Take it from me, I know cardio training sometimes isn’t the most fun. Especially when you’re hitting a very busy gym at 5pm on a hot summer’s evening. So do you do when you start to dread the treadmill? Or despise the elliptical? It’s simple. Get ready for this. TRY SOMETHING NEW!
Let me first remind you why cardio is so important. Not only do you increase your bone density, and increase your heart and lung strength, but you also have more energy because of it. You can reduce stress, and lose weight by burning calories. Cardio can reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Training will also give you a better sleep at night, and give you more confidence in you everyday life. I could go on and on, but that might make you stop reading. Let’s continue.
There are so many ways to mix up your cardio training, instead of avoiding it. Try a cardio class at your gym. These aren’t you old school step classes anymore. No legwarmers and sweatbands needed. Group fitness cardio classes can range in cardio kickboxing to and hi low classes, even dance mixes. Don’t be intimidated of a spin class (see my last post!) or a cardio circuit. Even try a bootcamp or circuit class, as these are often non-stop, action packed classes… I invite you to try Ben Kerswill’s Wednesday night Fighterbody Aerobic/Anaerobic class at Versus 21 on Wednesday nights 7-8pm. You will never be bored of cardio again!
No time for group fitness? If you’re set on a particular machine, mix it up! Instead of running at a steady pace on treadmill, do some sprints or interval training. Make it fun! Say you want to complete 30 minutes of running, set a distance for yourself to complete, or a speed goal. If you ran at a speed of 5.5 for 30 minutes, try upping the speed for small increments. This goes for any machine, from the bike to stairmaster, don’t be afraid to switch things up. Don’t hesitate to even pick up a skipping rope. This high impact workout tones, tightens and burns a ton of calories. Cardio Rocky style!
More of an outdoor person? Join a running group! At any running shoe store there are usually at least three different running groups a week, for different goals. Recreational groups, half marathon groups and marathon groups. I suggest Forerunners, they have awesome team leaders and plan different routes for each run. If you are cyclist, same thing applies for you! Cycle stores all across Vancouver are known for their group rides. Typically you sign up for a night ride, and weekend morning in which you can pick your ride for the goal distance. Find out where your local track is, and bring some friends. Nothing revs up cardio training more then adding in a little competition!
Not a team player? Go for a hike and soak up some of the amazing landscapes. The famous Grouse Grind is nature’s stairmaster. My advice, take it at your OWN pace for the first time. Try to avoid going on a weekend after 8am, it gets packed with tourists that really underestimate the Grind’s power! Golden Ears has a ton of great trails, varying in distances from 2.5km to 15km and more. The Chief is one of the gems of BC. Although it is more of an advanced hike, the view at the end is well worth it. A nice easy route is Jericho/Spanish Banks. As my favourite beach in Vancouver, Jericho has a gravel path that goes along the beach, to Spanish Banks. You can take this along the beach, and then hit up the hills of Point Gray! Want a bigger challenge? The steps of Wreck Beach!!! There are over 400 awesome stairs at Wreck Beach proper.
Be smart about cardio. Never go without water. Invest in a good pair of running shoes (I will go more in depth on this later), as you only have one pair of feet that need to last you forever. Bring a towel for sweat- there is nothing worse then being a dripper at the gym. If you plan on going outside, let someone know where your route will be. Don’t be a fool and wear your headphone volume on high. There is always other runnings, cyclists and vehicles that you may be interferring with. If your doing cardio outside in the summer, avoid going from 12-4pm, because this is the hottest time of the day. Most of all train smart. Cardio can be fun, and extremely rewarding. You simply need to find the right workout for you, and go from there.
