So we’re still in February and you are dreading another run on the treadmill? It’s part of a common collection of wintertime blues. If you are finding it difficult to remain motivated at the gym while Old Man Winter flexes his muscles, the time is right to mix up your training. My normal training this time of year usually consists of watching ESPN on the treadmill while feeling like a hamster stuck in its exercise wheel. To beat the monotony of running, I’ve found that cross training has a wide range of benefits. I’ll highlight some of the alternatives that I’ve found recently.
Basketball
I used to play hoops all the time in high school and college. Getting back to your adolescent roots certainly is refreshing. Plus being on a team really provides the camaraderie that individual sports just do not provide. I’ve recently found a great group of guys to play with regularly on Friday nights. Now this is my type of Guy’s Night Out! Plus it’s a girlfriend approved activity. Talk about scoring points on and off the court!
Massage
I’ll come out and say it. I just don’t think that most guys get enough massages. There certainly is a stigma that if you are a macho man (Sylvester Stallone) that receiving a massage would make a guy too feminine (Ryan Seacrest.) While I am neither macho nor feminine (Paul Walker), I do believe that balance is the key. I’ve been receiving regular sports massages and I can attest that my running has improved and the chance of injury has decreased. If you’re an athlete, then you really can’t expect more from lying around for an hour or so.
Yoga
I’ve done yoga a handful of times before, but most recently I tried 90 minutes of hot yoga. What an experience! I found the heat to be tolerable and actually quite invigorating in the middle of winter. Sometimes a really good sweat can feel oh so good! But here’s a tip for the guys, don’t try to compete with the women in the classes. You are most likely going to lose and lose badly. This may be the one sport/exercise where guys need to feel comfortable taking a back seat. Does anybody remember Bobby Riggs vs. Billie Jean King? I don’t but I Googled it.
Vegetable Medley
Do you remember those terrible vegetable medleys that you were coerced into eating as a kid? While those left a bad taste in your mouth, I think that if you give some sort of exercise alternatives a serious try, it will much more palatable. The winter season won’t seem so long and your body will thank you when spring finally does arrive!
-RJ Lott
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