Are You Benefiting from Cross Training Yet?

For many of us, the change of seasons also brings about an enjoyable change of routine with cross training. If you haven’t tried this sport energizer, you are missing out on a great opportunity to mentally break from your event while physically building for next year’s performance.

Think of cross training as a working vacation. None of the effort is wasted, though you are not always working in your sport.

Why Cross Training?

As your training choices can peak your fitness for events, so too can it plateau with the same old training routine. Cross training takes your body and mind into useful but different routines. The payoff is returning to your sport strengthened and motivated after the winter break.

I for one, love this respite from the road miles of the last nine months. There is something about today’s drivers that just wears on my patience over time.

Cross Training Activities

Choose aerobic, flexibility, and strength activities that you find interesting. You want to change up your usual routine, and while you still want to work, the work should feel different.

Remember that this is supposed to be fun!

Some suggestions:

• Walking
• Running
• Strength training (isometric, plyometric exercises)
• CrossFit
• Circuit training
• Free weights
• Cycling (try mountain biking or cyclocross)
• Yoga
• Stretching

For a few months, I do exercise that takes me out of traffic and builds my body in ways that the road bike doesn’t. This usually entails free weights, flexibility exercises, and the all-body workout of mountain biking. Throw in some running and an occasional disregard for a good diet, and I have a varied yet fun off-season.

Expectations

You may find, like I do, that after a few months of working in different disciplines, your perspective on your chosen event has been refreshed. You look forward to starting back with much of the same anticipation and enthusiasm you had when you first started your sport.

Add to this, your body will feel stronger and more responsive in the familiar actions of your sport. The efforts of your working vacation really pay off.

Give cross training a try and be flexible. It is supposed to be working out but above all else, cross training should be fun. If you don’t like one activity, try another. Remember: you’re on vacation!

Cheers!

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
― Albert Camus