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? 😄 (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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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
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toNicecupOT
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 9°c on my first go... it's much warmer now, the venue is a private lake. The buzz afterwards is terrific...and lasts for days
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toNicecupOT
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.
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. 🥵🥶🥵🥶🏊♀️
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!)
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)
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).
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
Great tip. A training program in any kind of physical activity is a game changer, providing goals and milestones. And it’s so great to tick them off, I find. Thanks! 👍🏽
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 it’s helped with the running. Pretty hard core tho!
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
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toGoGo_JoJo
Nice! That’ll do it! 💪👍🏽 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?
🤔 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) 🤣
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