What cross-training do you do?: Are you a... - Strength & Flex

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What cross-training do you do?

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold
โ€ข25 Replies

Are you a runner? A rower? A cyclist or walker?

I recently came across an old post discussing if we should cater more for cross-training here on Strength & Flex? Beyond the usual choices of yoga or Pilates or home workouts.

So would love to hear what kind of cross training you do. And do you follow training plans for that? Are there some unique ones, like dragging sleepers across the lawn to level it? ๐Ÿ˜„ (she owns a fabulously level lawn now!)

I am a runner (did I just say that?), lapsed cyclist and cross training activities involve Pilates, Yoga but also rowing.

So what cross-training do you do?

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CBDB
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25 Replies
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NicecupOT profile image
NicecupOT

I got an Intro to Open Water Swimming Session as a Xmas present... and I'm loving it. I did a bit of cold conditioning by having cold showers beforehand, highly recommended

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to NicecupOT

Nice! Do you use a wet suit?

NicecupOT profile image
NicecupOT in reply to CBDB

No, it was offered, but I thought I'd go for the full cold-water experience. Brrrrrrilliant!

grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirl in reply to NicecupOT

Heard a lot of good things about it - but I'm not quite brave enough yet!

NicecupOT profile image
NicecupOT in reply to grumpyoldgirl

I'd recommend a taster or introduction session, the guy who did my session talked me through loads of stuff before even getting in - I think the water temperature was 9ยฐc on my first go... it's much warmer now, the venue is a private lake. The buzz afterwards is terrific...and lasts for days

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to NicecupOT

๐Ÿฅถ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐ŸŠโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to CBDB

Hubby and I are tempted to go for a weekend to Heathersage in the Peakdistrict with its Open Air Pool. Looks inviting! I sometimes forget that Germany had open air pools all over the place and is completely normal.

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to CBDB

Just remembered, I did do the Sauna- ice swimming thing in Finland once. But not sure that counts as open air swimming, as they had to ice pick a 3x3 m hole into the ice for that and that was it. Cold, small, outside but maybe not really swimming. ๐Ÿฅต๐Ÿฅถ๐Ÿฅต๐Ÿฅถ๐ŸŠโ€โ™€๏ธ

grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirl

As of last week, I am participating in Zumba gold class. (Can't handle the full on version just yet, but this is a good reintroduction).

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to grumpyoldgirl

๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ Iโ€™ve never done Zumba, apart from a Zumba video workout this last Christmas. It was fun!

grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirl in reply to CBDB

The music is great, and I feel a bit of a muppet so I get the giggles, it's just hilarious! (Bit of a late reply, sorry - yours disappeared under a flurry of posts!)

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to grumpyoldgirl

๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿฝ

John_W profile image
John_W

As a 52 year old who's been running 6.5 years now and who's had 6 injuries/niggles in the last 2 years, I've now, finally, been persuaded to incorporate regular at-home Strength & Conditioning into my week.

Also, 2 years ago, I started some static bike in the works gym and now do this regularly. The static bike is mainly to compliment my running and helps to increase or maintain my aerobic base.

Up until my latest injury in mid-May, a typical week looked like:

- running: 4 runs totalling 4.5 hours and about 45-50km (and looking to increase that duration while keeping frequency the same)

- static bike: 3 rides totalling 3 hours (about 28-29 km/hr)

- strength & conditioning: 3 sessions of mixed exercises totalling 1.5 hours

This latest injury has meant no running and no s&c (both to de-load the aggravated knee), so I have upped the bike to 6 or 7 sessions weekly and about 8-9 hours in total, in order to maintain that aerobic fitness. The S&C has been replaced by almost daily stretches for very tight hamstrings, glutes and quads, as diagnosed by a physio last week.

If I fancy a change from the bike, I'll go to the gym and do either 1 hour elliptical or 1 hour rowing.

And when I can squeeze it in, I'm going to resume my attempts to do 2 (TWO!) consecutive 25m lengths of front crawl in the pool. I started front-crawl 2 years, but very stop-start - literally! I'm a rubbish swimmer.

All the running/bike/elliptical/rowing is done at low intensity, around 125 bpm (my max is 178).

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to John_W

Wow! Quite a list! And surely that must be strengthening those muscles that protect your knees!

I used to cycle a lot, so cannot imagine cycling on the spot. With rowing itโ€™s the other way around and cannot imagine rowing in a real boat. Hm ๐Ÿค”.

John_W profile image
John_W in reply to CBDB

I must admit, the 1st time I got on an exercise bike in our works gym, I had no idea what I was doing and thought it incredibly boring (unlike the treadmill - ha!!).

BUT... now, I know I go about in a very specific way, knowing that it complements my running. I put the TV on and off i go. For me, it's all about heart rate ;-)

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to John_W

Great tip. A training program in any kind of physical activity is a game changer, providing goals and milestones. And itโ€™s so great to tick them off, I find. Thanks! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

VG11 profile image
VG11

I do kettle bell training twice a week, have done for the last 5+ years and I think itโ€™s really helped with my running and helped prevent injuries ๐Ÿ’ช

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to VG11

I heard that it helps. Never tried it myself... yet... Iโ€™ll have to work towards that. Nice! Do you do this in the studio or at home?

VG11 profile image
VG11 in reply to CBDB

I do it in a group with two personal trainers; now in a studio but via zoom for the last 18 months - I genuinely think itโ€™s helped with the running. Pretty hard core tho!

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to VG11

๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

ritu85260 profile image
ritu85260

Running, cycling and some Strength & Resistance training. Will resume swimming when the pools reopen. Novice in all of these, I must say.

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to ritu85260

Nice! As a newbie runner (not sure how long I can call myself that) there is something to be said for the delicious novice experience!

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJo

Running, usually 20to30 miles a week, and since Jan daily strength and conditioning instead of the now and then approach I had. The workout encompasses weights with a set of dumbells and 2 different kettlebells, Bodyweight exercises, plus yoga and stretching

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to GoGo_JoJo

Nice! Thatโ€™ll do it! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ I guess if your upping the running distance to that level you really have to attend to strength and flexibility to keep the distance up?

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJo in reply to CBDB

๐Ÿค” I'm not sure. I've been around that level for quite a while now but I did used to get stiff hips so the clams, bridges and various stretches really help. I like seeing the shoulder/ arm muscles I've built up without much effort (or so it seems) ๐Ÿคฃ

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