Date Added: August 10, 2018 01:12:55 AM

You love running so much that you decided to take it to the next level and join your first marathon. How to prepare? While it may seem logical to do more running as preparation, you might be setting yourself up for injury if running is the only thing you do. Take a page from seasoned marathon runners' playbook and cross train with some fitness classes on days when you don't run.

Running is a high-impact activity and involves repetitive motion. Doing only just this either to train for a marathon or as your main exercise will lead to imbalances in your muscles. In time, your hamstrings are overworked, your upper body doesn't get attention, and your overall flexibility deteriorates. By joining a fitness class, not only will you address and prevent muscle imbalance but you will also prevent common running injuries from happening.

Here are three classes recommended for your cross-training days that you will get the most benefit from as a runner.

Barre Classes

Trust us on this - a ballet-inspired fitness class will make you a better runner. Barre classes are known for developing stability in the core and muscular endurance, including smaller muscles in the hips, through focused movements done with lots of reps. In some classes you will be just your own body weight, in others the sequence will involve the use of bands, balls, and weights.

Developing your core muscles will help you in a marathon because with a strong and stable core your body avoids rotating side to side as you run, and thus lessening the pressure on your joints especially in your knees and ankles. Targeting the hips is also beneficial to runners as they often end up getting injuries like hip impingement due to weak hip rotators and hip abductors.

Spinning Classes

As with running you will also be using more of your lower body in a spinning class. However, the circular movement of the legs when cycling targets a different set of muscles compared to running and thus helps with reducing muscular imbalance. This circular movement in a spinning class also builds your muscle memory so that your legs and feet will move in this circular pattern when you run. Another reason why a spinning class is complementary to your running regimen is that it still gives you the same cardiovascular workout without the stress on the joints coming from hitting the treadmill or pavement.

Yoga Classes

You might not have considered it, but an ancient practice might just be what you need for your tight hamstrings, glutes, and quads. With its emphasis on the mind-body connection and learning to manage your breathe, doing a series of yoga postures have been found to not just relieve tight muscles from running and improve range of motion but also build one's mental endurance. In dynamic yoga classes, where you will be holding challenging postures for a few breaths, you train both the strength of your muscles and your mind. On the other hand, some yoga practices are designed to focus more on relaxing where you will be able to gently stretch tight spots in your body. And a yoga class in Melbourne held by Kaya Health Clubs, a health and fitness club might be a place to visit if you’re near by. When training for a marathon, you can alternate with dynamic or more relaxed yoga classes depending on what your body needs at the moment.

Cross-training with several fitness classes will not just help the body prepare for a marathon, but also makes training fun because it is done in a social environment. As they sign up for these classes in fitness clubs Melbourne marathon runners also find that the energy from other people in class helps with their motivation.

When training for a marathon with barre, spinning, and yoga fitness classes, Melbourne residents don't have to look far as the city is dotted with gyms and studios offering theses classes. To make cross-training easier, join fitness clubs where all three classes are being offered.