One of the highlights of my week was heading to parkrun on Saturday mornings—especially for the post-run brunch! It was a guaranteed catch-up with friends, all centered around a 5k run. Running has always been a social activity for me. However, with the ongoing global pandemic, social sports have been paused, and for now, we’re all riding solo. With social distancing in place, more people are rightfully staying home. But thanks to modern technology, you don’t have to feel disconnected. There are plenty of ways to embrace the social side of fitness without leaving your home. Digital fitness has surged in popularity, offering endless possibilities for staying active and connected. All you need is a reliable internet connection. Living alone in a rural area has made me feel like I’ve been training for social distancing long before it became a reality! But I’ve discovered amazing tools to stay connected and keep fitness social, even from a distance. Here are my top tips for working out with friends digitally.
Here are my top tips for working out with friends digitally:
Social Running: Using Apps to Keep Your Fitness Community Alive
If you’re healthy and symptom-free, government guidelines still allow for outdoor exercise (once a day), provided you follow social distancing rules. Running apps like running app let you and your friends run solo, but still connect. You can like, comment, and give kudos to each other’s runs. So, your Saturday morning 5k tradition doesn’t have to stop! There’s even a leaderboard for a little friendly competition.
Social Media for Fitness Motivation
Working out early in the morning can feel lonely, but by using hashtags like #6amclub on Instagram, you’ll see you’re not alone! Social media is a great way to track your friends’ workout activity and keep each other motivated. Tag challenges like “10 press-ups” are trending, and they offer a fun way to stay engaged and accountable with friends.
Virtual Fitness: Zwift and Peloton Keep You Connected
If you’re lucky enough to own a treadmill, virtual running on Zwift can make your solo runs more fun. By downloading the app and syncing it with your foot pod, you can run around virtual courses, surrounded by other athletes from around the world. Zwift even has a meet-up feature, so you can virtually race your friends.
For cyclists, Peloton offers 90+ live-streamed workouts a week. With features like virtual high-fives and video chats, Peloton has made it easy to stay connected during workouts.
Stream Workouts with Friends: Bringing the Gym to Your Living Room
Missing gym classes with friends? There are plenty of free workout options on YouTube and other streaming services. From equipment-free HIIT sessions to online yoga (Hotpod Yoga offers live-streamed classes), all you need is a good Wi-Fi connection. You can even stream a class on your TV while Facetiming friends for some virtual company—just the thing to help you through those tough squat reps!
Exercise and Social Connection: Why it Matters Now More Than Ever
Staying active and maintaining social connections are crucial for mental well-being. While things might look different right now, we can still adapt and make the most of our new normal by embracing digital fitness.
