The key principles of training in sport are: overload, specificity, recovery and adaptation.

Overload: muscles strengthen when they operate beyond their normal range of movement. This is achieved by increasing the resistance, number of intervals or the intensity of the exercise.

Specificity: training must be focussed to the specific sport being trained for.

Recovery and Adaptation: in order for the body to recover from training it needs rest.

This will enable adaptation (i.e. allowing the body to react to the training) to occur. It should be noted that adaptation will occur during a recovery period after completion of the training.

When training for a running event e.g. a 10k or a marathon the basic training will be based on running and include the typical elements of long runs, hills, intervals etc., and should include some specific strength exercise as may be required by the individual.

When training for a specific running event which may continue over several months, adding cross training should be considered. Cross training can be defined as including exercise from other sporting disciplines to which the athlete is training. It will help build muscle strength and flexibility that running doesn’t utilise by correcting for imbalances. Including variety into a training programme will help reduce potential boredom or possible burnout. It must be noted that cross training is not intended as a substitute for running. If in the training plan you are following it calls for a 20 mile run, then a 20 mile or even 40mile bike ride is not an equivalent session. Training must always be specific.

There are some sports that are incompatible to running and hence should not be practised as cross training. These typically are the high impact activities that require sudden movements with stop and go, bounding etc. Examples of these include tennis, squash, badminton football, rugby, netball, volleyball etc. Cross training sports for a runner to consider include cycling, swimming, aqua-jogging, walking, machine rowing, fitness classes etc. to supplement the running programme.

Cycling: will strengthen the leg muscles in particular the quadriceps, calves and hamstrings. There is evidence available that cycling will strengthen the connective tissues to the knee, hips and ankles. This should help in the reduction of injury in these areas caused by running.

 

Swimming: is a good form of a cross-training activity as it builds muscular strength and endurance while improving flexibility with zero impact. An area often ignored by runners is upper body exercise; this will be developed by swimming. Water can also provide a therapeutic effect for all muscle groups.

 

Aqua-jogging: in deep water, wearing a flotation belt is probably the best form of cross training for all runners. Some consider aqua-jogging only as rehab exercise following an injury. However, aqua-jogging can be an alternative to a recovery run or a mid-week easy run. It emulates running technique with absolutely zero impact i.e. no shock from the foot strike.