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Book-Themed Workouts for Readers and Writers: Staying Fit in Your Favorite Fictional World

Elizabeth Yuen

Workouts inspired by books are trending. Now, this trend isn’t exactly the most recent, but I’ve noticed it popping up across social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Anywhere from running to Mordor to the Nesta Archeron 10K step challenge, bookish workouts are taking the internet by storm.

And I am so here for it.

In this post, I’ll share creative, book-inspired workouts that allow you to stay fit while channeling the energy of your favorite characters and stories. Whether you’re a fan of epic fantasy quests, dystopian thrillers, or cozy magical realms, there’s a workout here that will get your heart racing and your mind buzzing with creative energy.

1. Running to Mordor: A Lord of the Rings Cardio Adventure

Ever wondered how far Frodo and Sam actually walked to Mordor? Well, it’s about 1,779 miles from Hobbiton to Mount Doom, and now you can tackle this epic distance at your own pace! This workout is perfect for runners, walkers, or even treadmill enthusiasts who want to add a bit of adventure to their cardio routine.

How it works:

  • Track your distance with a fitness app (like Strava) and aim to walk or run the full distance over time.
  • Break the journey into manageable segments—like walking to Bree or crossing the Dead Marshes—and reward yourself at each milestone (a cup of tea in the Shire, anyone?).
  • You can even gather a “Fellowship” of friends or fellow writers to join you on this epic quest!

Bonus: Listen to the “Lord of the Rings” audiobook or soundtrack while you exercise to truly immerse yourself in Middle-earth!

2. The Hunger Games Survival Circuit

In the world of The Hunger Games, survival is key, and that means staying physically fit and ready for anything. This workout focuses on agility, strength, and endurance, just like Katniss would need in the arena.

How it works:

  • Archery lunges: Stand in a lunge position as if pulling back a bow. Do 10 reps on each side to strengthen your legs and core.
  • Tree-climbing squats: Katniss spent a lot of time climbing trees—replicate that strength with 3 sets of 15 squats to build powerful legs.
  • Agility jumps: Practice dodging fireballs or leaping over logs with side-to-side agility jumps. Jump back and forth for 30 seconds, rest, and repeat for 3 rounds.
  • Sprint like you’re being chased: Finish with 3 rounds of 20-second sprints, followed by 40 seconds of walking, to mimic running for your life!

3. The Nesta Archeron 10K Step Challenge (From A Court of Thorns and Roses)

Inspired by Nesta Archeron’s daily stair-climbing challenge in A Court of Silver Flames, this workout will get your legs burning and your steps in. Challenge yourself to hit 10,000 steps a day or add stair-climbing into your routine for a serious leg workout.

How it works:

  • Find a set of stairs (or use a stair machine) and aim to climb them for 20 minutes. Alternatively, set a daily goal of 10,000 steps if you prefer walking.
  • For an extra challenge, add in weighted stair climbs: carry light dumbbells or even your favorite book (as a symbolic weight) as you climb.

Bonus: As you climb, channel Nesta’s fierce determination and use this time to mentally work through your next story plotline!

4. The Hogwarts House Workout

For Harry Potter fans, you can infuse a little magic into your fitness routine by channeling the Hogwarts spirit. Each House has unique traits, and this workout is designed to help you embrace the strengths of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin.

How it works:

  • Gryffindor courage: 3 rounds of 10 burpees to build explosive power and bravery.
  • Hufflepuff endurance: Hold a 1-minute plank to work on persistence and core strength.
  • Ravenclaw wisdom: Stretch for 10 minutes at the end of your workout—yoga or deep stretches—to focus on mindfulness and flexibility.
  • Slytherin ambition: Finish with 3 sets of 15 push-ups to build upper-body strength and determination.

Bonus: Keep track of your progress and reward yourself with a “House Cup” (a cozy cup of tea or coffee) after each successful workout session!

5. The Dauntless Training Regimen (From Divergent)

In Divergent, Dauntless initiates undergo intense physical training to test their bravery and strength. This high-intensity workout will have you feeling like a true Dauntless member, ready to leap from trains and face your fears.

How it works:

  • Box jumps or step-ups: 3 sets of 10, mimicking the leap from a moving train.
  • Push-ups: 3 sets of 15 to build upper body strength like a true Dauntless fighter.
  • Tire flips or kettlebell swings: Channel Dauntless grit with 3 sets of 10 reps to build full-body power.
  • Fear simulation runs: End with a 20-minute interval run, alternating between 1 minute of sprinting and 1 minute of walking to simulate the adrenaline rush of facing your greatest fear.

Want a more in-depth plan? Check this out.

6. The Jane Austen Stroll: A Regency-Era Walk

If intense workouts aren’t your style, take a leaf out of Jane Austen’s novels and enjoy a daily stroll through your neighborhood or a nearby park. Walking is a great way to stay active while reflecting on your latest writing project or mentally crafting the perfect scene.

How it works:

  • Aim for a 30- to 60-minute walk each day. During your walk, clear your mind and let the peaceful pace help you untangle plot points or character arcs.
  • Take a notebook or use a voice recording app to capture any sudden bursts of inspiration during your stroll.

7. The “Writing Sprint” Workout

Combine writing sprints with quick bursts of exercise to get the best of both worlds. Write for 20 minutes, then do a quick 5-minute workout to re-energize before diving back into your story.

