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areas. Cross-training exercise plans will vary based on the athlete’s ultimate goals, but every single one will include a mix of aerobic, anaerobic, and flexibility exercises. Body composition improves best through a combination of aerobic exercises and dieting. Aerobic exercises, such as running, swimming, and cycling will strengthen the heart and lungs. A healthy cardiovascular system will have an easier time pumping blood and the oxygen it carries through- out the body. Oxygen is needed to keep the cells in the body func- tioning. Bodies under the strain of exercise require more oxygen than normal, forcing the heart to pump faster and work harder. Athletes with a lot of cardiovascular endurance will find it easier to keep moving for long periods of time without needing a break or feeling winded. Anaerobic exercises do not require extra effort from the cardiovas- cular system. Some examples of anaerobic exercises include weight lifting and flexibility training. Athletes who spend time on muscle train- ing will have an easier time lifting or supporting more weight on those muscles. Flexibility exercises will protect muscles from becoming stiff, sore, and injured. Stretches are one type of flexibility exercise, and yoga is another. Many athletes start a cross-training routine with a specific goal in mind. People who play sports might want to train specific areas of the body to become even better at one sport, but this is not always the case. Some athletes use cross-training as a way to become healthier overall. Their main sport may develop only one kind of fitness, so they do cross-training in order to make their entire bodies are in shape. PICKING PRIORITIES People who run every day and do nothing else may be able to run long distances without getting tired—but they may not be able to lift heavy weights. Cross-training can help runners become good at all areas of physical fitness, while at the same time, the right exercises will support their dedication to running. There are not enough hours in the day to become great at every sport in existence, and even if there were, exercising too much is dangerous.

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What Is Cross-Training?