Cross training
Did you know that every time you run, you put 2x the amount of body weight on your joints? This can even go up to 7x when you are doing intervals.
To prepare and support your muscles with this load, incorporating cross training into your training schedule is the answer!
But there are different ways how you can do this, so lets break it down step by step.
- Complimentary sports
You have probably already heard about this a lot, that cycling is good for you if you are a runner. And so is swimming. But you might be wondering way…
Easy: both cycling and swimming are aerobic sports and are a great way for improving your basic (aerobic) endurance. If you want to improve your running endurance, but you don’t want to put too much impact on your body OR if you are injured, incorporating cycling and/ or swimming is the answer!
- Strength training
Those that follow me on Instagram (@listacoaching) know that I am a big fan of strength training for runners. To learn more about why, I recommend watching this video.
Because it is my mission to help as many runners as I can to become the best version of themselves (and therefore a happy runner), here are some exercises that I guarantee will improve your running:
- Ankles/ calves
- Quads/ hamstrings
- Glutes
Once you start feeling more confident doing these exercises, you can start with including some plyometric exercises into your strength routine. However, don’t do this too soon, because these exercises are quite demanding of your body and if your muscles aren’t strong enough to keep a proper form during the workout, you might be doing more harm than good to your body.