Extraordinary Strides
Welcome to Extraordinary Strides, the podcast that celebrates the spirit of running and the inspiring stories of those who lace up their shoes and hit the pavement.
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Extraordinary Strides
Runners' Ultimate Showdown: Treadmill, Outdoor, Elliptical, and Cross Training Debates
Ready for a battle royale of grudge matches in the world of running? This week's episode brings you an all-out showdown between treadmill vs. outdoor running, treadmill vs. elliptical, and cross training vs. strength. Join us as we explore the advantages and disadvantages of each, and don't forget to keep a smile on your face!
First up, we debate the pros and cons of treadmill and outdoor running, digging into the convenience factor, incline control, and potential drawbacks of the treadmill, while also uncovering the unique benefits of hitting the trails, tracks, and sidewalks. As we transition into the cardio workout comparison, we pit the treadmill against the elliptical machine, examining the lower impact of the elliptical and the convenience of the treadmill, as well as their roles in cross training. Finally, we gear up for the ultimate face-off: strength vs. cross training! We discuss the importance of understanding the differences, the activities that make up each category, and how becoming a well-balanced athlete is crucial for success.
By the end of this action-packed episode, you'll be equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision on your preferred workout methods. So, whether you're a treadmill enthusiast, an outdoor runner, or just looking to shake up your routine, we've got you covered in this epic Grudge Match. Tune in and let the games begin!
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Hey friends, coach Shelby and Coach Christine, welcoming you in and letting you know it's time for brunch, where, at our table, there is always an opening, there's a hot cup of coffee and, of course, endless running fun to keep you moving and grooving. So this week we're going to set you up for a couple endurance blocks. So lace up those shoes, put a smile on your face and let's log some miles. We're going to get right into that walking warm up today, because this week we're in fighting mode, we're in full battle royale and while we usually are team sweet and team savory, today we have a new set or should I say sets of grudge matches, three rounds, three choices, three face offs that are guaranteed to have you breaking out the boxing gloves, probably with those running shoes and bonus points. they'll probably match, because in this brunch corner we have treadmill versus outdoor running, treadmill versus elliptical cross training versus strength. and, christine, while there are no winners or losers in this, i have a feeling that a whole lot of truth froms are about to be dropped here.
Speaker 2:I'm excited because I feel like this is guys, quite a few folks are on certain camps and they feel very staunchly about being in that camp and, who knows, while you may be kicking off those boxing gloves, i'm going to see if you can find a little bit of happy medium in the middle, because that's just our role. But let's get this party officially started. I think you even have a really fun game for us as we kick off this warm up right.
Speaker 1:We do so. We've been very open. The fact that we're not sports-y people in the sense I mean, i know what March Madness is. Do I pretend to understand it? No, but it is brackets, and brackets are pretty cute and they're fun. So we're going to have our own grudge match brackets and to see who comes out victorious. Again, there really are no losers. However, like you said, this is a very polarizing topic. People love to hate, love to love, and we're going to make sure that we keep this as impartial as possible. We're going to give you the pros and cons for each of the activities and settings for the activities because, hey, we're trying to do our best to get up, get out there, and we want to make sure that you're informed so you can make the right decisions and hopefully, it's a really good runs in.
Speaker 2:I'm so down for this and I'm also curious why. I love that you're saying that we're going to be as impartial as possible. I can't wait to hear a little bit of, maybe, that impartiality and see how you feel about all of these different brackets and maybe I don't know if you're going to be willing to share if you have one that you prefer over the other.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:I think we've talked about it a little bit, but you never know. You never know because we've seasons change and that can definitely play into it.
Speaker 1:Look even like we've seen in the live tastings. I have a spicy side. I am sweet but I am small, but I am mighty and I will throw some hands for what I love.
Speaker 2:Have you ever really actually thrown hands Like?
Speaker 1:actually gotten a fight? no, of course not. I'm five foot one and I'm not going to verbally spar. I can verbally spar and I will. A sticks and stones man can break bones. I just, however, cannot physically do it. so yeah, don't come at me.
Speaker 2:I am really, actually very excited about this. It's incredibly thorough, a lot of detail, a lot of really great information. Folks, so while you're rolling through, if you're on a treadmill or you're running outdoors or you're on elliptical or maybe you are cross training or doing our favorite running activity of the year, like cross training activity, which is doing laundry, i feel like laundry is not ever going to stop, like literally it's unlimited. Whatever you're doing here, i think you guys are going to get a lot out of this. So do you want to get right into it? coach?
Speaker 1:I just have to laugh that we do talk about laundry as much as food and running. Maybe we need a time for laundry podcast. Should we add an extra?
Speaker 2:one. The thing is is that I could give no advice on that because really, when it comes down to it, i just throw everything in the wash, and I then am very excited when I remember to take it from the wash into the dryer, and then I'm super stoked if from the dryer it makes it through a drawer or to a hanger.
Speaker 1:So maybe we should make that a fart lick of itself. That's it.
Speaker 2:That's all I've got. I'm sure you've got some kind of little tip. I feel like you always have a hack.
Speaker 1:I basically set a timer to remind myself that I have laundry in whatever machine, but I do think we get right into it. So we're coming to the end of our walk-in warm-up. Hopefully you've stretched out, since we didn't have our stretches at the beginning. So we're counting on you to hold yourself accountable. So we're going to go ahead and bring it into the first endurance block. However you're moving, you're going to smile on your face. This is supposed to be fun and that's what we're going to do. So let's go ahead into the first one in three, two, one and go into our very first corner. I think I need the WWE mic coming down from the ceiling and you know the referee vest. But our first grudge match is treadmill versus outdoor. So, right out of the gate, what is your first choice? I feel like this is kind of obvious, but we're still going to humor the audience.
Speaker 2:So back in the day I would have referred to the treadmill as a treadmill, and I love being outdoors for all of my activities. Actually, i wish that I could like muscle beach. I wish that we had that possibility here. I would lift weights outside if I could. I love functional fitness because of that as well. However, i've come a long way and now I really honestly feel like treadmill has so many incredible uses that I no longer refer to it as the treadmill and I see value in both.
Speaker 1:Okay, i am not that diplomatic, i will pick outdoors all day, every day, and one thing we talked about with this specific grudge match is how both do have benefits, and I feel like we can't have a full conversation without highlighting the good as well as, maybe, the downfalls. So I think, right out of the gate, let's talk about the treadmill, because it gets the least amount of love.
Speaker 2:I do want to interject really quickly, just very quickly. It does feel like I'm a bit like a politician at this point. I'm not going to pick a side, just vote for me.
