Benefits of crosstraining

Cross training - lots of people use the term, but not many realize that used properly it can be the key to long-term health and fitness.

So what is cross-training? At its simplest it is a workout system that involves doing a number of different activities. Spend any time around a group of kids and you'll see cross-training at its finest. They'll run around the house, bounce on a trampoline, kick a ball around the garden, go for a bike ride - all in one morning!

Among athletes, triathletes would be the best example of cross-trainers. They swim, bike and run, and most also add in some resistance work, and maybe even a bit of yoga or Pilates. What triathletes have discovered is that by mixing up the activities, you can sustain a much higher volume that if you do just one activity.

The good news is that you don't have to work out like a triathlete to enjoy the benefits of cross training. You just have to mix up your workouts - a bit of cardio work, a bit of resistance training, a couple of different sports - and you'll reap the rewards. Putting that variety into your workouts will let you work out more often, will train more areas of your body, will make you less prone to injuries, and by keeping your mind fresh, will help you keep working out on a long term basis.

So give it a go, it's easy - add a bit of weights work to your regular runs, ride your mountain bike on the weekends, do an occasional yoga class, and suddenly you're doing it!