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Cross Training Benefits

Benefits of Mixing-Up Your Exercise Routine

Keep exercise boredom at bay. And if you’re not bored, you’ll be far more likely to keep up the work outs. Cross training can also give you more flexibility (if the pool is closed, you can go for a run).

Significantly reduce your risk of injury. With cross training, you’ll be far less likely to overload particularly vulnerable areas of the body, like the knees, hips, back, shoulders, elbows, and feet.

Provide active recovery. So your arms might be sore from lifting, but who says you can’t go for a bike ride? Doing a different activity while taking a break from your primary activity has been shown to speed up recovery by increasing blood flow to stressed muscle tissue.

Increase overall athletic performance. While different sports call for different strengths and aptitudes, cross training will give you a more well-rounded physique. By challenging your body in all kinds of ways—from resistance training to aerobic activities to strength training—you will inevitably enhance your overall fitness levels.

woman running

Top Cross Training Tip

For optimal success, vary activities between aerobic conditioning, strength training, endurance, and balance. For example, plan for two to three days of flexibility and strength training, and three to five days of aerobic focus.

An Expert Weighs In

There are a lot of runners in the area. If running is your thing, that’s cool. But if you want to enhance your running, cross training can really help. Great athletes understand that in order to reach your full potential—as far as your maximum distance or speed—you have to push a little harder and work other muscles.”
Tedovious Fletcher
Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer, The Sports Barn

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