Running Alternatives

As a dedicated runner and ultra-competitive person, I have seen the benefits of racking up the miles. My body has changed and my confidence has grown. All I need to get fit and stay in shape is a decent pair of sneakers, some extra time, and a long road. Fantastic and basic formula for success.

Yet, as a man who can get easily distracted and become bored quickly--even with my favorite Van Halen tunes pumping away on my ipod, I must admit that the task can get rather laborious. With little mental stimulation and the strong possibility of sore knees, agitated hips, burning shin splints, and a throbbing lower back from the incesssant pounding on the pavement, sometimes I am left searching for another way to get in the same type of workout without all the drawbacks.

Here's how I like to switch things up, break the monotony, and keep my body out of being patterned and bored.

Cycling: Jumping up on a bike and hammering away will get you the same results as running without the stress on your legs. Sure cycling can shred your quads, hamstrings, and calves alike, but without your feet repetitively slamming into the unforgiving concrete, your knees and shins avoid the abuse. The low-impact nature of the bike gives you a fun and productive way to increase your cardio fitness and build strength.

Swimming: Possibly the best overall total body workout going. The water keeps the body free from exterior stress, so muscles and joints interact and move freely. Swimming any stroke-the backstroke, freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke-will engage each muscle you have. You can burn fat and build muscle simultaneously. It is actually the perfect place to begin a workout plan for any person who is overweight, as the water supports the body weight. Not to worry if you have little or no experience as a swimmer. You can get multiple types of flotation devices to help you along until you can hack it yourself.

Cardio Equipment: Elliptical, Stair Climbers, Recumbent/Stationary bikes. The smooth motion of these machines, especially the elliptical trainer, disallows your joints from getting overly stressed and keeps the focus on the muscles working. Also, they are designed to get your heart rate up and burn calories, so the health benefit is on par with running.

Hiking: Certainly not as fast paced as running, but the natural resistance the terrain creates gives you the workout you'll need. Walking up and down hills while managing the landscape makes you use both major muscles as well as those smaller muscles you did even know you had.

Incline walking: If you have invested in a treadmill and want it to be something more than a glorified clothes horse, try dusting it off and setting the incline function. Walking briskly on an incline will provide your legs with a low impact exercise that, if steep enough, can be as beneficial as a long run.

Rowing: Like swimming, rowing, either in true form on the water or doing dry-land work at the gym, serves as a complete body workout. Depending on your pace and intensity, you can burn fat and tone muscle, all the while getting the cardio burn running would have provided.

If you can't run or find it as exciting as a root canal, give these options a shot. And you don't have to limit yourself to just one as a replacement. Do a different one each day and keep yourself fresh. The last thing you want is for exercise to get mundane and boring.