Speaker 1:Vote for me. we were pink on Glam's Day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, okay let's get into the treadmill. So when you think of the treadmill, what's the first thing that comes to mind for you with your own personal running?
Speaker 1:So convenience over all else? convenience because the treadmills there I don't have to. I mean, i'm lucky enough I don't have to go anywhere. I do have a treadmill. But even with convenience of not having to fight with weather, if my kid is having a hard night of sleep and I can't leave the house, i can go on the treadmill. Do I like to? No, but realistically it's there for you, no matter what temperature it is. If it's raining, sunshine even though, again, please, if it's thunderstorming, don't get on a machine, but right out of the gate. That is the biggest pro for me. What about you?
Speaker 2:Okay. So I think of it as this incredible tool for us flat runners down here where we're able to actually train for conditions that we don't have at our disposal so specifically incline. I also really love the opportunity with treadmills for myself, for my own personal running, to be able to potentially kind of really work on acceleration and deceleration when it go from pace changes, because the treadmill kind of does that. Naturally you can't you could always come to a complete stop if you decide to jump off the treadmill, but generally you'll see that you'll have a gradual acceleration or a gradual deceleration, and I feel like there's a lot of value in learning that outdoors it feels a little bit harder to kind of get that feel So for my own personal running.
Speaker 2:Those are the reasons that I tend to like a treadmill. I'll never forget, though, a long run that I did a few years back where I was trying to avoid rain. So I went out for a run and then I like it started to rain, so I went into the clubhouse, jumped on the treadmill. As soon as it stopped raining I went back outside and had to like literally it was like a hybrid of both worlds, and can't say that I will ever. Recommend that again, because that was not the most fun way of approaching a long run.
Speaker 1:I actually did have an athlete who did that recently.
Speaker 1:She had to do part of her run on the treadmill, part outside, and she said it definitely was not ideal, but that only does highlight the fact that you could have had it in way late 20, 30 minutes to go out to where you had the treadmill option.
Speaker 1:Some people, that is the way that they get introduced to running, because while we talk about breaking down the barriers and the stigmas and everything, we're also not blind to the fact that they do exist, which sucks, quite frankly. So I think the treadmill gives people the confidence to even try it, because they don't have to be out on display necessarily in their neighborhoods where they know people. They can go to a gym or be in the confines of their own house and kind of be able to go through that beginning runner struggle without necessarily as many eyes on them. Or if those eyes they do feel are on them, you're probably not going to see these people again. So it's easier to kind of let that inner critic go when you can just focus on. Do I even like this activity? is this even something that I want to do?
Speaker 2:Yeah, i would agree with that and I do think I would be curious and I wonder if that should be a poll in the future as well how many people started running on a treadmill originally, like when they began their running journey, whatever we want to call it, as was it a treadmill run. And I'm saying outside of, like school athletics, outside that one mile test or that one mile run that we had to do and gym, but like as an adult, how did you start with running? I think a majority of folks will say that it was indeed the treadmill. It was for me, for sure.
Speaker 2:I also love And I feel like coach I'm not trying to steal your thunder, but in light of just another recent attack on a female working out outdoors I love the fact that the treadmill does allow us to have a bit more of that safety in terms of if it's late at night you weren't able to get in your run, or it's early morning. And that's exactly why I came to treadmill. Because a treadmill running first was because my life was just so incredibly busy that for me, the only time I could run was either if I was going to do it like around four or five o'clock in the morning, or if I was going to do it after my day at 10 o'clock at night, and I would just not have felt comfortable or safe going on into the nighttime in my neighborhood.
Speaker 1:And it is a really sucky fact. There's not really a whole other way to put it. It's a hard fact that it is a safer option in a lot of ways. Now, yes, it is still a machine. You've also seen articles about things going wrong where your safety harness thing tread whatever it's called off of the field.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that thing right there, Wear it, because if you do misstep or what have you, it's going to stop that treadmill gradually and can help at least lessen your chances of injury. But that being said, kind of a tongue in cheek way of saying it. The next one is a softer impact. Treadmills have a gift They have a little bit of that buoyancy that you're not going to get from a sidewalk, you're not going to get from a street. So while we've already dispelled the myth that running is bad for your knees, there is impact. You can't get around that. And if maybe you have a little trepidation with the impact or there is a medical reason why you have to kind of sub it out sometimes to lessen the impact, the treadmill is a great option to make sure that you are getting in those miles and you're literally not hitting yourself against a concrete wall, if you will.
Speaker 2:I love how, though that is so true, how many of these, although they're pros, can potentially I know we're going to talk about that next can potentially also be cons. But yes, the softer impact is great, especially for getting started on running or coming back to running from an injury. Again, I think, as a coach, we probably both love the fact that our athletes can kind of take the guesswork out of the pacing until, especially for when you're newer or you're starting to really be more mindful or aware of your pacing and how it should feel. I think that there's something about being able to use those metrics and then how we're feeling in it to really help. So I do love that as well, from that perspective of having that treadmill and getting to set those paces, getting to have that handy dandy like pace converter or hill converter and knowing exactly what it should feel like in those different efforts.
Speaker 1:Well, i think the biggest one that no one really considers is how it can improve your cadence. And we talk about cadence a lot, but you are actively having to keep up with something. So in turn, you're going to take faster steps because there's a literal belt underneath you that if you don't move, it's going to move you. So it does help that foot turn over and kind of make more of a robotic sense of I have to quickly step and I have to keep going forward or else I'm going to be taken out of the game. So, especially being mindful of that, it can be a great tool to force that natural faster step.
Speaker 2:I think the one type of treadmill that is the best for that if anybody is considering it and they're looking at gyms to join is seeing if your gym has a flat treadmill. Those are incredible. They're also called assault runners They have different types of names. But if your form is at all needing to be worked on, this treadmill forces a form over speed, form over pace, form over anything else, because of the fact that you have to have really good form, you have to have a good cadence, you have to be landing in lightly underneath your hips All of those things to be able to propel that flat treadmill forward. So I do absolutely agree with that. That's a phenomenal tool And I will never forget the first time that I jumped on one, thinking, oh, that looks so easy, i love it, the belt's not going to pull me and about ate it. So I probably, like literally, was about to eat all of the slides.
Speaker 1:So should we flip the script and kind of be the Debbie Downers of the pitfalls of treadmill running?
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's do it. I guess Let's go.
Speaker 1:It's only fair We have to take the good and the bad And I think the number one thing that I've heard as a coach and probably have said as a runner treadmills can be hella boring. They can. I'm going to say They do.
Speaker 2:There's like three things in life that really make those minutes feel like really slow, and I think it's planks, microwaves and treadmills. I mean those are the three that come to mind. From like this, 60 seconds feels infinitely longer than any other 60 seconds.
