Do many OKers or non-OKer Forum readers cross-train? I think the answer is probably yes, but I thought it would be an interesting topic for discussion. Maybe other people can talk about the benefits and drawbacks from certain types of training that are not running, but are physical, e.g., aerobic, training.

I've tried to mountain bike on most weekends. It is fun, builds leg strength, and the stresses are different than those of running. Hopefully this is a way to keep in shape while reducing the chances of getting injured. I doubt that it is particularly suited to preparing to run through terrain however. I don't know that anything else is better.

PS - speaking of cross-training, some of you may not have checked out Fritz's rowing results yet.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), February 25, 2000

Answers

Running on the roads is good cross trainining...but it doesn't do a great job of preparing you to run through the terrain.

Hiking and walking -- especially in rough terrain -- is good training. It is even better if it is combined with map reading or map making.

Riding a road or mountain bike is always good. I've generally been pretty surprised at how little fitness I seem to lose when I've done biking rather than running.

Rollerblading is fun and decent training. Just be sure not to break a wrist.

In the heat of the summer, I like to do an easy work out by skating laps around an indoor hockey rink.

I have been know to ride my skateboard -- you can work up a good sweat and there is probably some aerobic benefit. Broken bones are a definite potential drawback.

Dan and I did some rock climbing at an indoor climbing gym. It was certainly good upper body work.

When I lived in Sweden the O' club had weekly "gympa" session through the winter. Gympa is a mix or aerobics and calisthenics. It is fun if you can get a bunch of people together.

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), February 25, 2000.

I think it can be intersting to try to relate any activity to orienteering. Just come up with an idea and then try to figure out a way to relate it to orienteering. If you are creative enough you can make just about any activity "cross training."

For example, I've got a nerf basketball goal in my living room. How can nerf basketball help my orienteering? Let me see what I can come up with...I get some easy stretching by shooting the ball, then stretching to pick the ball up off the floor...or I can strengthen my ankle muscles by balancing on one foot while I shoot the nerf ball.

-- Spike (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), March 01, 2000.

This behavior must stop immediately!!!!! I can see that balancing on one foot while shooting your "nerf" ball would totally take away from your optimal nerf ball shooting performance. This "sloppiness" can only carry over into your orienteering, detracting from your optimal performance on the course. This clearly indicates Spike is the "weak link" on the relay team and drastic action needs to be taken by the rest of the team. Any suggestions on what we can do about this alarming situation. The logic seems infallible, the relay team is doomed.

-- Snorkel (daniel.meenehan@umb.com), March 02, 2000.

If Spike is taking a long-range jumper, sure, I'd like to see him square his shoulders to the basket and follow through with his shot. But his low post moves are another thing entirely. I'm not sure what Spike is describing when he talks about balancing on one foot while shooting.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 02, 2000.

I guess I have to come clean...the only reason I do orienteering is that it is good cross-training for nerf basketball.

-- Spike (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), March 02, 2000.

The NY Times had an interesting article that described how a baseball player trains. The story was about the NY Yankee's pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez (a very cool nickname, by the way). Here is one of the excercises El Duque uses to help his pitching...

He places his fingertips at his ears, extends his elbows out, turns to his right and spins around 10 times. Without pausing his motion, he then reverses himself, spinning around 10 times in the opposite direction. he stops and plants his feet, staring forward, his body weaviong slightly....He does this to improve his equilibrium.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), March 06, 2000.