all you want about crossing that finish line!
*Bass Pro finish line photos also make for great posts and profile pics which will do the bragging for themselves for days and weeks to follow!!! I’ve been participating in the fitness series for more than a decade and I can tell you that the social media sites get flooded with Bass Pro photos after the event.
12. You Could Support a Cause
When it comes to reasons to run a half marathon, there’s almost no better reason than supporting a worthwhile cause. From cancer to your local children’s hospital, you can easily find a half marathon with a good cause to support.
*The Bass Pro Fitness Series supports a lot of local charities, so it's a great race to run knowing that a good portion of your registration dollars goes back into the community. Cool right??
13. Training Won’t Cost You Anything (Or Almost)
The most you need is a good pair of running shoes. There’s no membership fee or insane equipment costs. Realistically, running is one of the most affordable types of exercise to get into. We also definitely recommend incorporating some simple at-home strength training and stretching into your routine as well. Both of those are also FREE.
The most you need is a good pair of running shoes. There’s no membership fee or insane equipment costs. Realistically, running is one of the most affordable types of exercise to get into. We also definitely recommend incorporating some simple at-home strength training and stretching into your routine as well. Both of those are also FREE.
*Running also saves you money on therapy. For real! Which will give you the extra money you’ll need for your shoes… and chafing cream. After all, no one runs 13.1 miles without it leaving a mark. Am I right?
So, there you have it friends. Those are 13.1 reasons to run a 13.1 mile race—but not to just run any half marathon, but the Bass Pro Half Marathon. It's simply the best one you'll find for so many reasons… something you’ll only understand fully when you cross the finish line. So get registered next week so you'll have some skin in the game. And then get to training so you can reap all those rewards. You'll be so glad you did!!
Happy Running!
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