Oddbean

There are a TON of things people can do in place of running. HIIT and TABATA training provide great cardiovascular workouts. Cycling, rowing and swimming all work well also. I trained Strongman for several years and we would drag weighted sleds or suitcase carry at a quick pace with short rest intervals for cardio. Step and aerobics classes are also great. I took a step class and a power lifting class for electives during one semester of college and I was peaking pretty good by the end of the semester. Honestly, if you want absolute “peak” performance even running should be trained in intervals. Whether it’s a 5K or a Marathon. I’ve done all the above at different times in my life and never failed to do 5-7 mile hikes at high elevation with a 50lbs pack. I guess it all boils down to how you define peak performance. P.S. If you really want to be humbled try jumping rope without stopping for the same amount of time it takes you to finish a 5K. Every time you miss, add a minute. 😈

I totally understand where you're coming from, but this is not what I'm talking about when it comes to peak physical condition. Longevity & quality of life maintenance is the goal. If you can add low impact endurance jogging to your regimen & are just choosing not to, you're just conceding that you refuse the ideal natural motions of the human body / physiology.

I love “Longevity & quality of life maintenance is the goal” and ideal natural motions of the human body / physiology. I try to work these motions into my daily life. For example: watch how a baby moves or an ape moves. None of them ever bend at the waist they always squat to pick something up every time you pull a weed or go to get some thing out of the bottom cabinet squat instead of bend at the waist. Need to pick up something heavy dead lift, need to pick something up over your head power clean. Seriously, watch a toddler pick stuff up. This is exactly how they do it. We as humans learn a lot of our physical movements by mimicking and the factory/Office culture that we’ve evolved into is a completely unhealthy way to move our bodies. I agree that people should run, a lot. We should stretch every day also. However, as one ages, repetitive motion and overuse injuries become a real concern. All the guys that took part in the jogging fad of the late 70s and early 80s had bad knees by the 90s. Mixing things up helps avoid wearing things out. I understand running is your thing right now and that’s great. One day run 5K, the next day do a 30 minute interval workout to improve your 5K time. The next day do a long slow day. Doing the same thing every time you work out is repetitive and injurious. This is a good conversation, keep it going.

You're spot on bro! I need to a do a better job of not bending over, it's been killing my hips! Great reminder appreciate this!!! & Definitely must do everything in the right amounts, big believer in that & training knees is something I do religiously through following the ATG program. (kneesovertoesguy).