Other Forms of Cardio
Including other forms of cardio in your workout routin is an extremely effective way of building endurance and strength without the constant pounding and high impact of running. Whether you’re hopping on a bike, swimming, or using the elliptical, other cardio forms keeps your body fresh and reduce strain while enhancing your cardiovascular fitness.
By Quentin van Bentum Last updated Mar 14, 2025
A Full Breakdown:
Ever felt like your legs are getting too much from all the running or struggeling with injuries like shin splints? That’s where other forms of cardio comes in. Instead of pushing your body through another run, you can switch it up with different types of cardio. This allows you to build endurance, improve fitness, and even help recover from certain injuries without losing your fitness progress.
This helps you avoid overuse injuries, build muscle balance, and improve your cardiovascular fitness in ways running alone can’t. Whether you’re cycling, swimming, or rowing, these activities will boost your stamina and keep your body happy
What Cardio Crosstraining Should Look Like
Variety is key – no matter what cardio activity you choose, the goal is to support your running goals:
- Low-Impact Cardio – Activities like walking, swimming, cycling, or the elliptical machine reduce stress on your joints while keeping you in top cardiovascular shape.
- Endurance-Focused – Cardio activities like rowing or hiking build endurance without adding strain to your legs.
- Full-Body Engagement – Some cardio options, like rowing or swimming, engage your arms and core, offering a total-body workout that running doesn’t provide.
- Peronsal favourite – The stairmaster! In my opinion the stairmaster is a perfect addition to any running plan! It super effective for building key running muscles while having low impact on your body! The stairmaster is also an amazing tool if you are into trailrunning or runs with elevation change! It will make you absolutely unbeatable on the uphills!
How to Incorporate Other forms of cardio
- Pick Complementary Cardio Activities – Choose exercises that will complement your running goals. If you want more endurance, swim, cycle or the eliptical. For variety, try rowing, hiking, or the stairmaster.
- Work Different Muscles – Other forms of cardio can engage different muscle groups that running doesn’t, such as your arms and core. This improves your overall fitness.
- Keep It Balanced – 1-3 cardio cross-training sessions per week is a great balance. Don’t overdo it—this is about supporting your running, not replacing it.
- Listen to Your Body – After a tough run, try something lower-impact, like swimming or cycling, to keep your cardiovascular system working without adding more strain to your legs.
The Key Takeaway?
Other forms of cardio isn’t about replacing running. It’s about giving your body a break, enhancing your endurance, and boosting your overall fitness. It helps prevent and recover from injuries, improve stamina, and make you a more resilient athlete. When you need variety, swap your run for a session of cardio crosstraining—your body will thank you.