The Daily Check-In 9.18
Spice up your run.
Try this formula from Chelsea Aguiar’s Precision Run Outdoor: Boo-ya 90s class on Variis. Run four 90-second intervals with 90-second recoveries between each using these tips as your guide:
Comfortable Start: All intervals start with comfortable Medium Run pace (5 to 6 out of 10 effort).
Fun Finish: Each interval ends with a fun speed kick. The first two have a Fast Run pace kick (7 to 8 out of 10 effort) and the last two have a Sprint pace kick (9 to 10 out of 10 effort).
Surprise Challenge: Start your speed kick earlier as you progress (speed up after 60 seconds in interval 1, speed up after 30 seconds in interval 4).
Prep baked farro pasta.
Close out tomato and eggplant season with this baked farro pasta. Feta cheese adds a salty note to the dish, while parsley and basil provide freshness. Swap in regular or gluten-free pasta if you prefer.
Protect your cuticles.
After a yoga, HIIT, or mat Pilates session, pay special attention to your nails. “Any type of class or exercise that requires you to be on a wood floor can be rough on the hands,” says Deborah Lippmann, founder of an eponymous collection of nail, hand, and foot products. She recommends a deep hydrating treatment post-workout: “Coat your hands with cuticle oil and a broad spectrum hand cream, then wrap them in a hot towel. Let the treatment seep into your pores for 5 to 10 minutes.”
Get a PCP.
Even if you see several specialists, you still need a primary care physician (PCP), according to two new studies published in JAMA. The first found people with PCPs receive better-quality cancer screenings, more regular check-ups, and a higher level of overall care than those who don’t. The second shows that for every 10 additional PCPs available to 100,000 people, life expectancy increases by close to two months.
In the current moment, many general practitioners are offering telehealth services as well. Not only are PCPs more likely to offer preventative care, if you do get sick, they’ll be able to draw on your medical history easily. Ask friends for recommendations and schedule a visit every two years, then annually once you hit 40, the authors recommend.