The benefits of cross training have been touted for awhile now. Injury prevention, enhanced motivation and a cure for boredom a just a few you hear about. But there is another step one should consider but it is often left out of the discussion on Cross Training, Cross Racing! The benefits you find here go beyond those found in simply cross training and can help you achieve your athletic goals. They include more speed, better technique and greater racing confidence.
Although the idea of cross racing was originally hatched with the triathlete in mind, the benefits can extend to all athletes who are looking for fun and competition. The major obstacle preventing athletes from cross racing is intimidation. But that can be turned into a positive for sure, remember the excitement when you began you sport of choice? You can find that again in cross racing. Also the pressure to perform is way down, your new to it, it’s not your chosen sport maybe it’s your first ever Mountain bike race. That pressure to perform is way down and the fun level comes way up.
Swimming is the cross racing that takes the most pre-event preparation of the ones we’ll talk about today. First you need to find one! The can be done with a quick stop at the U.S. Masters Swimming website, www.usms.org. Here you can look up all the events for Master Swimmers sanctioned by the USMS. Open water swims, long distance meets, sprints they are all here. Once you’ve picked your event you must register as a US Master Swimmer. You needn’t be associated with a master’s program to enter but if you are bringing teammates along for support and to root for makes for more fun! I have heard all the excuses about not going to a meet, “I am too slow” “I will come in last” “Tell everyone to stop looking at me!” But for us non-fish like people meets are as laid back as they come. It’s just you against the clock! Heats are split up into swimmers of like ability. Others in your heat maybe older, younger, male, female… anyone who can swim about the same times you can. They will announce you heat, you can jump off the block or start in the water, and off you go! All the officials are very approachable and eager to help new people have a good time. Once your heat is over another one starts right away, very painless actually. The great thing about these meets is you can race as many as 5 events in one day, not only working on your speed but testing your endurance.
Cycling is a little easier to start up racing. Plenty of sites around listing the races in your area as well as USA Cycling’s website. With cycling most races will sell you a one day license making the process that much easier. Again those new to the sport are lumped together, so no worries about racing Lance wanna-be’s out there. The newest of the new even get a little clinic on how the race will go and what to expect. Usually you can get in two races in a day if you are doing a grand prix race or a criterium. The officials, as with swimming, are very informative and will answer any question that you may have before the race. During the races you will gain valuable handling experience as well as pushing that aerobic/anaerobic threshold to the max! After the race you can hang around and see the pro’s race, it makes for a great morning.
The last racing is one we tend to forget about but it’s the shorter distance foot races. Sometimes we get stuck in those long distance endurance events thinking we need to get a good long workout in. But the shorter races, the 10 and 5K’s, hold a lot of value for triathletes as well as endurance runners. They will teach you how it really feels to push your limits, what kind of effort is required to run FAST, as well as what it feels like to get passed by the local kids from the cross country team! A 5 or 10 K a month is invaluable training for any longer distance athlete looking to get faster.
Remember to run, bike or swim fast you must run, bike or swim fast! These races will give you the perfect opportunity!
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