Famous Fitness: Your Favorite Athletes’ Workouts and Playlists
Even the biggest names in outdoor sports are in lockdown. But they’re still getting after it. Here’s how they’re working out and what they’re listening to for motivation.
Two surefire ways to beat the doldrums are working out and rocking out. We talked to some of the greatest endurance running, climbing, skiing, and cycling athletes to find out how they’re doing both.
From strict regimens (like Ashima Shiraishi’s) to exploratory walkabouts (like Rickey Gates’), these athletes are doing everything to keep their edge. And their taste in music — well, see for yourself!
Lael Wilcox Workout and Playlist
Who Is Lael Wilcox?
Lael Wilcox is the queen of bikepacking. She’s the first American to win the 4,300-mile Trans-America Bike Race (2016), she set the women’s course record for the 2,750-mile Tour Divide (2015), and she established first-ever fastest known time for 1,500-mile Baja Divide (2017).
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The Workout
“I’m doing all of my strength training and yoga on the back patio in Tucson, Arizona,” Wilcox said. “Wheelie Practice is at the local park half a mile away. All of my favorite routes close to home in Tucson for riding, running, hiking, and blading are on my komoot account.”
- 12-minute foundation training video for my lower back (example here)
- Forearm planks (4 for 2 minutes each, with 1- to 2-minute rest in between, or fit in sporadically throughout the day)
- 1 hour of yoga on glo.com (also just started doing pilates on glo.com today, something I’ve wanted to do for years)
- Wheelie practice as part of the 30-Day Wheelie Challenge
- One of the following close to home on bigger days: 4- to 8-hour hike, road ride, mountain bike
- One of the following on recovery days: 4-mile run, 1- to 2-hour rollerblade
Additional components I’d like to work back in:
- 2 sets of 10-minute jump-roping (to strengthen my Achilles and prevent injury)
- 100 pushups: 4 sets of 10 (narrow arm), 4 sets of 15 (wide arm)
Lael Wilcox Workout Playlist
- “Peanut Butter Jelly” by Galantis
- “Fire” by The Pointer Sisters
- “1996” by Wild Child
- “Loaded” by Primal Scream
- “Jump to It” by Aretha Franklin
- “Fever on the Bayou” by Rodney Crowell
- “Guitar Town” by Steve Earle
Wilcox added, “For longer days, I love listening to audiobooks. My recent favorites are the ‘Cormoran Strike‘ private investigator series by Robert Galbraith (a pen name for J.K. Rowling).”
Clare Gallagher Workout and Playlist
Who Is Clare Gallagher?
Patagonia sponsored athlete Clare Gallagher first wowed the ultrarunning scene by winning the Leadville 100 and putting up the second-fastest women’s time ever. Gallagher also set a course record on the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc CCC and won the Western States 100.
Clare Gallagher Workout
“I don’t really work out other than 10 single-leg backward lunges a few times a week,” Gallagher told us. “I work out most Wednesdays and do longer runs on the weekends, typically. The rest is all runs from my house — classic boring runner shit. Although I don’t find it boring because I’m exploring parts of Boulder I’ve never run through before!”
But if “boring runner shit” is your jam, you can track Gallagher’s runs on Strava. To get an idea, here’s a taste of her weekly running regimen:
- Average number of runs per week: 8
- Average distance per week: 71 miles
- Average hours running per week: 11
- Average elevation gain: 5,315 feet
Clare Gallagher Workout Playlist
Gallagher gave us her “playlist of the moment, ‘freediving.'”
Prince, dedmau5, Nirvana, The Cure, and an eclectic mix of other artists make up Gallagher’s list — which she says relates to the recent “freediving kick” she’s found.
“Its title relates to the fact that I’m on a freediving kick,” she said. “I just read ‘One Breath‘ by Adam Skolnick, which tied with one of my favorite books, ‘Deep‘ by James Nestor. Even though I’m in landlocked Boulder, Colorado, my mind’s reprieve is in the deep ocean where there are still healthy coral reefs.”
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Rickey Gates Workout and Playlist
Who Is Rickey Gates?
A “conceptual runner” and ultraendurance athlete, Gates famously ran unsupported east-to-west across America, crossing 11 states and 3,600 miles.
Rickey Gates Workout
“I have been chipping away at my #EverySingleStreet project while on quarantine,” Gates said. “The idea is simple: Run, walk, or bike every single street within a given town or city. A year-and-a-half ago, I did this project in San Francisco over 40-ish days, and then parts of Mexico City after that.”
You can see the video here:
“I am now living in a new city, Santa Fe, and had been working on this project intermittently,” he told us. “But now that we are being encouraged to stay close to home, this project has taken on a new meaning. I showcase my own projects and that of a couple others on this website that I put together.”