Speaker 1:Or when your spouse, you ask them a question and they don't answer right away. You're like okay, cool, I'll talk to myself and just walk away.
Speaker 2:I can totally deal with that better than I could the microwave or the treadmill 60 seconds. So yes, it does. They can be really really boring, which is why I think that that's when I tend to only relate to gravitate towards the treadmill at this point for interval type workout, speed type workouts or those inclines. So it kind of keeps up that variability a little bit.
Speaker 1:I have been programming those some fun workouts for my athletes that do have to be on the treadmill for various reasons, and I will say which we'll talk about a little bit later for incline walking it can make it super fun And I may have given like 15 different recommendations for TV shows and movies and all of the funness that you can do.
Speaker 1:So it's a little pro con, but yeah, it can get boring. I know that's not the most coachy answer, but we're runners at heart. It's the real answer. But what's what's a coachy reason for you?
Speaker 2:A coach reason. Oh gosh, and I know we both feel this way And it makes me a little nervous like just a little nervous, when I have a runner who's primarily only running on a treadmill but preparing for a race. Because you just cannot mimic those outdoor conditions, and by that I mean realistically, there's going to be a bit more just, regardless of whatever the surface is going to be outdoors. As we spoke about earlier, being a pro, it's softer impact inside. Well, it may not be the case outdoors. You may not be dealing with all the same elements of the humidity that controls climate, all of those different things that make the treadmill so accessible and so wonderful to gravitate towards. Also, for race day can be a bit of a detractor if you're not quite prepared for it.
Speaker 2:The best way I can like in it is I trained for a triathlon for an entire summer And I don't think I've ever been so diligent in the pool Like it. Just, i was there every morning, every night. I was doing two a days. I was really trying to train as strongly as I could for this triathlon, but the minute I hit open water I panicked And I we could go and pull statistics You guys can Google my name in this triathlon Rocketman Triathlon. I don't remember that. You're off the top of my head. I was the very last finisher on that swim because I just could not get it together, although I had spent the entire summer training. I never mimic that outdoor condition for myself, so it's very similar in that regard as well. I probably now panicked people a little bit, and I don't mean to do that, but at least a couple of long runs should ideally be done outdoors if you can prepare for a race.
Speaker 1:And it comes down to your comfort zone. It's like anything else If you only wear a red shirt every day for a year and then all of a sudden somebody's like Hey, here's a blue shirt You're going to be like, but I don't like that one as much. That's not. That's not what makes me feel good And, yes, it's more serious than a shirt, but y'all get what I'm talking about. You're used to me by now in my random isms. But it also doesn't work as many muscles because, again, talking about that amazing belt that forces you to take those quick steps, it's also bringing a pullback motion that you don't get outdoors. Outdoors you are having to drive yourself forward to where the treadmill is kind of that counterbalance.
Speaker 2:And especially for us runners that are, for us treadmill runners that want to keep it at a 0% incline, where at that point you're actually adding speed to your distance and I mean to your pacing. So, so important if you do want to try to mimic a little bit of that outdoors at least a 1% incline.
Speaker 1:Well and talk about lack of lateral movement. Running in general is lacking lateral movement, but the treadmill basically makes it 0% lateral movement because you're not having to move, you're going in a straight path all the time, you're not having to dip, dodge, duck, dive, any of that. If anybody gets that dodgeball reference, congratulations. That's the only part of the movie I actually know. But it is true. You, you aren't moving, except for right on straight through.
Speaker 2:So I am curious, coach, you're absolutely right on that. We have to take that into account. Now again, the slat treadmill is a little bit differently, but I can't fathom anyone doing a long run on that slat treadmill. But if they do, and if you are one of those, please do holler at us. But I am curious when you are programming treadmills and or incline workouts for your athletes and you're recommending shows, can you give us a little hint of some of the shows that you're recommending? Because that's what the people really want to know.
Speaker 1:I mean, i've talked about my love for Mary. At first sight, i used to be really big into Gilmore girl reruns. At the time I would go on the treadmill every single night. It'd be when it was on for reruns. Right, big bang theory is a great one. I go into a lot of the things that are already off the air, mind you, but I will say, nothing got me going more than watching the Super Bowl when I was on the treadmill. I love watching sporting events while I'm on the treadmill. I think that makes me feel that athleticism Don't get me that look, Did anyone hear that coming?
Speaker 2:Because I did not Like. I'm sitting here, like am I? what do you do in Shelby?
Speaker 1:Can you return her play? I do like the Super Bowl. It was actually the Super Bowl, specifically The one that hooked me on. it was when it was the Patriots and the Falcons. I did not know that Patriots came back and demolished them. So, again, i know things.
Speaker 2:Fascinating, fascinating. Okay, so that's your go to. So again, if maybe you want to talk about watching Super Bowl with coach Shelby it's like she's going to have a Super Bowl party for this next year or some of those recommendations for shoes- You're definitely going to want to give Shelby retired, he's out, and that was my love for football, i know Again, watch for the hay mail, it's coming.
Speaker 2:I mean, i am a bit more into soccer than I am football because of my mom's love of soccer, and I can't tell you how excited I am about Messi coming to Miami. I can only imagine how much my mom would be celebrating this. So that would be something that I'd probably gravitate toward. But I don't think so. I don't think I ever really watch anything when I'm on the treadmill.
Speaker 1:Try it. Try watching Wimbledon as well. That would be super gross Like super rad.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:Okay, so just again see it. Just changed the sport and apply the principle. But look again, elephant in the room that's not really even hidden, is the fact that we love outdoor running. We do, and there's a lot of benefits to talk about here. Yeah, the first and foremost because it's at the top of my mind after my yearly doctor's appointment, if you haven't booked it, make sure you do check those iron levels for those endurance runners out there. But vitamin D you get outside and that vitamin D is going to soak it all up. Wear your sunscreen a little nod to Nikki's episode But over 35% of the population are actually vitamin D deficient. Apparently, four of those people are in my household because we're all deficient into vitamin D, which was shocking to me because I spent so much time outside.
Speaker 2:I was pretty surprised when I came back as vitamin deficient as well, and it was again because a lot of my runs would be early morning or late evenings when I found run groups, especially training during the summer, so I wasn't having a lot of soaking up any of those rays or wearing sunscreen. All of that jazz definitely plays into it. But vitamin D is such a phenomenal thing to have And you truly do need a little bit of extra sunlight to percolate it. So it helps to regulate your systems. It helps to create more of a circadian rhythm so that you're sleeping better. It's been known to boost your mood. So, yeah, that's probably why we love outdoor running so much. It releases all of the happy things.
