Living in Utah affords us ample opportunity to cross train by running, cycling, skiing, swimming, doing yoga, and more. In preparation for the Spudman Triathlon in July, I have been trying to diversify my activities and researching the benefits of cross training.

Here’s what I’ve found:

1. Injury Prevention. Cross training can deter overuse injuries by targeting other muscle and bone groups. For example, too much running can lead to stress fractures or sore knees and hips. So, rather than run seven days a week, you can run 4 days and cycle or swim 3 days. This keeps you active while reducing strain on your body and minimizing the chance of an overuse injury.
2. Rehabilitation. Cross training is a great way to stay active while rehabilitating an injury. For example, you can’t run on a stress fracture, but you can swim with it.
3. Greater Overall Fitness. Cross training can enhance muscle efficiency and muscle power by recruiting and strengthening a broader range of muscles than are used in just one activity.
4. Active Recovery. Cross training allows you to recover actively, giving different muscles the chance to rest. Active recovery via cross training could include working your arms to rest your legs, doing yoga to recover from a big cardio day, or spinning lightly on a bike after a particularly heavy lifting session.
5. Enhanced Motivation. Cross training eliminates burnout by keeping your mind and body fresh and motivated. Too much of any one activity can be numbing and your fitness can plateau. It helps you stay motivated by mixing things up and offering new challenges.