17/05/2024
Post 2
Cross training
If you're training for a single activity event like a run or swim, it's understandable to think you should do all your training using this activity. But cross training - building fitness using a number of different exercises - can be really beneficial for your body.
Why?
Our body is capable of moving in an incredible number of different ways and directions. When we are younger, we run around and play, using our body in all these different planes of motion. But as we get older we tend to specialise, and don't encourage our body to explore its ranges to the full.
Injuries are more common when we repeat the same actions regularly, because our body is only moving certain areas of its muscle in a certain action.
Maintaining our bodies ability to move in every direction keeps us adaptable when something goes wrong - like when we miss our footing and slip. It also improves your performance in your chosen discipline - reducing injury potentially and overuse issues and building full body fitness.
For the west Highland way, although I need to ensure I am fit enough to walk 96miles, I can do this by walking, cycling, swimming, yoga, riding, and running. These different activities work on aspects of my fitness like power, stamina, upper body strength (for carrying my backpack) and mobility without hammering my body repetitively in the process.
What activities do you use for cross training?
