What’s up, fellow Obsessives?
Ever been in that spot where you’re vibing with a workout and the coach’s playlist and you find yourself singing out loud because you forget where you’re at?
That was almost me the other day, though I caught myself before outing myself as someone who still knows the words a N’Sync song.
I would’ve made no apologies if I hadn’t, though.
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🍊 What Makes For A Good Pre-OTF Routine? 🍊
Confession time: I don’t struggle with the battle of showing up for OTF.
A lot of that is due to prebooking and not wanting to pay $12 for a late cancel — something I think is the underrated part of OTF’s effectiveness.
But I also attribute it to the airtight routine I’ve developed over time.
I’m a 4:55 a.m. guy, which means my routine straddles about 6.5 hours of sleep.
Each night before an OTF workout, I …
Set the coffee machine with enough for a full mug at 4 a.m.
Place a half-cup of protein oats and milk in the fridge
Do the same with my workout water bottle
Lay out my workout clothes on the bathroom counter
And each morning, I …
Wake up and get dressed without rooting around in my dresser
Drink my coffee and eat my protein oats
Solve that day’s NYT Strands puzzle and maybe one team at dailywalkoff.com if I have time.
(Redacted) and brush my teeth
Leave with plenty of time for the seven-minute drive to the studio
Spend five minutes in studio parking lot looking at my work calendar and adding things to my to-do list for the day. (Surprisingly not stressful for me.)
Anyway, it sounds basic, because it is basic.
But that’s also pretty much the point. We love OTF because it takes the thinking out of getting a 60-minute full-body workout.
Taking the thinking out of actually getting there helps a lot too and it’s not a bad thing to build a few small wins before you even climb onto that treadmill or rower.
I’m thankful I’m a morning class person because the only pre-class variable I typically have is the quality of my sleep (usually not a problem given the early wake ups).
But I’m curious how everyone else — particularly afternoon and evening class attendees — build their routines. How do you handle your midday nutrition, your workday going long or unexpected traffic jams?
Reply to this email and I’ll include your routine tips in next week’s newsletter!
🍊 Your responses: Getting faster every year
Last week I wrote about beating my five-year-old benchmark in the one-mile tread. That struck a chord with Stacy, who has a great annual goal she’s been crushing 👇
Every year I get older and every year I am determined to beat my one mile benchmark.
My goal is 7:30 by age 50:
2019 43 yrs old 8:26
2021 45 yrs old 8:11
2022 46 yrs old 7:45
2023 47 years old 7:44
2024 48 years old 7:40
And finally, just shy of turning 49, I made it to 7:37.
Age is only a number, your brain and body know better!
📆 The Week Ahead
🎃 PSL Workout on Wednesday (August 27): Longtime OTFers will know this doesn’t stand for Pumpkin Spice Latte (which returns to Starbucks a day earlier) but Press, Squat and Lunge, usually in a 3G format.
🏃♂️ Finish Line next Sunday (August 31): Like the first of the month, it’s a 23 minute run for distance. Your last chance if you’re still short on Marathon Month miles.
🥇 Milestones and PRs!
• Shoutout to Missy from PA!
I'm a power walker. (We do the challenge at 4% incline and we do half the distance.) I crushed my half-mile time going from 6:15 to 6:08 walking 4.8 mph for the first .25 and 4.9 mph until close to the end when I bumped it up to 5 mph to be sure to beat my old PR! I'm more fit at 51.5 years old than I was in my 30's and even my 20's! Living my BEST LIFE now!!!
• Frances set a PR in the 500 meter row and is working toward beating her previous Marathon Month goal of 47.90 miles.
• Laura hit class 2,900 with 3,000 now clearly in sight! 🤯
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Note: OTF Obsessed is an independent fan-created newsletter and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially associated with Orangetheory Fitness.
