Top 5 Reasons to Cross-Train
By
Kevin Jermyn
of Trackcoach.com
In recent years, runners have come to appreciate the value of cross-training to maintain fitness while injured. But, cross-training should also have a place in the daily training routines of runners when they are healthy. Here are five great reasons to incorporate cross-training into your training regimen.
First, incorporating cross-training into your daily training will augment your general strength and muscular balance. Many cross-training activities (ie. stair master, cycling, aqua running, weight training) will help build stronger leg muscles. This increased leg strength will help translate into faster times on the track. With stronger muscle cells, you will then recruit less muscle cells to run fast, improving your economy and saving energy which will translate into faster times on the track. In addition to increasing the muscular strength in your legs, cross-training will help you achieve greater muscular balance. While running primarily works the calf and achilles tendon, cycling builds up the quadriceps, swimming works the upper body and cross-country skiing will provide an overall body workout.
Second, incorporating cross-training into your daily running program will increase your total volume of aerobic exercise without the trauma of running. Cross-training provides us with the means to increase our weekly cardiovascular training by adding other activities. Cross-training will elevate our heart rates just like running, and will serve to make our hearts bigger and stronger. With bigger and stronger hearts, we can handle increased blood volume, which will transport more oxygen to the leg muscles to improve our body's ability to cope with the onslaught of lactic acid during intense running.
Third, cross-training can decrease injuries. Cross-training will help increase your overall leg strength and muscular balance to ward off potential injuries. Running can be very traumatic on our legs, especially when done on hard cement, and cross-training can provide you with a valuable break from this daily trauma while maintaining and actually improving your fitness.