Switching Gears
By
March 23, 2017
Hey Guys--
Our family is heading out for Spring Break next week as I know many of you are also. It's a great time of year to get outside and enjoy the warm spring weather. Many of you use CrossFit to be better prepared for playing outside in your chosen sport. Now is a great time to test your strength, stamina, and endurance on the trails, rivers, and mountains that are a big reason why many of us live here. Enjoy starting the season on stronger legs, a more solid core, and better aerobic/anaerobic capacity for those long climbs. You have done the work; now reap the benefits.
At the risk of sounding like a CrossFit pusher, I also want to encourage to keep up your gym habit through the long beautiful weeks of spring and summer. "But Coach," you say, "who wants to be inside the when the trails are dry and the mountains are calling?" Trust me friends, I understand. That is why I am taking the time to remind you of all the benefits of mixing some resistance and cross training into your running/riding/hiking routine.
1.) Strong cores make everything easier and everything about CrossFit promotes a strong core. Your core gets WORKED on long runs or technical rides. If you have the strength to hold onto good form even when the miles get long, your form will stay efficient and smooth increasing your stamina. Without it, your movement patterns break down causing you to work harder than you have to and you are much more likely to get injured.
2.) Cross training prevents overuse injury and promotes a balanced fitness. Low backs tighten up after hours in the saddle. Hamstrings, hip flexors, and quadriceps get out of balance when all your training happens on running and hiking trails. Even over the course of a couple of weeks, our bodies will start to shift to accommodate our dominant forms of movement. This is all fine and good and part of the normal seasons of training...until it gets out of control and an injury results. The best way to prevent it is by keeping some variety in your training.
3.) It's about more than just exercise. It is no secret that we get a lot more from coning to the gym than just a great workout. Your people are here. Your friends are excited to see you. We fill our social bucket here. Don't be a stranger.
I hope you all have an awesome Spring Break week whether you are sticking around or traveling. We are running a regular schedule next week and Dustin will be around to handle any issues with memberships or anything else. See you next week!
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