Keely Hodgkinson, a rising star in track and field, has made waves on the global stage. After winning silver in the 2021 Olympics, she clinched gold in the 800 meter at this year’s Olympics, solidifying her status as a top athlete. Before her triumphant performance, Hodgkinson graced the pages of ELLE UK, sharing stunning photos from the shoot on Instagram with the caption, “This was so fun.” Curious about how she maintains her peak physical condition? Read on to discover five ways Keely Hodgkinson stays in shape and see the photos that prove her methods work.
Hodgkinson shared her training secrets with Runner’s World. She says that she splits the 800 meter up. “There’s a session I do, which is usually the last one I’ll run before a championships. It’s a split 800m, so a 400m, 30 seconds’ rest, then another 400m. The outcome is very accurate in terms of telling you what you’re capable of. When I was at the Tokyo Olympics, I did that session beforehand and I split a 1:55.3, then ended up running 1:55.8. So it’s a really honest reflection of where you’re at.”
Hodgkinson trains 7 days a week. She shared her routine with Runner’s World. “So, it’s cross training on Mondays. On Tuesdays, I’ll do a session on the cross trainer and then I’ll do a track session. Wednesdays involve a 30-minute run and 40 minutes on the cross trainer, plus some gym work. Thursdays are similar to Tuesdays, but with maybe more of a tempo-type session. I always have Fridays off, then Saturdays in the winter will be a longer session and in the summer a track session. Sundays in the winter will be hills, and in the summer I’ll do a 15-minute run.”
Hodgkinson shared her favorite pre-race breakfast with Runner’s World. “It’s probably one of those questions where nearly every athlete has the same answer, but I’d say porridge – and I always have a cup of tea. Then white toast. I’m usually the athlete who doesn’t have the snacks, although there will often be some granola lying around somewhere.”
Hodgkinson revealed to Runner’s World that she actually enjoys eating healthy. “I eat pretty well. I’m not really a person who craves takeaways or things like that, because they just don’t make me feel very good. My friends will say, ‘Let’s get a Chinese,’ but I’d rather just eat a chocolate bar, to be honest – that’s my thing. So I eat pretty well, not so much because I have to, but more because I like to. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and good carbohydrates, but there will always be a chocolate bar, too. I think I need the calories, to be honest.”
Hodgkinson isn’t bothered by what others think of her. She told ELLE UK, “You can’t get overly bothered about what everyone else is doing. I think that’s good [to remember] in every aspect of life, whether it’s how you look or what job you have – if you’re just comparing, you’re going to be miserable.”