RSS
Twitter
BoSox catcher Hick Cady wins foot race, 1912
The classic advice was to focus, focus, focus. If you’re a cyclist, bike more miles. If you swim, swim more laps.
Many experts now think it’s better to switch activities. A terrific running book from Bill Pierce, Scott Murr, and Ray Moss suggests three runs and two cross-training (maybe biking) days per week.
There are a few good reasons for this.
- Mixing it up pushes your body, but doesn’t repeat the same exact motions. You’re a lot less likely to suffer repetitive stress injuries.
- Everyone hits peaks and slumps. If you push yourself in multiple sports, you’re bound to rock one of them.
- Life is too short for monotony. It’s more fun to get a little variety by breaking up the routine. And fun equals fast.
This concept works on a larger scale too. Nobody gets a personal best every day. If you try to excel in a few different areas, you’ll hit your stride in one of them. Success somewhere keeps your head higher everywhere. Make sure you’re giving a good shot in everything important to you – work, school, friends, family, hobbies, whatever. That extra mental confidence will help when you’re digging deep in a sprint.
Related posts:
Mike
Mike Dasalla
Nifer
Dean
Greg
Vikas | vikas-gupta.in |
Noah
Old 454
Amy Reinink
Caratunk Girl
Chic Runner
iRunner
Punk Rock Tri Guy
Purple Shoe Runs
Runner Dude
Running Couple
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Cross training is a great fitness routine especially for us +40 folks. To make this work, however, it is important to make the routine a habit and not to reduce the importance of one activity over another. For example, due to the weather and the darkness, I row on an ergometer several days a week in the winter to supplement my running. Running is my primary sport and I do it 5-7 days per week, when the weather permits. By rowing, I keep up the fitness routine, while working on different muscle groups. During the winter, it allows me to run harder on my running days as I know that I will be less likely to pound two days in a row. The key for me is not to think of the rowing as something less or optional. In doing this, I haven’t had to suffer each spring with trying to get back into shape after three months of minimal training. Now, I am pretty fit each spring; I only need to get into racing condition.
You’re an elite runner, but I think this advice applies even for duffers like me. The cross-training is important and not just filler. If you take the cross-training seriously, you will gain serious results – in your primary sport.