Make Your Run More Fun With Martin Nguyen’s Tips

Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguye knows the importance of having killer cardio and terrific endurance.

The 28-year-old Vietnamese-Australian is the only two-division world titleholder in ONE Championship history, and having an explosive cardiovascular routine was absolutely vital in leading him to both the ONE Featherweight and Lightweight World Championships.

In fact, a key element in his training camps are his weekly runs through Australia’s famous sand dunes, and treks up the country’s steepest mountains.

Sure, Nguyen does not always enjoy those particular exercise routines. But he does them because he wants to unlock his inner greatness and his true potential. As he says: “Every week, you put yourself through the same struggle and the same mindset, and it is like a motivation sparks inside of you.”

“The Situ-Asian” is looking to help spark some of that motivation in others, too. Here are the champ’s top three ways to make your run even more fun.

Run With A Group Of People

Sometimes, running alone can get dull and monotonous.

For some, just the mere thought of spending an hour, thirty minutes, or even fifteen minutes of non-stop cardio by yourself can be mentally exhausting. A person could quickly lose inspiration trekking long distances, and repeating the same cardio-rhythmic motions for extended periods of time.

However, doing it with a couple of friends or even a runners club could make the time fly by. When people are running together, inspiration could easily rub off on each other.

“It makes the run more fun, because you all have the same goal. It is a mental push, as well as a mental motivation where everyone wants to meet their goal and everyone is doing it together,” Nguyen explains.

“One person will motivate you, and you will motivate them, and seeing everyone’s hard work will be a good motivation. Also, it could be a good competition. One person wants to do better than the other person, and the other person wants to do better than you, so it is like a challenge along the way.”

Focus On The Positives Instead Of The Negatives

Unfortunately, some people get discouraged during the beginning phases of their respective fitness journeys.

The initial enthusiasm could wear off and demoralization could set in, and folks have the tendency to quit as soon as they hit a wall.

Still, it is crucial to power through that wall. Nguyen encourages people to remain focused on the positives and to let go of the negativity.

“The importance of thinking about the positives is you set yourself a goal of where you want to be, and reaching that goal and completing your goal brings joy,” the champ says.

“So you have to think about what is there for you at the end of the road, and that is the positive thing. Whether you want to lose weight or you want to become fit, it is all up to you.”

“In terms of the negatives, you are going to get pain, you may have lingering injuries that demotivate you, and you may have people around you who talk badly about you and your goals. The negatives will always be there, but you’ve just got to focus on what you want, and where you want to be.”

Listen To Your Favorite Music

Even if you decide to run by yourself, you could use that time wisely by listening to your favorite songs and get lost in the music.

By listening to music, especially tracks you enjoy, it could help distract you from the intensity of the workout. Also, it could motivate you to run faster and for longer periods of time.

Simply put, listening to music and your own personal soundtrack makes for a more pleasurable running experience.

“Nothing beats a good jam. And when it comes to a workout, it takes your mind off of the world,” says Nguyen, who loves to work out to 90s records, R&B, and his walkout song, “Numb/Encore” by Linkin Park and Jay-Z.

“Plus, you could do a little bit of karaoke on the way. It makes the time go faster. Five songs in, and you are almost 20 minutes into the workout. It helps make the time go by pretty fast.”