Cross Training

Any of you guys do any cross training and if so which ones do you find beneficial to your running.

Yep

As a heavy guy i can only run a max no of times due to the stress put on my jonits

But i am fit enough to do more

so to further improve my fittnes i cycle and swim - alowing improved fitnes wheile resting from running

In the winter i often ad gym sessions too, to help with core strength etc

So i'd say the added fitness and strenght i gain from cross training helps my running

To counter this, if you want to improve your running you'll get the most benefit from time spent by running.

Maybe pilates for core strength to help with stability.

My view has been that cross training such as weight training/cycling swimming helps to burn calories keeping my weight under control therby improving my running.

I am having second thoughts at the moment - my legs got so tight that I ended up injured and off the road and wonder how much the cross training has contributed to this.

I am reading a book called chi running at the moment which is on the side of running to improve running.It describes many exercises to improve posture and core strength - these are very similar to pilates type exercises Definitely worth reading and could transform your running.

As quite a severe overpronator, too much running usually bring injuries and niggles, so I do quite a lot of cycling to improve my fitness. I've found that when i've been injured this has allowed me to pretty much maintain my long running endurance. I tend to substitute time I would have spent running for about the same plus 10%. So for a two hour run i'd cycle 2.15.

I have found that I've had to be more vigilant to stretching though as if I slack then my legs do tighten up.

Personally, I have troubles with cross-training machines in gyms, as they seem to do more damage than good for me, making my shins "click" because they force the foot into an unnatural position for me, but I haven't spoken to anyone else who has had this problem with them.