Cross Training?

[Lucyintheskywith]

When you're on a rest / strength / swim day.. what do you do ?

Today I've done training on an exercise bike, for the very first time ..

Is this still appropriate exercise for when you're aiming to be a longer, stronger person for running too?

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Yes, good on you for cross training on a exercise bike, with those other exercises it will make you a better runner. 😊 🏃🏾

[Lucyintheskywith Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

This is a whole new 🌏🌎🌍🌐🗺 to me 😊👍

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Exercise bike is great for non running days 😊👍

[Lucyintheskywith Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

Such a long learning curve!🙌

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Cycling is great cross-training. I love my exercise bike - but don't use it enough at the moment. Well done!🙂

[Lucyintheskywith Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

It's all an "unknown" world. .. Lol..

I'm wanting to push into half marathon, so any advice is welcome!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Lucyintheskywith]

Brilliant! I am no expert - maybe pop over to the Marathon Running and Race Support Forum where you will see how others are taking on the challenge?

I guess my main advice to anyone would be:

LIsten - to your body. Whatever the training plan says...learn to recognise when you need a rest day, or a drop back week etc. Sometines it's hard to know what is 'just' a niggle and what is a warning of something more serious.

Believe - that you can do it! Of course you can!💪

Discipline - You get back what you put in. It's tough getting out on longer runs after a hard day at work but the miles in the legs really do pay off.🏃🏽‍♀️

If you have not long reached 10K, consolidate that distance first and allow your body a little time to adapt. Then you might want to look at setting a goal of say, 10 miles(16k) - on your way to that 21.1K!

Have a look for a virtual challenge maybe? It's such a shame that we don't have any big races at the moment - I'm still entered in the Great South Run in October which is a fantastic 10 mile race in Portsmouth. I expect I will hear of its cancellation any day now...😢

I love the longer distances - when my body allows! 🙄 I hope to work up to HM distance again later in the autumn - when its cooler for those very long runs!

Good luck!😀

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

At the moment I'm doing strength and conditioning and hiit because I really need to tone up and strengthen my core and knees. Once that's on track I will also add some cycling ☺ I have a few friends who are serious runners (marathon+) and they do yoga and pilates on non run days

[Lucyintheskywith Graduate10]

What are you following for strength, hiit and conditioning?

Like you I've a need to help my knees ( especially) and core.

I've limited ( virtually 0) space indoors and 0 equipment.

Pre lockdown i was attending groupsessions for cardio tennis, clubbercise, dancing, pilates and following a team effort for c25k.... all this with my 2 jobs over 6day week.

All I've now got is my running .. hence ecstatic I've done 10km runs !

Loving this forum!

Feeling like I'm " floating " with no set plan a.t.m

[HeavyFoot Graduate10]

I go for a totally non-competitive country walk for 1-2 hours. It sorts out tired muscles and confused thoughts.

[Lucyintheskywith Graduate10 in reply to HeavyFoot]

I know that feeling 😊