Speaker 1:I mean I like it because it gets me away from my house, but that's a little bit of a different, darker term.
Speaker 2:OK. So we've got you. We've got you vitamin D, we're showing you some love. Definitely, i think all the way around It's. I'm so glad that you mentioned that, coach. I think it's good for folks to make sure they're having those annual checkups as runners and checking into all of these things, especially those iron levels as well. But that's a great little aside. I think for me the best part of outdoor running is that it never should be careful, rarely feels boring. To me There's always something to enjoy, or maybe scenery, and I do tend to my scenery a lot if it starts to get boring. I love the fact that I can like add in trails into like my regular runway and maybe like shorter trails, but being able to have those different surfaces, being able to really enjoy, like the scenery and the camaraderie running with other people outdoors, because you don't feel like camaraderie when you're on the treadmill. It feels more competitive there.
Speaker 1:See, I don't feel the competitiveness, but I do.
Speaker 2:You don't race other people on the treadmill when you're at the gym.
Speaker 1:I don't go to the gym. That's the key. That's the key by myself. And no one's racing me at my house. Everybody is just saying how loud it is.
Speaker 2:Super, super, how a competitive at the gym Like doesn't surprise me. Like why do people even tell like just don't if you're, if there's a lot of treadmills available, please, please, don't come run next to me, because I don't. I want to be able to stick with my prescribed workout, my programmed workout. I don't want to be like in my head about am I working at a higher incline or going a little faster than you? and I don't do that outdoors. I don't know what it is about that treadmill.
Speaker 1:This isn't a pro that I necessarily had for outdoor running, but you mentioned trails for those who are going towards the treadmill. Because of that lower impact, hit the trails softer. Surface tracks as well. You can always go to a track. Most of them are a synthetic rubber, so they have that little bit of extra buoyancy. You can tell I'm a boat girl because of the buoyancy, but it really is true, gives you kind of the best of both worlds, and I know you've been urging me to go to a track, so maybe this is my subliminal way of pushing myself as well.
Speaker 2:It really it feels. it feels so incredible It's like night and day difference versus especially. I mean, I think I consider myself more of an asphalt runner or a concrete runner, because it's a concrete jungle and the suburbs We have lots, lots of sidewalks. But when you do, when you're able to hit up those tracks, especially for the speed workouts, that little bit of give does feel great. But I do want to highlight trail runners and give them a big shout out as well When I think of like an overall running style that can help you be a functional fitness king, queen, royalty, whatever you want to call it.
Speaker 2:It is the trail runners. because you have to work so many different aspects of your body. You have to really be mindful and engaging your core. You also have to be more mindful of your surroundings. I think that sometimes we can kind of turn off our brain, which is a big. it is a big pro for a lot of us that do want to go out for runs. But staying engaged in the process can help you to also kind of sharpen a little bit of that mental acuity of your running as well.
Speaker 1:And, of course, I'm going to channel my limited knowledge about WWE And we're going to talk about the downfalls, the baby faces and the heels which I feel like I wish that we had, like little noise effects, side effects to like send people to their corner.
Speaker 2:So okay, let's go.
Speaker 1:We, if we make it a pro, but it's also a con the terrain and the conditions. So if it's raining, you're going. If it's hot you're melting, like there's no, there's no highway option. So what you get is what you get And if you don't have access to that treadmill, you're either going in the rain, going in the hot, like you got miles to get, and you get what you get and you don't get upset.
Speaker 2:So I'm curious now everyone feels like 100% more totally kick-ass faulty after they do a rainy run, right, Like don't you feel like absolutely magical after it?
Speaker 1:I am a magical unicorn, do not burst that bubble if you're about to.
Speaker 2:Why do we not feel that way when we go out for a run that's super hot, because that's magical, like we're like convincing yourself to get it? You're convincing yourself to go out there when it's three billion degrees and 4800 humidity Slight exaggerations.
Speaker 1:Look, i think people are rock stars for doing it, do I feel? that about myself in the moment. No, that's why I have you as to be my friendly coach, being like you did such a great job. That's what I do for my athletes.
Speaker 2:Okay. So a big shout out to everyone, despite whatever your conditions. If you're running through a little bit of extra rain, you're running through some of those colder weather temps, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere or you are suffering alongside Coach Shelby and I with these hot human temps, big, big shout out, because it's all pretty amazing and they all work, because you never know what you're going to get for race day. If you're preparing for a race, that's really essential.
Speaker 1:Which is why we recommend outdoor running versus the treadmill running, exclusively if you're going to be running races.
Speaker 2:And if you're not?
Speaker 1:running races, then that variable is kind of a mute point. So we can we're going to put that at a later time. But what's another? another less than stellar selling point for outdoor running.
Speaker 2:Coach. this one's the biggest one. It's not as big of a deal for me now, but when I first started running and pre smartwatch, i feel like like BC kind of a stuff. I would have to spend so much time either driving a route to like map out the miles, like riding a bike on the route beforehand, and the internet kind of caught up. where I found the right places on the internet trying to figure out like can we, can we talk about map my run? Like I would spend like a gazillion years, it feels like trying to freaking plan out my routes and it looks great for a gazillion and one years old, by the way.
Speaker 1:Thank you.
Speaker 2:So gazillion years, both in 60 seconds on a treadmill and planning my route, and I know that we've got rock stars that still like to plan out routes, because there's a lot of. I'm thinking specifically of one And she's here locally and she like does all this awesome, like GPS art? So she'll do all of these hard, like intricate, really cool GPS art runs, and I'm thinking there's just no way I would do it like literally no way I would do that.
Speaker 1:I mean, i don't see how people do that. It would look like a big blob of you know what that's on the side of the road that we're going to have to avoid. Realistically, that would probably even be a hard one to map out, to do, okay, if somebody can actually make like a poop emoji run map, you would be my hero. I guarantee it's out there.
Speaker 2:But I know, but I want a bruncher to do it.
Speaker 1:I don't want just anybody to do it. I'm calling on the brunchers make the stream come true that I didn't even know existed until about five seconds ago.
Speaker 2:Like double, double points, if you can make it happen on like a Disney property so that we can meet for a run there together.
Speaker 1:But anyway go ahead.
Speaker 2:Disney poop Sorry, just what they want. I'm sure that they're going to be calling us for branding right around the corner.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I think real talk, though. The hardest part about outdoor running, especially for those who started on a treadmill, is outdoor running is going to feel harder. It's just a simple fact. You don't have the air conditioning, you don't have something setting your pace, you are having to worry about traffic, you're having to worry about distance, timing. I know a lot of people do their lunchtime lunches. It's gonna be harder. It doesn't mean that it's not worth it, but it's, i think, a realistic expectation you need to go in with to not get psyched out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, i Firstly I always felt like the treadmill was harder for me, but no, i do know that from a physiological standpoint that's really. That goes to show how mind plays so much into it. But realistically, yes, it is harder when you're first making that transition, so, and it is, as you said, not as convenient. So there is a lot about that. So, in this particular bracket, as we move it on to the next one, do we have a clear winner coach?
