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Effective cross-training can make you a healthier and better balanced runner.
Everybody knows training for a marathon requires lots of running. But, other exercises need to be incorporated into your training regimen to ensure that you cross the finish line strong and healthy.
When I trained for my first marathon I ran at least 5 days per week and did little cross training. Throughout my training program I struggled with shin splints and knee pain. It was frustrating to deal with these injuries.
While training for my second marathon I was taking a power yoga class twice a week. I also incorporated weight training and some cycling.
My marathon training program only required 3 days of running per week and emphasized cross-training. Here is a sample week from my training:
I never thought of myself as an athlete. 
According to the study, 106 people embarked on a 20 week marathon training program for the first time. When it was over, 31 completed the training and finished their first marathon successfully. But 75 people dropped out before week 10 of the program. 
A couple of years ago I was on a morning run in a residential neighborhood. It was a fairly quiet street and I wasn’t concerned with the lack of a sidewalk or shoulder. A car approached and I didn’t become concerned until I realized that it was headed straight for me.
Are you ready to get off the couch and get your body moving? Some of us have forgotten what it’s like to move the body. As kids, running came naturally. Somehow when we became adults we lost that natural motion. It’s time for you to tap into that forgotten child and learn to love your body in motion. 
