The Cross-Training Time of Year

Jacqueline Hansen
Special to the Mirror

   It’s holiday time and it seems like I’m hearing once a day how someone’s training is on hold (including my own). Things just seem to “happen” around the holidays, like moving furniture and throwing your back out; falling off a roof putting up Christmas lights and breaking a leg; catching a viral infection complete with “pink-eye,” or at the very least, traveling on vacation with not much chance to train — like a skiing or a fishing trip. I’m not making this up. I’ve heard it all, and I’m not saying which one is me, except that I’m still in town.
   So it’s time to be flexible about your training. Worry not about gaining, but instead maintaining, your fitness level. If you’re on the ski slopes and the temperatures and road conditions aren’t suitable for running, try to get indoors for an occasional treadmill run, use the elliptical trainer, or perhaps go for an indoor pool run. These are all great options as alternatives to land running and effectively maintain your cardiovascular conditioning.
   I actually like the elliptical trainer better than the treadmill because there’s much less pounding on the joints. Of course, running suspended in the deep end of a pool is complete non-impact exercise, but this isn’t always an option. For the guy on the fishing boat the next ten days, he’s holding out hope for the person who promised to bring a stationary bicycle on board. That’s about his only viable option.
   It’s not worth stressing over lost training time. It’s more important to stay healthy, or get healthy, and be in a good position to pick up your miles after you settle back into your normal routine. Count yourself lucky to get through the holidays unscathed. Have a happy, healthy New Year!
   Jacqueline Hansen is the director of coaching education at the Amateur Athletic Foundation. If you have questions about marathon training, email Jacqueline at coachjqhansen@aol.com, or write to her in care of the Mirror.