Speaker 1:For me, my clear winner is outdoor All day, every day. if I had my way to quote Samantha from Sex in the City, i'm bringing out all my pop culture references.
Speaker 2:I like how you're playing to the audience because you know, like I have two like Gilmore Girls in Sex in the City and that's probably about it. I just can't help it.
Speaker 1:They're both great shows. Yeah, they really are. They didn't age so well, but that's the whole other topic.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we should bring that up in the future of all the shows that people should watch on the treadmill. They didn't age well, But anyway, okay. so I think I'm curious what the brunch bunch crew will tell us, What. I think the outdoor running will probably reign supreme if I had to be a betting human being. But up next let's do it. Let's go into that next block. What do we have going on here?
Speaker 1:In this corner we have elliptical versus treadmill. I think this is hard. Oh really, yeah, i think this is going to be more polarizing. Okay, actually you're probably right. Yes, okay, so do you want to tell us where you stand Now you want to wait till after we go over person cons?
Speaker 2:This one I'm going to wait.
Speaker 1:I'm going to make you wait to see what my favorite is, because I think it's going to be surprising. One of my one-on-one athletes does know that I will pick one over the other because we've talked about it. Interesting interesting.
Speaker 2:Okay, and I'm curious, how do you feel about the elliptical, since it's an outdoor elliptical?
Speaker 1:This is not on the list. Do not add extras to this bracket.
Speaker 2:Okay, so elliptical versus treadmill right out of the gate. this is when I think about these being in the contention together. A couple of variables come into play. You may be traveling or you may be at the gym and these may be the only accessible things for you, so you kind of have to pick it out there. Or are you looking at it more from a cross-training perspective, where the treadmill could be utilized for a walking, for cross-training, and elliptical could be used for cross-training? Are we going to talk a little bit about that in our pros and cons?
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is going to be a both type of thing, so I do think that's an important point to touch upon. Though, oftentimes, if you're traveling whether it's for work or for pleasure you sometimes are at the mercy of not having the ability to go outside for your runs. So the elliptical let's go with that. It's a lower impact option, that's a benefit of it, and it does mimic your running ability without that impact. Ellipticals, i feel, are pretty synonymous with gyms as far as hotel gyms, regular gyms. However you're applying it, so it can lessen a little bit of the strain on your knees and your joints, because you're not actually making that impact. You're strapped in usually, or at least have those weird little pedal cover things that don't fit anybody's foot, unless you're like the golly dream giant, jolly Green Giant. Golly dream giant Who's the guy?
Speaker 2:in the vegetable bag. It's yeah, it's Jolly Green Giant.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, yeah, my pal Jolly, so that is a big plus with the elliptical.
Speaker 2:I think that there's a couple other big pluses with the elliptical, but that is probably the biggest plus with it is definitely that it is something that I tend to think of as if I know that the runner is potentially starting to have a little bit of if they're starting to have a few little niggles or aches or pains having that lower intensity while still being a little mimic, a bit of that running motion. that's definitely something that I would suggest that they do. without a doubt, i love doing this, so I love programming it and then to be able to stride backwards. I feel like it is so much fun. Not only is it like from again, from how you're actually employing different muscles, engaging that posterior chain, you're really able to really focus on engaging your core and just all the way around. It's a really great way of doing it on the elliptical, so it makes it safer. Is there so much benefit? to me? It's just. it's just so fun. I don't know why I love it as much as I do, but I love it.
Speaker 1:Oh, come on, You don't make an active practice of running backwards and chancing tripping.
Speaker 2:I mean, i actually have tried it, which again is probably why I like it on the elliptical a little bit more.
Speaker 1:We had to do that at band camp. We had to not run backwards, but walk backwards.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And especially with a big like 30 pound bass drum in front of you. I think I did fall once and I tripped.
Speaker 2:Oh and yeah. I feel like that bass drum weighs more than you, So I had to have a little tea.
Speaker 1:You think I only weigh 30 pounds. I think we're a we're on the college booster.
Speaker 2:I thought it looks so big, but I like big drums and I cannot lie, so I'm curious as we go into elliptical When you think of elliptical, do you automatically think cardio bunny, do you have that connotation?
Speaker 1:Yeah, i kind of think of like Barbie in the hot pink shorts. I'm like hi Ken. Yeah, i'm doing the elliptical motion but in all honesty it is a pretty decent full body workout because you do have the handles to be holding on to and you do engage your core more effectively because you're trying to balance between that upper body and that lower body. I also love the hand motions we're making as we're explaining all of this. Like it looks like I'm holding a trophy. I'm going to go with that because it's not pornographic. We swear Definitely a trophy, it's totally a trophy. But so you do engage differently with that core. But even I'm not sure if everybody knows this, the elliptical has different settings you can play with. Do the ones that you are familiar with? do they have it?
Speaker 2:Not all of them, so it depends. Again, i'm sure this will surprise you, but just like I am a little bit, i'll be willing to run with different run groups. When I traveled for business a lot, i would go to a lot of different gyms, so it just depends on the gym. Even within the same chain of gym it could potentially be a little different. But yes, they do have. Especially now, i feel like they have more options in terms of incline and resistance And I love that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, i have not played with the resistance as much when I was in my gym days, but this kind of goes into the cons which I don't really want to jump. But let's just say the elliptical can be a great tool, especially if you are cleared for movement but not cleared for impact. Of course, always go with your doctor's recommendations, but if you can't have that impact, this can be great to keep you in that running mindset, that running form And again, cardio wise. This is a good cross-training option because I know we talked about that in the beginning It is great to get your heart rate up without having that impact, especially if you are a runner who just loves that motion and doesn't like much else. This can be a good way to kind of segway into cross-training and kind of make you come over to the other side just a little bit. We promise cross-training is not scary.
Speaker 2:No, it's definitely not, and it definitely does help. I do love that you're talking about that from if you've been cleared for activity, but not for necessarily for running. Let's just call it what it is, because that's what most doctors would tell you is yeah, you could exercise, but you can't go for a run. So the elliptical, i think, does tend to be the natural that in cycling that most runners would gravitate toward. I think it's also really important that we mention right here and now If you aren't cleared, it doesn't do you any favors of healing any quicker to jump onto that elliptical Like it.
