Every time I hear the term cross training I just shake my head in wonder. What are you talking about? Doesn’t good training involve utilize a variety of methods to elicit adaptation? Lets look at cross training and see if there is any method or if it is just madness. Hawley & Burke (P. 31) define Cross Training as: “… is when an athlete undertakes training in a discipline other than their main sport for the sole purpose of enhancing performance in their primary event.” It has been primarily used as a method for retaining training adaptations. What we are really talking about here is transfer of training effect. It has been my experience that those who utilize cross training the most are those who already have a tendency to chronically overwork and are looking for another way to punish themselves. I feel that this is another training myth that has actually detracted from sound training. It certainly has very little foundation is sports science research. For a runner to get in the pool for anything more than a recovery session is time ill spent? The same is true for biking, that time would be better-spent strength training or working on flexibility, both areas that tend to be ignored. Most of the time they are ignored because the runner feels they do not have enough time to fit it in. Yet those same runners can find the time to swim for thirty minutes or bike for an hour. It is all a matter of priorities. Cross training may be OK for the recreational athlete seeking to relive the boredom of training, but for the high level athlete it is virtually useless. “Specific exercise elicits specific adaptations, creating specific training effects.” (McArdle, Katch & Katch P.394)
McArdle, William D. Katch, Frank I. & Katch, Victor L. Fourth Edition. Exercise Physiology – Energy, Nutrition, And Human Performance. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore. 1996
Hawley, John and Burke, Louise. Peak Performance – Training and Nutritional Strategies for Sport. Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, NSW Australia. 1998
Jude Sullivan
Nice post, Vern. What would you say to “cross training” as a form of active recovery or during the off-season?
Wayne
This is an interesting post. Part of me wants to agree with you, and another is full of questions. In a study performed on triathletes showed that there was adaptation between running and cycling, but no adaptation between swimming and the other two. So, there are cases for cross training in this sense.
A agree that once the athlete is at the elite level, it is best to specialize the training. However, there are multiple studies that show that multilateral training in youth is extremely beneficial to their overall and long -term development as an athlete.
So, in my opinion there is a place for cross training.
Jess
I agree. A cyclist I know ran 15min for 5000m without ever having stepped on the track. He wasn’t even wearing proper shoes. Any runner will tell you from experience that cycling over 2 hours helps distance running.
Bruce
I agree with you. Specific training will yield specific results. While cross training (http://lifestyletransitionmanagement.com) may be a fun form of exercise for recreational athletes, it is less effective for those looking to excel in a specific sporting event.