Being a great runner isn’t all about putting in the miles. Cross-training your body with other sports can make you faster, stronger and less injury-prone. Read on to find out the most fun ways to boost your performance

WORDS: LISA BUCKINGHAM

ROCK CLIMBING

Climbing can be done in an indoor centre or outside on rock and increasing numbers of women of all ages are taking it up. You can go bouldering – climbing lower walls without a rope – or scale higher routes attached to a safety rope.

Why is it great for runners? While runners generally have strong, toned legs, the upper body is often neglected. Climbing remedies that by strengthening the muscles in your arms, shoulders, back and chest, enabling you to keep a strong, open posture that makes it easier to breathe when you’re running and reduces upper-body fatigue on longer runs and races.

But good climbing technique also involves pushing up with your legs and engaging your core stability muscles to do dynamic moves and keep you balanced, so it’s a whole-body workout. The reaching and stretching improves your flexibility and climbing long routes will do wonders for your muscular and cardio endurance.

The problem solving involved in navigating your way up a route requires total focus, making it a meditative mind-soother. But there are also times when you have to take control of your mind to keep your breath deep and steady, even when you’re in mild physical discomfort or feeling a bit of fear, which will come in handy towards the end of a long race.