Varying your Training - the benefits

Think of your typical runner, cyclist, or swimmer—fantastic forms of exercise, yet often limited by repetitive, one-dimensional movement patterns.

Our bodies thrive on variety; sticking to a single plane of motion can make some muscles “comfortable” while others remain underutilized.

That’s where cross-training (varying your exercise) comes in, activating different muscle groups to keep your body responsive, balanced, and resilient.

Cross-training involves adding various types of exercises into your fitness routine rather than sticking to just one activity.
This diversity promotes muscle balance, which is key for injury prevention.

Repeating the same movements, as in running or cycling, can overdevelop certain muscles while neglecting others, creating imbalances that can lead to extra strain on joints and increase the risk of injuries like tendinitis or muscle strains. Cross-training helps correct these imbalances by engaging underutilized muscles, distributing workload more evenly across the body, and making you more injury-resistant over time.

One of the greatest advantages of cross-training is its flexibility to suit your fitness goals and mood.
If you’re feeling sore from a high-impact workout, you can switch to something gentler like cycling or stretching, allowing recovery while still staying active.

Mental health and motivation are also boosted through cross-training.
Sticking to the same workout can become pretty repetitive and boring- you end up sometimes just going through the motions because it’s easy and you don’t have to think about it too much.

Adding variety keeps things interesting and engaging, helping you stay consistent. This variety can prevent burnout and create a more enjoyable exercise routine, so you’re more likely to stay active in the long run.

Cross-training isn’t only about high-intensity workouts. Activities like yoga, stretching, or even walking support recovery by increasing circulation to muscles without excessive strain. Incorporating these into your week can help alleviate soreness, improve flexibility, and keep you injury-free.

Ultimately, cross-training offers a balanced, enjoyable approach to fitness.
By diversifying your workouts, you build a stronger, more resilient body with better muscle balance, ensuring that staying active remains both effective and enjoyable, whatever the season.

What do I do?
Well, as we've emphasized many times over the years, the number one rule is that exercise should be something you enjoy.

You’re far more likely to stick with it if you actually like it (seems almost too simple, right?) Exercise habits need to be enjoyable—i.e., swimming is a great form of exercise, but not if you don't have easy access to a pool, and even worse if you don't actually enjoy swimming—you'll never keep it consistent.

My weekly routine involves surfing (if it's any good...), running a couple of times, playing football, and, if I get time, I sneak a swim in.

For me, this gives some good variety, and it's all things I really enjoy. I'm trying to get better at adding in extra mobility sessions too (which I link into surfing movement patterns that I need)- should really be practicing what I preach!