Whether you’re training for a marathon or just staying active, many runners choose the morning to log their kilometres. This can be tough to maintain, especially when you’re deep into a training block, so finding a way to make it more of a ritual can help keep you motivated and your mind clear. As we’ve refined our morning-run ritual, we’ve stumbled across Nespresso’s Coffee+ range: the coffee you love with added benefits. To elevate our mornings even further, we paired it with a few other things we look forward to after waking up and getting ready for that first run of the day.

Get started

Whether you are queuing up a training session or getting ready for a race, starting your day with a ritual that gets you in the right headspace is crucial. For many, that means some food and a nice cup of coffee. It’s a great way to start your day, especially when you use this moment to maximize your morning routine and load up on essential vitamins – even through your morning brew! Nespresso’s new Coffee+ range provides functional blends designed to elevate and tailor your morning routine.

Nespresso Coffee+ Active blend is enriched with Vitamin B6, which contributes to energy metabolism and tissue formation, making it a great addition to your routine before kicking off a morning session. And if it’s a speed workout, that caffeine can support your training. Not to mention, it has delicious almond and vanilla notes, reminiscent of amaretti and vanilla custard, the perfect way to enjoy that morning cup – specially crafted to be served over ice.

Meditate

If wellness is your goal with running (and even if it isn’t), starting your morning with meditation can help sharpen your mental and physical awareness. In many ways, running itself mirrors meditative practices, from regulating your breath to staying present. Taking a few minutes to clear your mind, focus on breathing, and centre yourself before a run can help you find a sense of calm before taking on the day.

Motivation booster

Long runs are some of the most time-consuming parts of training, so it’s important to stick to your routine and have a ritual that supports it. Hours of nonstop running aren’t the only part of marathon training that can feel tedious. That’s why it’s important to turn your training into a ritual, not just a routine. Nespresso Coffee+ range offers a Ginseng Delight blend that pairs perfectly with meditative practices to help you find your flow. Its soft and sweet caramel flavour with ginseng extract keeps things delicious, with half the caffeine!

Curated playlist

We all have those days when the run seems to drag on, and you can’t find the fire to push yourself further. Well, pop in those headphones and look no further–music has been proven to make you run faster, improve your endurance and boost your mood. Some key benefits of listening to music include feeling happier; yes, the dopamine rush from “Another One Bites the Dust” is scientifically supported. When you listen to music you love, it releases feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain that, combined with your runner’s high, can make your morning run better and heighten the ritual.

When you face the stresses of the day, running can ease the burden on your mind, and listening to the tunes you love is another way to stay centred. Music influences the areas of your brain related to emotion, which can help you relax. You’ll come in from your run refreshed, happier and ready to handle whatever the rest of your day has to throw at you. These are just a few ways music can benefit your brain and your ritual.

Community and consistency

Nespresso Coffee+ Vivida blend is the Melozio taste you love with cereal and biscuity notes, now enriched with vitamin B12 that helps support immune and daily function. Pairing it with a community experience can improve your mental well-being and add another positive ritual to your running. Although sometimes it’s nice to run by yourself and enjoy the solitude, running with others can also be a great motivator and vibe boost, which is why run clubs are absolutely booming.

Whether you grab a coffee before a tempo session or meet once a month for a social run, building a training ritual with people whose company you enjoy can go a long way toward supporting your training (and your brain). We all need a wellness routine, and mixing in the Nespresso Coffee+ range, is a great way to stay consistent as you prep for race day.

If you’re running or cheering on loved ones at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 17-18th, stop by the Nespresso on-site activation at the Nathan Phillips Square to sip, celebrate and discover your perfect blend from the Nespresso Coffee+ range.