5 Workout Alternatives to Running

Here at the Fitness Studio, we agree that running is a great workout as a part of your cardio repertoire although it’s not the only way to get fit. While running can improve your mental well-being, there are other workout alternatives to running. There are many different types of dynamic cardio workouts. So whether you’ve always despised running or you have recently started working out, you have great workout options to try without (literally) pounding the pavement.

Swimming is a great alternative to running in hot weather. Also, it’s a full body workout as you are using every muscle in your body.

1. Get Outside

Especially in the summer, there are so many things you can do outside to work on your cardio without running. Consider hiking, rowing, bike trails and more. This is also a great way to switch up your workout routine, get those muscles out of a pattern and see the great outdoors. Yes, you can also do some of these on machines inside and on hotter days, that might be the better option. But if you are ready to take a friend or maybe your dog for some sunshine and fresh air, get outside!

2. Try Interval Training

Interval training is great for a lot of reasons. It involves short bursts of high-intensity exercise with alternated periods of rest. This type of training burns more fat and improves overall fitness more quickly than constant, moderate-intensity physical activity, such as running. You can implement interval training into a workout by alternating between using the elliptical or the stationary bike.

To push yourself further in this area, you could also try high-intensity interval training. These training exercises include sprints, lunges, and speed skaters with brief rests in between. You can burn more calories than a workout at a steady, moderate pace. To kick things up a notch, try increasing your speed and or incline when using a machine.

Indoor cycling is a way to get a similar cardio workout as running, without the stress on your joints.

3. Hop on a Bike

Okay yes, we already mentioned biking but we felt indoor cycling deserved its own shout out. Indoor cycling is a great alternative to running because it can be just as enduring as hitting the pavement. It has the added benefit of being low-impact, meaning it has minimal impact on the hips, knees and ankle joints. You can also adjust your speed, intensity, and stance. Indoor cycling can burn anywhere between 400-600 calories every 45-minutes according to spinning.com.

4. Add Plyometrics

Do you ever see people doing box jumps, squats, or burpees at the gym? Those moves are considered to be plyometric, which is a method of metabolic conditioning reliant on explosive movements. Plyometrics trick your muscles into executing moves with a maximum force very quickly. To decrease the risk of injury, it’s important to complete the type of exercises with proper form, so please ask a trainer for assistance.

5. Make A Splash

Keep it cool this summer and try incorporating swimming drills to your workouts. Talk to any swimmer, and they’ll insist that their workouts are the hardest out of any other sport. If you think about it, you are working every muscle in your body to get to one side of the pool to the other. Try adding in laps around in the pool to change up your cardio workout.

Do not hesitate to contact The Fitness Studio if you have any questions. Please talk to one of our trainers about these workouts you could incorporate into your routine. The trainers here are certified, and most importantly are here to help you.