Take Your Workout Outside: Cross Country Cross Training

The weather is getting warmer (sometimes), so it is time to take those workouts outdoors.

A great place to go for a run or walk is the Huntsville Cross Country Running Park off of Airport Road in Huntsville.

 

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The trail is a 3-mile loop but has turnarounds for one and two miles. You will go through fields, woods,  and hills all the while following along the Municipal Golf Course.

The start of the course is the sign that has the course map on it. Look for a worn path in the grass that heads the same direction as the dirt road.

 

From there you will look for posts in the ground to guide you through the trail. There are several helpful posts to keep you from getting lost. Some have arrows and some have white reflectors on them.

Side Note– the orange tape that you see on trees and posts should always be on your right.

Like all trails, there are rocks, roots, and other obstacles that can trip you up if you are not paying attention. That is what makes trail running so interesting and keeps your mind off of your labored breathing.

There are some rolling hills and one pretty challenging hill that will lead you down towards the Parkway.

You will probably hear some rustling around in the woods that sounds like a large animal. It is more than likely squirrels.

The most dangerous things you are likely to encounter on this trail are irate golfers looking for golf balls or a discarded sock. NEVER approach a discarded sock in the wild. Just trust me on that one. Runners know.

Workout on the Trial

You can also do a cross training workout on this course.

Pick out 5-10 bodyweight exercises and write them on a notecard if your memory is bad.

At every other post you come to,  stop and do 10-20 reps of your bodyweight exercise, then get back to your run/walk. There are a lot of posts out there so you can make this workout as challenging or as easy as you want. Some exercises I like to use

Some exercises I like to use are squats, jumping jacks, walking lunges, pushups, mountain climbers, planks and squat holds (for time rather than reps). There are tons of bodyweight exercises you could use, just pick some you will actually do!

You can also bring a band with you to add more upper body exercises into the mix.

These types of workouts will help you become a stronger, faster runner. Plus, if you are pressed for time it is a great way to work your entire body.

Either way you do it, it is a great trail to check out.

Go see for yourself!