Speaker 2:Just it really really doesn't. If you really do want to heal as quickly as possible and you're not 100% cleared, don't think that just because it's minimizing impact, that it really is going to not make a difference, because you would be surprised with how much your body may, even in trying to hold your lower body still so that you're not maybe making any kind of movement in it, it still could potentially cause further injury. So just a little I mean speaking from somebody who probably has done all the wrong things Right.
Speaker 1:Again, yeah, we say that if it's a running related injury, you're probably not going to be cleared to go on the elliptical. There's a various other injuries industries. We have industries here that the elliptical might be something that the doctor does clear you for. But again, just having those open lines of communication, but, yeah, great cross training option. But going into the cons, it is not a full substitution for running, because the biggest downfall I find with ellipticals and it's something that I personally don't love to use an elliptical for this reason is it set stride lengths. It's not something that I actually can control and I am short. A lot of times I will see myself over striding and getting a little gregarious with those handles And it's not actually improving my running form at all. It's just giving me the illusion of running and that token is not doing many favors.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're absolutely right, and it's something that's very natural to do. Especially for utilizing the elliptical and you're listening to music, it's so easy to want to match that specific tempo, and that's where we could see that happening quite a bit. Now, i think what I see the most and I actually see this on treadmills as well, so I'm just going to throw that out there With the treadmill having the possibility of folks holding onto those handrails, that's something that needs to be taken into consideration. That could actually not be the best for your form. Well, similarly, while the elliptical does have and I do definitely recommend holding onto the handles, you want to be mindful of how you rely on your upper body.
Speaker 2:If you have not been working on your upper body and that now, all of a sudden, you are going at it with the elliptical and you're really really utilizing all of your full bicep or triceps or your shoulders, it could potentially cause some fatigue and some potential injury. Well, i wouldn't necessarily. It could potentially cause, like a little bit of doms or delayed onset, muscle soreness, and continuing on that could cause some issues. But I think more so than that is the fact that we don't want to carry over some of those behaviors into our running, when we do go back to running kind of similarly as well.
Speaker 1:Right and talk about the upper body specifically, like we talk about in our training groups when we do the workout of the week, and we talk about not white knuckling, not fisting. I feel like every person I see on the elliptical is gripping those handlebars for dear life.
Speaker 2:It's probably me that you're talking about, because there's something about a ponytail swish on the elliptical and I'm like, yes, Talk about me picturing you as the cardio bunny and the hot pink shorts. I am like that's the entire. Okay, well, let's keep going.
Speaker 1:She's like maybe that's exactly what I'm going for.
Speaker 2:That's the entire reason to use the elliptical is to get that little ponytail swish and you're at it. But no, it's not at all. But it is a lot of fun and that's how I kind of do enjoy it. But not everybody enjoys the elliptical, Let's be honest. For some folks because, again, it's indoors. If you're used to being outside, you're kind of relying again on trying to find ways to entertain yourself, so it can get boring for folks quite a bit. On the elliptical.
Speaker 1:Now, since we already went over the pros and cons of treadmills in general, i think we should take a moment and talk about purely elliptical first, treadmill as a cross training tool, because I do feel like people get very flamocs about when to use one versus the other, and treadmills are great for cross training, even if it's not running related. they have a lot of benefits. Like we talked about speed walking and doing the incline walking, you can get a great workout. no or lower impact, i should say, on a treadmill. You don't have to look at the treadmill just as a singular substitution for outdoor running.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, And I love that the treadmill benefits employ the benefits of LIS Low Impact, Steady State while still giving you the opportunity to work on that posterior chain, And that translates really well into your running form and your running strength. So even if you're not running on the treadmill, I feel like the benefits from the treadmill really do carry over and helping you to be a stronger runner.
Speaker 1:Well, in talking about hills, if you are going through maybe a training cycle to where you're going to be training for a hillier race and you've not done hill repeats and everything, doing an incline walk on your cross training days is a great way to kind of work those muscles, build a little bit of endurance before you go hog wild on a bridge or a hill running up it. So, again, utilizing it in different capacities if you are going to be running and that is your sole focus, I'm going to pick a treadmill over the elliptical because it gives the impact. If you are going to be looking at it as a cross training, again, you can kind of get a little creative and interchanging those two.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would agree, I definitely agree. And then I still think there's a lot of value for us And I know we're probably going to talk about this in the next one as well where you should not have running training cycle after running training cycle after running training cycle. So if you're in an off training cycle for running, that's where that elliptical comes to play, And I know again, there's so many other great things that you can incorporate so that when you do get back to running, you have a bit more freshness and love for the sport as well.
Speaker 1:So I don't want to bury the lead. I've got to ask for you Are you a elliptical go or elliptical?
Speaker 2:no, i'm so elliptical girl, i can't like cardio bunny with that ponytail. swish, i am so excited. get to go backwards, get to like play with it a little bit. Yeah, i love it And I think it is for me. the reason why I love it so much for cross training is because it, while it is similar in how it mimics running, it is very different. So it gives me a whole new freshness to the cross training that I get to enjoy.
Speaker 1:I'm about to break your heart.
Speaker 2:Oh, I know that you. I can tell you're going to be a treadmill girl over there. I'm going to lift a.
Speaker 1:No, i am not a fan I'm not even a really a whole big fan of prescribing ellipticals to my athletes. Huh, i don't mind them, but they're not my first pick from a coaching or a personal aspect. So, I do leave. it leaves a lot of error and it's like anything else. It's going to be a conversation, for sure, and I always keep an open mind, but I don't think it's ever been my first recommendation.
Speaker 2:Because you haven't elliptical with me. girl, if we could elliptical go together, i guarantee you you'll have, you'll enjoy it.
Speaker 2:Wake me up when it's time to elliptical go Well, we'll have to make that happen. I don't necessarily prescribe elliptical for cross training either, so it's so interesting that you say that I don't necessarily prescribe incline walking a lot for my cross training either. I incorporate that as part of, in my mind, a really holistic training cycle for people that are preparing for elevation. But for cross training I do like folks to kind of really try to become more of an overall well-balanced athlete. So I prefer them to tackle other things, and I'm sure we're going to talk a little bit about that, because I think our next conversation piece is going to be truly. I think of all the things, this one seems to confuse folks the most.
Speaker 1:Oh for sure, This one, i think, is probably we talked about our Dr Google episode and what not to Google This one. When you Google it, i feel like you will get 15 million different answers, 15 million different opinions, and there are a lot of programs out there that try to make themselves that catch all, and I feel like it's a really dangerous messaging for it.
