Fitness Influencer Steph Claire Smith in Two-Piece Workout Gear Shares "Running Tips"

Steph Claire Smith loves being a mother, but in addition to motherhood, she’s an entrepreneur, and even a co-host for @kicpod + KICBUMP! She embraces the health and wellness journey, and uses social media to inspire others to do the same. “Some running tips from someone who never thought they’d say they could enjoy a run. When I tell you I used to HATE running, I mean I really hated it. I’d get to 200m and wonder why I’m bothering and hate the fact that I was already struggling. So here’s what I’ve learned and what helps me actually enjoy going for a run! 1. Needing to walk or take a break doesn’t mean the run doesn’t count. 2. Your pace does not matter - stop comparing it to those you see online. 3. Following a program helps you build up to your goal distance safely. 4. Starting your journey with friends or a community helps so much with motivation!! 5. Don’t worry about what your body looks like as you run, it’s gonna jiggle, it’s gonna move, it’s gonna get red and sweaty,” she said on Instagram. Here’s what Steph does to maintain her fit physique.

1. She pushes through difficult workouts

She pushes through tough workout routines. “Not every session is going to feel amazing! There are so many factors that can come in to play when it comes to how we feel doing during any given workout. There were many points throughout my workout today where I questioned if I should just stop right there and then and walk out. And if this was because of energy levels, I would have! I think it’s important to tune into our bodies like that… But I knew I had the energy, and I’ve committed to doing three sessions a week for this challenge,” she said on Instagram. “I just had to get out of my own head, and stop worrying about having to regress or rest, I took the pressure off of the workout needing to look a certain way and just kept at it. I’m so glad I got it done, and I’m proud of myself for sticking to my goal! Don’t let these sessions define the next! You’re incredible.”

2. She sets a good example

She loves being a mom, but doesn’t feel guilty prioritizing her health and setting a good example for her child. “Love him seeing his mumma put in time for herself. Finally got my first workout done of our Express Lift Challenge 💪🏼 We were shooting new Kic workouts last week, plus I was a lil under the weather so didn’t want to push it by visiting the gym, but I finally got to it today and even better… I got to get it done in our new STAX. X Kic collection 🤩Challenge enrollments are still open if you’re wanting to start our gym challenge with me!! If you’re not already subscribed to Kic head to the link in my bio 😘 Lettssss go,” she said on Instagram.

3. She’s strong

She wants to inspire others to focus on building strength. “The workouts that have made me stronger than ever are here and I’m so excited for you to try them. For those of you who get into their first Express Lift workout of the challenge, please let me know your thoughts! I can’t wait to kick butt together for the next 8 weeks,” she said on Instagram.

4. She does pilates

She practices pilates to stay in shape. “A question I get asked a lot is ‘what is your fav training style’ and I always get stuck because I think it’s fairly even between Pilates and strength training in the gym! I think what I love about our Pilates in the app is that I can squeeze them in at home when Harvey’s watching the tv,” she said on Instagram. According to Better Health, “the health benefits of Pilates include improved flexibility, increased muscle strength and tone, particularly of your abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks (the ‘core muscles’ of your body), balanced muscular strength on both sides of your body, enhanced muscular control of your back and limbs, improved [stabilization] of your spine, [and] improved posture,” to name a few.

5. She's confident

In a video she posted on Instagram, she shared photos of athletes with bodies of all shapes and sizes, captioned “just a reminder that elite female athletes look like this!! So beautiful, strong and talented in their own unique ways and we’re here for it. This is your reminder that ‘healthy’ doesn’t look one way.” She wants to spread the word about the importance of confidence and mental strength to her online community.

Steph Claire Smith is a fitness influencer and trainer. She is the co-founder of the fitness app, Kic, and she hosts the KIC podcast. Smith shares a lot of her favorite workouts on Instagram. In a recent video, she shared her favorite lower and upper body exercises. Smith captioned the post, “Round 1: 10x reverse db lunge L. 10x reverse db lunge R. 15x db goblet squat. 20x wall hip raises ^ x3. Round 2: 5x chin ups. 10x db push press. 15x single arm row L. 15x single arm row R ^ x3. Round 3: 10x hanging leg raises ^ x2.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Steph Claire Smith stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She Works Her Lower Body

As you can see in her Instagram post, Smith likes to work her lower body. Piedmont reports that these workouts have a lot of benefits. “Having strong glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles gives your body a strong foundation and can: Tone your lower body muscles. Boost your metabolism as you increase muscle mass. Give you a higher calorie burn as you train larger muscle groups. Improve your balance. Strengthen your bones. Reduce joint pain.”

2. She Uses Weights

Claire Smith/Instagram

In her Instagram video, Smith is seen using weights for strength training exercises. The Mayo Clinic states that strength training has a lot of benefits. “Strength training may enhance your quality of life and improve your ability to do everyday activities. Strength training can also protect your joints from injury. Building muscle also can contribute to better balance and may reduce your risk of falls. This can help you maintain independence as you age.”

3. She Does Chin-Ups

Claire Smith/Instagram

In her Instagram video, Smith is seen doing chin-ups. ACE Fitness states that this exercise has a lot of benefits. “Chin-ups can help improve grip strength, posture and appearance, while also helping to strengthen muscles that stabilize the spine. This, in turn, can help reduce one’s risk of back pain and injury. Even if a client is only able to do one or two chin-ups at a time, this exercise offers tremendous benefits, especially for the back, shoulders, forearms and biceps.”

4. She Doesn’t Always Push Herself

Smith makes sure to work out on a regular basis. However, she revealed in the caption of this Instagram post that she doesn’t push herself too hard when she works out. “REMINDER: a workout doesn’t have to feel like death to ‘count.’ The point is, you’re making time for you. Doesn’t matter if that’s a walk to the coffee shop and back, yoga, Pilates, running, HIIT, strength, dancing...WHATEVER. Moving your body is important and EVERYTHING ‘counts’ if it’s making you feel good. ❤️”

5. She Does HIIT

Smith revealed in the caption of this Instagram post that she likes to do HIIT training to stay fit. “HIIT training used to be absolute hell for me… and whilst it’s still challenging, and not my FAVOURITE type of workout, it was ‘hell’ because of my mindset,” she wrote. “I used to hate every second of it because I’d use those sessions as punishment - wanting to burn as much as I could purely because I wanted to change my body. I can now challenge myself in a workout and enjoy the challenge because I’m doing it for a completely different reason. And I LOVE @laura.henshaw ‘s NEW HIIT classes in the app because there is so much mindfulness pulled into the classes, she continuously reminds you that you’re in charge of your own body and to listen to it throughout the sessions and you honestly finish them feeling on top of the world. They’re all 5-15min long - so go roll out the mat, and give one a go.”