Summertime Cross-Training to Spice Up Your Routine

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Posted 8/31/2009

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The best part about summer and fall are all the fun activities you can do outdoors! Cross-training means including a variety of activities to compliment your walking and running workouts. It is best to include activities that are lower in impact and include a variety of movement patterns. Doing so will keep your body and mind guessing what is coming next and balance your muscular strength and aerobic fitness as well. Here are a few of my favorite cross-training activities for the summer and fall seasons (get outside and enjoy...).

BICYCLING: On the road or on the trail, cycling is the perfect outdoor cross-training activity. It offers a non-impact activity that uses opposing muscle groups which makes it is a perfect complement to your running and walking program. Find a path or ride around your neighborhood, cycling takes you places and provides a great cardiovascular alternative without the impact on your body.

YOGA/PILATES:
Yoga is a great way to work on your overall flexibility without having to think about stretching and Pilates will build your core strength like nothing else. Both are led by instructors and all you are responsible for is showing up and following along. Both classes, whether at a gym or on video are unique alternatives to walking and running and will challenge you in ways unforeseen and provide a low stress resource for building core strength and balanced flexibility. Although many classes are held indoors, check with your local gym for seasonal outdoor classes. It's a perfect way to become one physically and mentally with nature.

SWIMMING: Swimming can be both a relaxing and refreshing few hours a week, or a heart pounding, air-sucking workout. Either way, it is a completely non-impact vacation for land-based training. If you are struggling with aches and pains, water training is a safe alternative to active recovery and will maintain cardiovascular fitness.

INLINE SKATING (ROLLERBLADING): Although there is a huge learning curve to skating, the benefits outweigh the risk. Inline skating requires your legs to move laterally, side to side versus front to back so it truly is working a whole new set of muscles. Put that together with the balance and coordination it takes to stay vertical and you've got a winning activity that will put a smile on your face! I just wish they would bring back the old roller skates with the stopper on the front so I would stop using the grass as my brakes:)

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