Speaker 2:So I think there's so many of those right now. I'm so glad that we're going to talk about it, so you will. First and foremost, this conversation that we're going to have is also so varied and it can be so lengthy that we've tackled this with every training group that we've had, and we almost do it early on, because we, right out of the gate, wanted to make sure that we just spell myths or preconceptions about both. So go ahead, coach, let's do it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, i gotta say I can't steal my thunder. This is my last time to put my WWE voice on And in our last Grudge match in this last corner, we have strength versus cross training. Ding ding ding.
Speaker 2:I'm so excited about this one because now I feel like it can actually be a diplomat.
Speaker 1:But okay, go ahead. Oh no, no. If you're thinking that let's bring some spice, Christine, Let's fire this up.
Speaker 2:Okay, let's do it, let's do it. So why do you think that this one's confusing for folks?
Speaker 1:Because there's a lot of pretty words and not a whole lot of context, because, especially runners, we feel like anything that's not running is cross training Interesting.
Speaker 2:That's a really good way of looking at that, okay.
Speaker 1:Because if we're going to be runners we want to run. Anything else is just extra and we often don't take the time to learn and build and fine-tune what is strength and what is cross-training. And again, it can cause a lot of overuse if you don't know what activities kind of fall in what categories.
Speaker 2:So I think what makes it even more confusing is the fact that we've seen an advent, or I should say a soaring, popularity on ones or different types of group fitness. That really includes both, and there's also been a higher injury rate since we started seeing those as well. But, like orange, theory comes to mind where it has components of both or, back in the day, i think, even less meals would have components of both. And I think for females and I hate to gender it, but I do think that there is a lot of intimidation about strength training and weightlifting, so we tend to gravitate toward those hybrid, high intensity interval training type workouts that have a little bit of strength attached to it. But I'm going to let you go ahead. Now that I've said that, you tell me, can you give me examples of what would be strength training, that solely strength training, versus cross-training?
Speaker 1:So hand weights, body weights, core work, band work and one that's really popular that I've done at home, not in a gym setting, is the TRX band, so the total body resistance exercise. They are really really good. And that kind of elevates the body weight. And I mean, this one probably is just me, but lifting your kid 20 times a day when they suddenly forgot how to walk and no function like an actual human, that's strength training. I count that stuff.
Speaker 2:So that's why I do feel that functional fitness is so important. We need to be holistically well balanced athletes, because those are the day, that's the daily activity that you want to train for. People say, like, what are you training for? And you don't have a race on the horizon, you're training for life. You need to be able to still be able to pick up your kid, you need to be able to be there to go the long haul that, like you bring in all the groceries and one false swoop, whatever the case may be, you want to definitely not negate the value of strength training so that you're able to do all of those day to day functional aspects. Yes, absolutely, that's exactly what I would, i would categorize as strength training, and it basically is where you're.
Speaker 2:Whatever weight you're using, be it body weight or tear, extra band work, you are working your muscle groups in conjunction against resistance And again, sometimes that just the resistance could be a gallon of water or a bottle of water or a can of soup or on body. Yeah, absolutely. So I don't think that we all have to go into barbell work And I think when people think of strength training, they automatically think and maybe this is my own connotation and please correct me if I'm wrong. They think of Jim Bros Walking around with their big gallons of water and kind of dropping weights and making a lot of noise. Do you even lift, bro? Yeah?
Speaker 1:And then a lot of grunting, a lot of really heavy grunting, and then they're super sweaty And now I feel really awkward and uncomfortable. Can we stop talking about them?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I think a lot of folks will probably feel like that's the typical strength training or weightlifting. We kind of associate it with, like Arnold Schwarzenegger bodybuilding, Mr Olympia kind of a thing.
Speaker 1:Well, and it kind of goes hand in hand Like that's what you think of when you think of strength training are those big barbells, dumbbells, whatever you want to call them, kind of how, like when you first think of running, a lot of times you're like oh, the atypical runner, physique and marathons, when there's so many sub portions underneath that title that aren't thought about. I love band work. I love my resistance bands. I really do like the TRX. A lot of people love the body weight exercises. But talking about kind of breaking down the barriers to get into things, those TRX and the resistance bands give that little bit of resistance and a little bit of that tension, but it's not as hard as getting down on the floor and trying to do a plank or having to be that physically in.
Speaker 2:I wholeheartedly agree. I have to say that I almost inside that this is just a segment because I feel like I could talk about like another love with strength training. So I think that there's also a value of us recognizing that it doesn't have to be overly complicated. It goes to a push and a pull and functional fitness again as being able to pull or to push away. So those there's just so much to it, but it can be very simple. So if people are considering that they have not been strength training because it feels a little overly complicated, definitely going to suggest going for a few different basics. Make them compound movements and you don't have to even add weights, bands, anything until you feel very confident of those compound movements. And do you want to talk a little bit about what the compound movements would be? You want me to keep going with it.
Speaker 1:Well, i'm going to interject here because, talking about making it work and making it a functional part of your life, actually, postpartum, once I was cleared and I started kind of exercising and moving more, i included my little squishy baby as part of my strength training Because, again, as soon as you sit down, the babies wake up and decide to scream their little heads off. So I would put her down on the ground and I would do knee push ups and I would make her giggle as I was doing that, i do squats with her. So, again, bringing in that fun aspect and making sure that you make it work with you and your life. So any parents out there that have a little one and they're struggling to kind of get it all in and make it fun, it's a great time to actually involve them. So, just a mom's sidebar.
Speaker 2:So I'll let you spit your knowledge now, but just throw it out there Just in terms of making, and we discussed a little bit at the over our strength training for runners in regards to this. So, with runners, you're going to not necessarily look as much as compound exercises, you're going to look at more balance type strength training or single leg balance, absolutely very important, and that's where, like a split leg deadlift would come into, or split squat, or Bulgarian split squat, however you want to call them. That sounds really fancy, but when you look at it, yeah, it sounds super fancy. It's really, at the end of the day, not and you don't have to overcomplicate it, you don't have to do a routine of all of them.
Speaker 2:I think we tend to like to see these super like when we're on Instagram or scrolling and we watch, like one of this like super into Instagram models and they're doing these super intricate routines and it looks really cool, and then we don't feel that way when we do it. You don't have to do any of that and it doesn't have to be fast, actually slowing it down, really feeling confident of it, just doing that body weight. So, starting with the basics, i would definitely say squats, push ups, planking, pull ups, which is again talking about the difference between male and female just in our physiological. Pull ups can be a harder reach for most females, based off of our upper body strength, but it is something that, again, you could totally work your way up into using those phenomenal bands or utilizing like inverted rows. So there's. I feel like I'm going to nerd out about this. I'm going to stop.
Speaker 1:Which you think would be out of our system after we did the string, string, string training for runners workshop. But again, it's our love. I'm thinking I might have to dust out my 10, 10, 10 workout.
