Hi, this is Debbie Boyle's coach at Mojo for Running with podcast number 108 cross-training basics.

When I started running back a long time ago, back when runners were outliers, not really

understood by most people and considered even a bit odd,

the common belief was that specificity of training ruled.

That means you did your sport, practiced it over and over and over.

It was particularly an issue with runners that it was considered to be a bad idea to build muscles

because muscles would

just mean more weight to carry.

Well, happily, the tables have turned.

As the field of exercise science advanced and years of runners running unfolded, revealing

with them lessons in training in what works and what doesn't, what helps prevent injuries

and what makes you faster, helps prevent injuries and what makes

you faster, what causes injuries and what slows you down, the attitude towards cross-training

has changed. Now, cross-training is considered to be not only acceptable, but recommended,

even essential. Before we get to that, I want to share some huge news with you. Have you ever found

yourself sitting inside on a cold, damp day in January, looking out at gray skies, needing to run,

wanting to run, but worried that it wouldn't be safe on the icy streets outside. Have you longed for better weather,

but realized, sadly, that it would be weeks or even months before you could return to your usual

outdoor training? Now you can escape for a long weekend here with me and lots of other running

friends in beautiful Tampa, where the wintertime weather is perfect.

You'll get to discover all of our best running venues under blue skies and sunshine.

You'll run along the Bayshore, where you might even be treated to a dolphin and manatee siding.

...