Apple Store Canada
Article Directory
Articles

Cross Training Has Benefits

Published by Dave Elger in Fitness, 2 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 45 minutes 3 seconds ago

No matter what the sport, most experts agree that athletes and fitness enthusiasts should cross train. For injury prevention, muscular balance, and improved performance, most top athletes today do more than 1 kind of exercise.

That was not always the case. Back in 1972, Frank Shorter proved he was the best marathoner in the world when he won the Olympic gold medal. Although I remember reading stories about how Frank liked to cross country ski during the winter, I doubt he did anything except run in the months leading up to the Olympics.

Cross training, as defined by exercise expert Bryant Stamford, PhD, is the performance of two or more types of exercise in one workout or alternately in successive workouts. For example, distance runners may finish their workout with some weight training, or they may give their running muscles a rest and substitute cycling or swimming 2 or 3 days a week.

Burn The Fat
Simple Proven Science Of Fat Loss
No One Else Will Tell You About...
WhyPark.com
Stop Parking Your Domain Names...
Start Driving Traffic & Revenue
Recommended by Team77

There are many variables to consider when selecting cross training activities. What are your fitness goals? Do you have any physical deficiencies or weaknesses? What do you like to do? How old are you? If your goal is to lose body fat, then your priority should be endurance training with 2-3 weight-training sessions per week. I cannot say for sure that you will lose weight faster, but 2 or 3 different types of cardiovascular exercises might be better than sticking with just 1. If you want to improve your running speed, then I would recommend cross training exercises that work some of the same muscles as running such as cycling or stair climbing. If you are over 40 years of age, you have probably lost some muscle strength and mass, translating to slower acceleration and speed. Working on strength training and regular stretching can help. If you are just interested in staying in shape, you may be able to avoid burnout by changing workouts.

In recent years triathlons have been increasingly popular. Triathletes seem to enjoy the challenge of preparing for 3 very different activities; swimming, running, and cycling. Although not perfect, triathlon training probably offers the best example of a balanced fitness program. Swimming gives you a good upper body workout, running develops leg muscle endurance, and cycling adds muscular power in the legs with a blend of endurance. All 3 are effective cardiovascular exercises.

Cross training may be counterproductive if you fatigue the same muscles on consecutive days. Swimming might be a better alternative than a bike ride before or after a hard running session. If you are a runner, bike interval or hill training offers a refreshing break from the pounding of run intervals.

One of the great benefits of cross training is that it offers a means to stay in shape while recovering from injury. Remember when complete rest used to be the prescription for any and all injuries? Today we know that deconditioning can and should be minimized through cross training.

Get On Google
Find The Key To Google Success With
The Google Back Door...
SEO
Get Top Rankings On Yahoo Google
And Msn. Fast Ranking.
Recommended by Team77

Whatever your fitness goal might be, it is safe to say that well-rounded strength and endurance training of the lower body, upper body, and trunk is the ticket to better performance and injury prevention.
Articles

About Dave Elger

Dave Elger is a well respected health and fitness authority and accomplished runner. For more information go to daveelger.blogspot.com.
Articles

Resources


TG Daily

EA Sports Active 2.0 Announced for the Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3
Examiner.com
Recently, EA Sports announced EA Sports Active 2.0, the sequel to EA Sports Active, the highest selling fitness program for the Nintendo Wii. ...
EA Expands Interactive Fitness Product Line With New EA SPORTS ActiveMarketWatch (press release)
Electronic Arts Announces EA Sports Active 2.0Game Guru (blog)
EA Sports Active 2 Coming Wii, PS3...and iPhoneDigitaltrends.com
TG Daily -Gamespy.com
all 81 news articles »


Got Any Great Apps for Kids' Fitness?
About - News & Issues (blog)
The US Department of Agriculture and the First Lady Michelle Obama have announced a cool new Apps for Healthy Kids competition as part of the Let's Move! ...

and more »


Albany Times Union (blog)

Fitness magazine's champions of health/fitness
Albany Times Union (blog)
Fitness magazine has announced its first annual Champions of Health and Fitness. The ten winning honorees are activists and innovators that “are incredible ...
Fitness Magazine names Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, Rich Eisen among ...Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Michelle Obama named fitness role modelUPI.com

all 6 news articles »


Snap Fitness in Pequot Lakes offers weekly yoga classes
The Lake Country Echo
Snap Fitness in Pequot Lakes offers three yoga classes every week: Intermediate Yoga at 9:30 am Tuesdays; Beginning Yoga at 10:45 am Tuesdays; ...
Trawinski: Free classes for seniors boost fitness, strengthPioneer Press Online

all 2 news articles »


Skechers shoes defines fitness in style
BigNews.biz (press release)
PlanetShoes added the Skechers' shoes collection in its catalogue. SKECHERS USA, Inc., an award-winning global leader in the lifestyle footwear industry, ...

and more »


Fibre2fashion.com

Truesport Alliances & Entertainment, Ltd. Announces Opening of TapouT Training ...
MarketWatch (press release)
As the fourth standalone of its kind, the TapouT Training Center is predominately a class based fitness facility with a full schedule that features a ...
Truesport Alliances & Entertainment, Ltd. Signs Agreement With Combat ClothingMarketWatch (press release)

all 19 news articles »


Healthways to Issue First-Quarter 2010 Financial Results after Market Close on ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Healthways also provides a national, fully accredited complementary and alternative Health Provider Network and a national Fitness Center Network, ...

and more »


Julian Krinsky Rolls Out Brand New Fitness Program for Busy Teens
PR Web (press release)
(Vocus/PRWEB ) March 11, 2010 -- Julian Krinsky Camps & Progams, is proud to announce a brand new fitness program for busy teens. ...

and more »


BigPond News

Lyon fitness decree has Saints' players on march
The Age
Photo: Sebastian Costanzo A BRUTAL fitness ultimatum from St Kilda coach Ross Lyon after last year's grand final loss to Geelong has helped the Saints make ...
Johnson in late bid for fitnessThe Australian
Rivals try to keep lid on big NAB Cup final build-upThe Australian

all 68 news articles »


SkySports

WORLD CUP 2010: Fabio Capello considering Gary Neville for finals amid fitness ...
Daily Mail
... on Wednesday night and the England manager will turn to the 35-year-old if there are concerns over the fitness of Glen Johnson or Wes Brown in May. ...
Veteran Neville firmly in England World Cup plansIndependent
Jamie Carragher: Does Capello Need To Get Him To Come Out Of RetirementBleacher Report

all 15 news articles »

Google News