There's no doubt that our chosen sport of running gets us fit and keeps us fit –
But do we ever consider getting fit to support and enhance our running?
We endlessly pound from pavement to park in wind, mud, rain and sun in order to maintain or improve our fitness levels for
pleasure or competition.
It can often be the case that we don’t explore other activities which can also help us achieve new fitness and endurance
levels – Swimming, boxing, rowing, cycling, spinning, kick boxing, stepping, Nordic ski machines and endless variations on
aerobics classes etc are readily available – and often a great fun way to work out.
Cross training is a useful tool in many ways, offering your body the challenge of a new activity takes you out of your
“comfort zone” and allows you to train placing emphasis on different muscle groups, building strength, suppleness,
co-ordination and endurance as well as challenging the cardiovascular system.
The human body will only change and make adaptations when challenged and interesting results can be found when using
cross training as an addition to your running schedule.
If suffering an injury which cannot take the impact of running cross training can maintain c.v fitness strength and
endurance- for example spinning classes or cycling will train the same leg muscles but take the pressure off the joints as
they are non – weight bearing activities.
Cross training relieves boredom - just changing one session per week can pull you out of a training lull and give your legs
a well earned day off without having the feeling that you haven’t done anything!
A word on flexibility too, many runners do not have an adequate stretching programme. Often just a few quick stretches at
the end of a session see us through. Huge improvements can be made in suppleness by spending time on your flexibility –
consider taking part in a yoga or stretching class or check out some of the excellent books showing new techniques.
It is also important to note that correct stretching may prevent some of those annoying injuries – keeping you fit
for your sport.
