As the weather continues to get colder and winter sets in, exercising outdoors will become difficult— especially for athletes training for marathons. Instead of braving the cold temperatures, take a look at how you can utilize traditional fitness equipment in order to prepare for your upcoming outdoor events:
Treadmills Simulate Terrain
Treadmills are incredibly beneficial for those training for any type of fitness event, as they not only prepares you for running but condition your body to handle strenuous exercise. Running on treadmills will get your heart pumping and work up a sweat. In addition, the incline feature on treadmills is a huge benefit to those training to run outdoors, as it can mimic hills and prepare your body to conquer them.
Ellipticals Promote Full Body Workouts
Ellipticals are fantastic for toning your legs and your arms at the same time. With some ellipticals you can also focus on one or the other. For instance, TRUE Fitness ellipticals allow users to stand on the Side Steps to engage in an arm-only workout, hold onto the side rails for a leg-only workout, or incorporate both by using the moving handle bars. Ellipticals are great for cardio and strength training that will prepare you for any outdoor event you’re training for, be it a marathon or rock climbing.
Exercise Bikes Keep You Prepped
Exercise bikes are great for building up strength in your legs while giving you a cardio workout. If you are preparing for a cycling event, exercise bikes can provide you with great benefits while training in the gym. If you find that your biking sessions are getting easier, all you have to do is increase the resistance for a more intense workout. That way, you don’t fall into the habit of easy workouts that don’t improve your fitness at all.
Strength Equipment Targets Muscle Groups
Increasing your body’s overall strength is essential when preparing for any form of fitness event. Strength equipment offers many units that allow you to precisely pin-point what muscle groups you want to improve on. For instance, utilizing a leg press will get your legs in shape and strong for uphill running. Mixing and matching the types of strength equipment you will keep your body in balance.
