CrossFit allows individuals to be efficient in many types of activities but for runners specifically it can be extremely beneficial towards increasing efficiency, improving times, and decreasing risk of injury.
- During CrossFit workouts you utilize your entire body rather than isolated muscle groups which builds a better body composition, making you a more efficient runner.
- The diverse level of training that CrossFit Progression provides offers improvements to your fast-twitching muscles (used for sprinting) as well as your slow-twitching muscles (used for long distance).
- Endurance can be increased by lowering the amount of body fat you carry. This can be achieved with met con types of WOD’s.
- CrossFit is constantly changing and sticking with it through the summer to supplement your extra curricular activities helps prevent the dreaded workout plateau.
If you’re training for a 5K, 10K, or a longer race CrossFit WOD “Barbara” is a great one to add to your training schedule.
Coach Micheal’s Mobility Tip for Runners:
Stick to dynamic stretches that target hamstrings, calves, and groin muscles.
Dynamic stretching is a form of stretching beneficial in sports utilizing momentum from form, and the momentum from static-active stretching strength, in an effort to propel the muscle into an extended range of motion not exceeding one’s static-passive stretching ability.
If you use CrossFit to supplement your summer running schedule here’s what you can expect to gain:
- A better race performance.
- Sustained mobility and range of motion.
- Reduced risk of injury.
- More power & speed.
- Increased coordination.
- Improved running performance while logging less actual running time, (aka junk miles).