Here’s how to walk “every single street” in your town, according to Gates:
- I identified the project as a whole. What constitutes San Francisco? This is fairly easy to define, as it is surrounded by water on three sides and a strict county and city border to the south. Then I came up with a game plan. For me, that meant systematically making my way back and forth across the city in 20- to 30-mile clumps.
- Prior to each run, I would print out a map. (I preferred Yahoo maps because there weren’t any paid-for landmarks cluttering the map like on Google. Today, my preference is GPS Visualizer, which has many different base layers to choose from.) I would study the map some before my run — this would include identifying dead ends, alleyways, ways to loop my run, etc. But for the most part, I would kind of just make it up as I went along — map in hand, four-colored pen to mark streets off as I ran.
- I recorded my route with my Suunto watch and uploaded that to Strava at the end of every day. Once the route was uploaded, I went on to the “heat map” function on Strava or to CityStrides to cross-check my progress.
Rickey Gates Workout Playlist
Regarding his tuneage, Gates said, “I simply let Spotify decide that for me with its Discover Weekly. It’s usually a mix of bluegrass, 1970s afro-pop, and Billie Eilish (just getting into her). If I really need to crank, I’ll find some hip-hop, like pre-MAGA Kanye or Kendrick [Lamar]. Oh, and pretty much anything from Senegal — so trance-y.”
Caroline Gleich Workout and Playlist
Who Is Caroline Gleich?
Ski mountaineer Carolin Gleich cemented her name in the history books when she became the first woman to ski every line in Andrew McLean’s famed guidebook, “The Chuting Gallery: A Guide to Steep Skiing in the Wasatch Mountains.” She’s also an outspoken advocate for clean air, climate change, gender equity, and more.
Caroline Gleich Workout
Repeat two to three times a few times per week:
- 10 regular squats to warm up. Make sure to keep your knee tracking over your toe. You don’t have to go super deep.
- 10 single-leg squats on a stability disc on each leg. Start by doing them on the ground without any instability. If you don’t have a stability disc, you can use a pillow or cushion to challenge yourself.
- 10 single-leg deadlifts on each leg.
- 10 step-ups on each leg. This helps keep my legs strong for boot-packing up couloirs. Use a sturdy chair or stool.
- 10 back lunges on each leg. I prefer to step back because it feels like less impact on my knees.
- 20 seated kayakers (Russian twists). I do these with 15 pounds of weight.
Here’s a video of it:
View this post on Instagram
Gleich said, “I also have [a workout] that’s great for a warmup before weight-lifting or just a fun way to get some extra energy out and challenge your coordination.” Check it out:
- In In Out Out
- Two Feet in Each Square
- Two feet in, two feet out
- One leg in and forward, one leg out and back
- In In Out Out Laterally
- Lateral Jumps In and Out
Caroline Gleich Workout Playlist
“For music, I have been listening to my coronavirus playlist on Spotify. (Think The Police, The Beatles, Post Malone, Grateful Dead, Outkast, and Taylor Swift — to name a few.)
“And my new podcast, The Caroline Gleich Show. The episode about climate with Dr. Naomi Oreskes is what I’m most proud of so far. She’s absolutely brilliant, and it’s a message we all need to hear.”
Adrian Ballinger Workout and Playlist
Who Is Adrian Ballinger?
Founder of Mt. Everest guiding company Alpenglow Expeditions, Adrian Ballinger has summited the world’s highest peak seven times — even doing so without the use of supplemental oxygen. Ballinger has also crested several other iconic summits around the globe, including Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Cho Oyu.
Adrian Ballinger Workout
Hangboard training twice a week for 90 minutes:
- (10 min.) Full-body warmup: running stairs in the house, hangs from jugs, stretching shoulders/back/arms with band
- (10 min.) Fingers warmup: 3 sets each: 2 sec / 5 sec / 10 sec on 35mm, then 20mm, then 15mm
- (20 min.) Max finger hangs (with weight vest): 3-5 seconds per hang on smallest hold possible, 90-second rest between hangs
- (20 min.) Pullup/pushup pyramids: 1 of each, rest 30 sec.; 2 of each, rest 30 sec.; 3 of each, rest 30 sec.; continue to failure, then reverse
- (20 min.) Endurance hangs: 7 sec. on / 3 sec. off on smallest hold possible — 25 sets. Rest 5 min., repeat.
- (10 min.) Core: I love the Cirque du Soleil core workout on YouTube.
Adrian Ballinger Workout Playlist
For music that motivates his workouts, Ballinger said, “Flaix FM playlists on Spotify — this is my fave radio station in Catalonia. We listen to it nonstop during climbing trips to Spain. Keeps me motivated here too!”
Margo Hayes Workout and Playlist
Who Is Margo Hayes?
Sponsored by The North Face, 22-year-old Margo Hayes has successfully climbed two of the most difficult sport routes in the world. In doing so, she became the first woman to ever send a 5.15a, completing La Rambla in Catalonia, Spain, in 2017.