Speaker 2:Yeah, i mean definitely so, because I think that those are the kind of workouts that folks need in their lives to be able to to really not feel quite as intimidated. And I love the fact that the folks that did join us with our strength training workshop did walk away with a couple of routines that they're able to employ. and if you guys are using them, we'd love to hear from you as to what you thought about it, how it's working for you, and and let us know what your feedback is on it. But again, so that we don't just because I feel like I could write a love letter to strength training, let's talk about cross training in this conversation as well.
Speaker 1:So cross training, the other, the other dirty word in the running world, i feel like and I love prescribing dance workouts for cross training, anything cardio based really, we're going to put in this category. so dancing, the elliptical walking with the incline or power walking hit. I know we had a good amount of hit in our foxy feisty fierce. Yeah, I would even kind of maybe even put hot yoga into this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, i would. So it would just kind of the flow style of the yoga. if it's going to be a yoga, even if it's heated, it's still going to be something that would work more. It wouldn't work as much as a fast twitch muscles. I would consider that more of a recovery. But if we're looking at more of like a flow and ashtanga, a big rum, those are definitely working, those fast twitch muscles, very similar to a lot of other cross training. While they're not necessarily simulating the same kind of movement as running, like you would see with cycling in terms of your cadence or maybe even the elliptical, i still would consider anything that helps to develop those fast twitch might fibers in that regard.
Speaker 2:So yoga is a tough one, like we're going to have to we're going to have to get back to that one and in regards to it, that's why I said hot yoga, but I love again if it's like a yen hot yoga. It wouldn't necessarily be as intense, but you are going to walk away from it feeling like you got to work out. There's no doubt I love though I know that's not it for the cross training. What is your favorite style of cross training?
Speaker 1:Running a mental marathon of overthinking that it that burns more than anything. I love you. That's like the one that tickles you the most, but, like my, cross training is overthinking.
Speaker 2:I mean we know for thinking for the record, it does require a lot of car.
Speaker 2:So if you're, using that brain strength, you know if your brain is your highest consumer of glycogen, so it is quite possible that you're going to want a little carby snack after that mental marathon.
Speaker 2:I don't know that the mental marathon will necessarily met you, those physiological adaptations of cross training But let's talk a little bit about that too, because we are really big with our athletes where we prescribe visualization, mindset and meditation. And I know for a lot of folks that are listening to this, especially as runners, we don't want to be alone with our thoughts and those mental marathons because we get into that spiral of overthinking. But if you start looking at again not going to use coach Shelby's favorites the elites, if you start to look at any high performing athlete, any high performing individual, and you start to like peel back the layers as to their habits, yes, they're genetically inclined, they have great dedication and consistency, but they always go back to training that brain And it's so important for us as endurance athletes. So this mental marathon, why may not necessarily categorize it as cross training? if I'm programming it for you, i am going to still say that there is quite a bit of value into it as well.
Speaker 1:I do always, though on a serious note, cross training. I love walking and I do love dance. We pulled out our we from back in the day and I found three different discs of dancing workouts that I had purchased a long, long time ago. That gets your heart rate going. It's something you can do with kids Again, not to always pull the mom card, but got to get creative. Sometimes, even if they fizzle out, they at least absorb some of their energy and you can get some of your dancing in. I know one of my favorites that I've prescribed my one on one athletes is the incanto dance. No surprise there They had a bad bunny dance.
Speaker 2:They had a Britney Spears.
Speaker 1:Ladies of the 90s, i mean dancing really is very underrated, because I think, people think of it as enjoyment and don't always necessarily equate working out with enjoyment. still, as much as we keep trying to bring that to the forefront, you can never do it. Yeah, no, i wholeheartedly agree 100%.
Speaker 2:And that's again when, if you're not in a running training cycle, this is your chance to explore all of these, to find what your jam is, to find what your joy is outside of running, because you do not want to be just a and I'm not hey, again, running is one true love, but you don't want to be a one trick pony. It does potentially limit you from being, overall, an athlete that's able to be world balance and it. Really exploring all of these cross training and the strength training, all of these other facets of your recovery, like stretching that you guys know that I'm not a big fan of. That's why I tend to gravitate towards yoga All of those things will make you a better runner.
Speaker 2:I think my favorite cross training really depends on the season. So sometimes it's been spinning, sometimes it's been elliptical, sometimes it's been rowing. I got into rowing pretty hard for there for a while. It really depends And that's the. That's what keeps me going back to it, like it's just a joy to be able to figure out how to augment all of the other things that I'm doing.
Speaker 1:Rowing is a good one. I've actually had athletes not because it can't row for 35 minutes unless you've really built up your endurance. So even switching your cross training and breaking up into two different ones, that's not a bad thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, i will say I'm with you, though, coach, people be sleeping on the walking. I really feel like that is like the number one of all of the things in your movement is like don't sleep on walking. It really can be. I mean, you shouldn't probably sleepwalk? We're not advising that. I sleep run.
Speaker 1:I'm sure you do. I dream about running Mental marathon. Yeah, I dream about running almost every night and I do physically run in my sleep. I've talked about it before. My husband yells at me almost every morning that I've kicked him. But I have this reoccurring dream of running in quicksand. I have no idea why.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, i feel like dream interpretation 101. I can only come up with like 5,000 things that I would think that that has to do, but you need to do some journaling work around that.
Speaker 1:Put that in my final search code.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was gonna say Coach, I really love this And I mean I can't wait to hear what people's thoughts are. How do they feel about strength training? What did they use for cross training And what, of course, reign supreme for them on the outdoor treadmill or elliptical, I think? I think I have an idea which one will be, But still I'm curious what folks will say.
Speaker 1:So I feel like I know the answer, But in our last matchup, which one are you picking? Cross training or strength? Oh no, that's unfair.
Speaker 2:That's hard. That's the hardest one on this list.
Speaker 1:I love both, Yeah and that. no, you can't. I'm not letting you do both.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, seriously, i brush you. My strength training and my walking cross training go like hand in hand, like I do them on the exact same day, like your favorite child. Oh, strength training, i knew it.
Speaker 1:That's a really surprise. I knew you were going to pick that one.
Speaker 2:It feels so powerful It does Yeah, it really does I?
Speaker 1:it might surprise you, I actually am going to pick strength training as well.
Speaker 2:Girl. That doesn't surprise me. You talk about your butt in squats five to a million times a day. Like as much as I love walking and I do think it can definitely create a beautiful posterior chain, You are only going to build glutes like that with like squats and hip thrust. So absolutely, I knew strength training was your jam girl.
Speaker 1:I haven't talked about my butt this entire episode. I was actually doing really good smiles.
