Winter weight isn’t something that creeps up on us; it can creep up on our furry little friends too. With May just around the corner, spring time is a wonderful time to get outside with your dog! Begin power walking short distances with your pooch, which will help to increase their metabolism. It’s easier to get in two twenty minutes walks rather than trying to get one forty minute walk.
If you’re feeling even more ambitious after walking a couple times a day, you could even train for a 5k! Cool Running offers a great Couch-to-5k running program for those of us who have never ran in our lives or never thought we would.
Here is a snippet of their workout program:
“Each session should take about 20 or 30 minutes, three times a week. That just happens to be the same amount of moderate exercise recommended by numerous studies for optimum fitness. This program will get you fit. (Runners who do more than this amount are doing it for more than fitness, and before long you might find yourself doing the same as well).
Be sure to space out these three days throughout the week to give yourself a chance to rest and recover between efforts. And don’t worry about how fast you’re going. Running faster can wait until your bones are stronger and your body is fitter. For now focus on gradually increasing the time or distance you run.”
You can find more information about their great program at: http://www.coolrunning.com.
Not only will this increase your activity level, but it will increase your dogs as well. We have compiled a list of upcoming dog-friendly 5k races between May and August.: