GUEST POST: My Favorite Thing About Cross Training

With the launch of Jump the Apex , a lot of people sending me their cross training questions. About a week ago, a question that I’d never considered before came into my inbox:

I’ve definitely thought about reasons WHY you should cross train.

I’ve thought about ways to make cross training fit into a crazy derby schedule (HERE and HERE).

I’ve even shared some of the mistakes I think skaters make when they cross train (HERE and HERE).

And now it seems strange to me that I’ve never considered why I like the thing that I think about (and write about) so much.

I mean, why do eagles like to fly? DO they even like to fly? Or is it just something that they do?

Since I’m not an eagle and I highly doubt that cross training is just a “part of who I am” I decided to answer that question for myself.

My Favorite Thing About Cross Training is…

the automaticity.

Building strength and using my body in new and different ways gets my mind and my muscles working at their most efficient. I like that cross training and getting stronger gives me greater bodily control. That means that when I’m out skating on the track, I can think LESS about what my body is doing on skates and MORE about the game as a whole.

It’s also VERY helpful when I have to make a quick grab at #autotot as he falls off a stool or trips in the middle of the street. Even derby doesn’t require such strange, dynamic, twisting, jerking motions from me.

Making my movements automatic gives me the freedom to think about strategy. Not skating. #crosstraining Click To Tweet

There are a million reasons why skaters cross train, though. My one answer doesn’t do justice to all of the reasons that skaters choose to cross train. Or all the reasons that skaters love to cross train.

So I asked around…

Their Favorite Thing About Cross Training is…

I love that my head game gets stronger. I know I can do back to back jams, push through that “one” blocker, or go the whole two minutes because I’ve done the work and know it’s possible. — GERMS

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Reasons I love to cross train for derby:

  • Because endurance isn’t built at practice. If you can run (or swim, or cycle or whatever floats your boat) for an hour then you will be able to concentrate on scrimmage, rather than how knackered you are feeling.
  • Because it makes crazy weekends of skating much easier. I’m used to working 4 days without a break, so 3 days of scrimmaging/bouting/whatever else isn’t a big deal. — STICKS

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Reason: because it makes me feel stronger and faster. On and off skates.             — SHAKESFEAR

And a favorite reason to cross train for Derby is the availability of brain matter. Because I work hard off skates I can concentrate on what my teammates need, what my coach needs instead of trying to figure out what my body is going to do. — JENN

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My favorite thing about cross training, I think, is that it is the quiet moment where I make myself better than I was yesterday, where I learn to control my body and my mind and it is for no one else. No one is watching. I compete only with my yesterday self. In practice, the work I do is for the good of my team. Though I am working on my own skills and abilities, we are there, rising and falling as a team. What I do when cross training will better that skater I bring to practice over time, but it betters the skater I live with day in and day out right away. — WINK

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My fave reason for cross training for derby is that it’s one of only 2 ways to overcome my lack of athletic talent (the other being rules/game knowledge)!  So if I train harder, I can catch up to people who are naturally more talented than me.BOOTY

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I started weightlifting about a year ago, and within a few months, my teammates started noticing. That’s what originally got me hooked. After they pointed out how much stronger I was, I realized I was able to stay on my feet more easily, and actually hold my own against some of our toughest blockers. I can tell at practice when I’ve been slacking off at the gym, so that’s a big motivator too, but there’s nothing quite like overhearing someone else say, “Damn, Dolly has been working out!” from the ground. — DOLLY

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And that’s when I decided to start strength training, not only to be stronger and a better jammer, but also to protect my tiny self…and I’m in love with it! I’m suddenly faster, more agile and stable…and I’m starting my journey into being a juker (it might sound crazy with my size, but I tend to hit more than juke). It sounds weird to think that now that I’m stronger I rather juke than push or hit, but all the time in the gym has given my enough confidence to start jumping all around on my toestops…and also: apex jumps!                          — ANONYMOUS

What’s Your Favorite Thing About Cross Training?

I’d love to hear what YOU love about cross training. Pop over to the Facebook message above and let me know or comment below. What best parts did we miss?

SUPER THANKS extended to everyone listed above that responded to my call about a few of their favorite things!!

Want more?

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IronOctopusFitness

About IronOctopusFitness

Online athletic training and nutrition coach, full-time mom, okay skater, and connoisseur of all things tea, chocolate, and roller derby. I'll help you unleash your inner athlete by building a strong, capable body that can withstand whatever life throws at you.

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