Workout intervals:

  • 20-minute writing sprint
  • 5-minute workout: 10 squats, 10 push-ups, and a 30-second plank
  • Repeat for 3 or 4 rounds to stay productive and active!

Final Thoughts

Book-themed workouts are a fun, creative way to merge fitness with your love of reading and writing. Not only do they help you stay healthy, but they also keep your imagination alive by immersing you in your favorite fictional worlds. Next time you feel stuck at your desk or need a boost of inspiration, why not take a cue from Frodo, Katniss, or Harry and get moving?

So, lace up your running shoes, grab your water bottle (or your magic wand), and start sweating your way through the stories you love!

health

How I Became a Runner

Elizabeth Yuen

I hate running. I’ve always hated running. And I have always known that I will forever hate running. Until the day I started to love running.

Growing up, running had always been a horrible, terrible thing the gym teachers made us do every day. The grouchy old men and women would shout at us, “Don’t cut corners!” and “Run faster!” Then they’d finish it off with some push ups and sit ups on the concrete (have you done that before? It’s the worst). Thus, running became more of a punishmenthealthy-person-woman-sport.jpg and a way for me to feel like I wasn’t good at anything.

What’s even worse is that the winning kids of those mile runs liked to do “victory laps” where they would pass by the last place losers (AKA myself and a few other kids) all while looking smug about the whole thing. And after the last kid finally finished running, we all had to go to our next class sweaty, disgusting and exhausted.

It was awful.

With each passing year, and each teacher yelling the same things over and over again (“Is that all you got?” “Stop going so slow – kick it into high gear!”), I felt more and more hatred toward this stupid sport. All I wanted to do was be left alone, but adults kept yelling at me (and the other poor souls who were never good at running either) that I wasn’t doing good enough with smug peers looking at me like I was inferior.

Okay, yeah. An eleven minute mile is nothing to brag about, but that was my eleven minute mile.

For years this pent up rage toward running built up inside of me, until whenever I thought about jogging, a feel of loathing would bubble up and I’d walk away from the whole thing.

But then I stopped for moment and though to myself, “If I hate it this much, maybe I should actually try to do it.”

I was out of school. No one was yelling at me to run faster. I could just…run. In peace. By myself.

So I did.

And every day I hated it at first. It was so boring! Who actually liked to run?

Until I started to hate it a little less. I discovered that running was easier outdoors than on a treadmill..

And then I started to be okay with it. I went outside and ran gorgeous trails in the forest by myself. No one was telling me what to do or how to run. I just ran

And then I started to like it.

And then, this Christmas, when I received tons of winter running gear from my family, I knew that I loved it.

What’s your exercise of choice?

career

Stuck in a Rut? Ways to Conquer Writer’s Block

Elizabeth Yuen

Written by Liz Britton

Who here is guilty of writer’s block? I know I am. Anything from trying to write an essay to getting the words out for a blog post or working on your next epic novel can conjure up writer’s block.

And let me tell you: it is the worst. Especially when you have a deadline.

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Spongebob experiences writer’s block

Which is why I decided to attend a meeting led by Gail Z. Martin, author of The Chronicles of the Necromancer, that would address these issues. After sitting down with some fellow writers to discuss how to get out of a rut, I wanted to share a few ways you can over writer’s block and get back in the groove:

Take a Break

I know it seems like the world is ending and your work was due, like, yesterday, but taking a much needed 30 minute walk outside is good for you and for your writing. When you are stressed, you may suffer from lack of sleep, brain fog and other consequences that can derail your success.

Even taking a fifteen minute break to focus on something else can help jog your writing juices.

Exercise

According to the American Council on Exercise, just by exercising you can boost your work performance. Exercise comes with the benefits of re-charging your brain, allows you to do your best, focus more on the tasks at hand and gives you an edge in the work place.

One study showed that a supervised, pre-planting season exercise program among reforestation workers reduced injury rates from 22% to less than 5% — and increased productivity.
A daily supervised 10-minute stretching program among assembly-line workers showed significant improvement in joint flexibility, fatigue, anger, depression, and overall mood.

A nine–month study of 80 executives showed that exercisers experienced a 22% increase in fitness and a 70% improvement in ability to make complex decisions compared to sedentary peers.

A study of railroad workers showed that 75% of employees reported improvement in on-the-job concentration and overall productivity.

On top of helping you burn calories, exercise helps your concentration. So get your workout in today and reap benefits ASAP!

Work on Something Else

Yup. Step away from the laptop and go tackle that DIY project you’ve been meaning to get writingto for the past few months. Have laundry to do? Get it done while painting your nails. Go grocery shopping. Do something productive other than what you are trying to write.

One suggestion from a fellow writer was to “write in another dimension”. In other words: if you’re writing non-fiction, try a fictional world for a change. If you’re working on poetry, try short fiction. The point is to shock you out of your daily routine so you can get back into the work flow when you return.

Come back to work after an hour or two of doing something else, and you might be surprised what you are capable of accomplishing.

Walk and Talk it Out

We’ve already mentioned some of the benefits of exercise when it comes to your writing, but discussing your rut with a friend might help. Gail Z. Martin explained that whenever she is having trouble, she and her husband go for a walk to talk out where she is stuck in her writing.

By talking about it and processing it out loud, you will be able to work through your issues and even get an idea or two from your friend, partner, or coworker.

These are just a few of the ideas that were tossed around by myself and other writers. Leave a comment sharing what you do to get out of a writer’s rut!