Margo Hayes Workout
“During the stay-at-home order, I have been trying to get outside once a day. My routine is very flexible, but it’s important that I move my body regularly. I have been going for long walks around my neighborhood and in open space at less-frequented trails. My distance ranges between 1 and 4 miles, typically.
“I have also been running several days a week. Some days I simply go for a mellow, flat run, and other times I run hills. When I run intervals on hills, it’s an efficient way to get my heart rate up, break a sweat, and get out some built-up energy.
“I have also been climbing a little at a home wall. We make up boulders and we climb circuits for endurance. Basically, I don’t have a set routine, but each day I get out and move!”
Margo Hayes Workout Playlist
Hayes said, “My go-to lately has been Apple Music’s R&B Now! It changes daily, and I like to hear new music that is added!”
From “anthems dedicated to the mean lows of love and the healing highs of marijuana” to “rolling bass and whining synths that sound like the beach and bottled sunshine,” this playlist seems to have a vibe for any activity.
Ashima Shiraishi Workout and Playlist
Who Is Ashima Shiraishi?
Widely considered one of the best boulderers and sport climbers in the world, Shiraishi’s accolades become even more staggering when you realize she’s still a teenager. The 19-year-old phenom has consistently topped both U.S. and world bouldering and lead climbing championships.
If that’s not enough, Shiraishi also recently authored a children’s book, “How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock Climbing Children,” aimed at empowering young girls.
Ashima Shiraishi Workout
Workout in the yard (three sets each, 2-minute rest between sets):
- 3 minutes of jump-roping (or count 300 skips)
- 5 Frenchie pullups (5 seconds up, hold 5 seconds with arms at 90 degrees, then hold 5 seconds at 145 degrees)
- 1 minute of mountain-climbers
- 20 V-sits
- 1-minute plank
- 20 reverse crunches
- 15 pushups
- 20 bird dogs each side
- 20 dead bugs each side
Ashima Shiraishi Workout Playlist
Wouldn’t ya know it, Shiraishi plays DJ and updates her own workout playlist. Her latest includes Jay-Z, Lancey Faux, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Tecca, and more. Check it out here.
Sunny Stroeer Workout and Playlist
Who Is Sunny Stroeer?
A high-altitude endurance athlete and adventure photographer — not to mention a certified divemaster and first responder — Stroeer set a female speed record on Argentina’s Aconcagua and is the first woman to complete the 100km 360 route and summit in a single push. She also claimed an FKT on the Annapurna Circuit.
Sunny Stroeer Workout
“I’m ridiculously lucky in that I moved to the tiny little town of Kanab, Utah, about a month before COVID hit. There are singletrack trails two blocks from my front door, and very few people run or hike on them.
“So my biggest challenge is not that I have to stay indoors, it’s more that I am so incredibly busy trying to keep the wheels on my small business that I have to be really disciplined to continue to train.
“My current go-to is a 30- to 45-minute 4.5-mile out-and-back run on the trail right outside my house, with a mellow 500 or so feet of vertical gain.
“During the crisis, there is so much going on that my focus is not on performance but merely on moving to manage my mood. Some days, that means that I am ambling along at 11-minute miles and even taking walking breaks. Other days, it means that I’m running sub-8-minute miles because I need to blow off steam.
“The big theme for me is to move and to be kind to myself. I want to break down stress, not add to it.”
Sunny Stroeer Workout Playlist
Stroeer said, “I love indy and alternative rock: KT Tunstall is a favorite, as is the song “She Moves,” and lots of others from that same genre. I’m outdated enough that I still use iTunes and Apple Music, but I do have a playlist on Spotify: ‘Sunny’s Faves.'”
Rob Krar Workout and Playlist
Who Is Rob Krar?
A champion of both Western States 100 and Leadville 100, Krar has won countless 50km and 50-mile ultras. He also launched a running camp specifically targeted at using endurance running to work through depression.
Rob Krar Workout
Krar said, “I’ve found I need some accountability and have been doing online Paragon Athletics routines lately. Here’s a fun time-lapse I just posted to my social feeds. Good to show that they can be done at home and with no special equipment.”
Krar does a lot of wall sits, lightweight backbends, lunges, and ab work!
Rob Krar Workout Playlist
Here’s some of Krar’s favorite workout music (right now):
- “Only The Young” by Taylor Swift
- “Just Kids” by Matt Kearney
- “Machine Gun” by Portishead
- “Time Bomb” by Arek and the Ships
- “Highwayman” by Willie, Johnny, Waylon, Kris
- “Heads Will Roll” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- “Kill V. Maim” by Grimes
- “Fade” by Kanye West
- “Car Radio” by Twenty One Pilots
- “Heart Heart Head” by Meg Myers
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