You’re either a runner..or not. There’s no in between.
For me…Running is like home.
A moment in time for my feet to hit the ground, my lungs burning and space for my thoughts. And while I don’t love every run, i never regret a run. There’s something about the feeling that it gives my body….the adrenaline, the full body movement, the cleanse from within that is a breath of fresh air.
Don’t get me wrong…Strength training is a HUGE part of how I get fit & stay fit... but so is running.
Unfortunately, I’ve had injuries (and pregnancies) over the years that have sidelined me from hitting the roads. While I am a huge proponent of strength training, I feel cardio is crucial to staying fit and increasing your fitness levels.
Many people i speak to ... just hate running. Or just can’t! This coupled with the fact that I haven’t been able to run the past 3 weeks has inspired me to write about what my favorite NON running cardio activities are for those who just…don’t run! While I’m anxiously awaiting the day I can get back running, I’m trying to embrace other forms of cardio to keep me ticking over.
Favorite Non-Running Cardio workouts
Walking: I know you might be rolling your eyes but this is the one cardio activity I do the MOST of. It’s easy, costs nothing, and you can do it with your kids. I go for at least 1 30 minute walk a day in addition to my regular exercise, and My goal is always 1 hour of walking a day- even if it’s divided into 3 or 4 segments. Pushing the stroller is a great workout, and my older two ride their bikes while we walk.
Biking: bike riding is a great way to get cardio in without the impact. You can distance ride, or do intervals (think 30 seconds on, 1 minute recovery slow biking, or 15 seconds on, 30 off).
Swimming: Swimming has been a huge part of my pregnancy workout routines in the past, and a big part of my recovery from an injury or when I was playing professionally as recovery. I like to use the aqua jogger which emulates the movement of running. Swimming is so so good for you, has a high caloric burn, and is low impact!
Jump rope: I love doing HIIT exercises, and this is a great one that is cheap and you don’t need a lot of space for! Try doing intervals and working your way up in intensity.
Sled work: Sled work has been so important to my overall fitness level! I use it for conditioning AND strength! I do intervals and continuous with the sleds, varying up the weight, speed, and frequency. Here are a few examples. You can do these on pavement, turf or even grass.
Dynamic movements : HIIT dynamic exercises like jumping & burpees are fantastic for getting your heart rate up in a smaller space (no gym necessary! )
I linked my favorite items for these 6 activities below!
Have a great Friday friends!
Xo
Alex