Strength work and cross training plays a vital role in the longevity of your running- it offers an alternative way to keep fit without the heavy impact on your joints and muscles.
We are runners – we like to RUN!! And sacrificing running time to incorporate another form of exercise is not necessarily what we want to do, I know… But adding other forms of exercise (i.e. cross training) has so many long terms benefits and therefore, it is highly recommended to try and incorporate it to help you to gain strength and stay injury-free, which avoids the need to take extended time away from running.
There is not just one set of rules that applies to everyone when it comes to cross training – it will depend on your personal preference, lifestyle, access to facilities and free time.
If you are reluctant to incorporate cross training because you are unsure what to do, then remember this: Doing SOMETHING is always going to be better than doing NOTHING at all!
Cross training can include swimming, cycling, elliptical training, joining fitness classes or even going for a walk/hike. Try to incorporate cross training at least once or twice per week and find out what you enjoy doing so that it can be enjoyable and something to look forward to.
Learning how to incorporate strength training, as with cross training, can be confusing, because different experts have different opinions about the type of strength training runners should do. It is important to remember that if there was one-rule-for-all, you would have known about it by now, so don’t be put off before you even try. The golden rule of “doing something instead of nothing” is a great place to start.
Contrary to what a lot of runners believe, you don’t need fancy equipment or expensive personal training routines to get strong. There are many exercises that involves nothing other than your own body weight, or at most, a few free weights or elastic bands. Focus on developing a strong core and activating muscles than gets minimal use in running and reach out to others to get ideas for getting strong and injury free in a way you will enjoy!