I’m a runner.

I know, Duh.

But I’ll tell you something I bet you didn’t know. I haven’t been a runner all my life. So there….

I started running in my mid-20’s, when I was fat. Like 260+ lbs fat. And it wasn’t like I was ” I played football in high school” fat. I did not play football in high school. The high school I went to was a football powerhouse. Still is, truth be told. So there were a bunch of kids just as big as I was, except they had muscle where I had fat, and they LOVED to hit people. And didn’t mind being hit. As for me, I didn’t much like hitting other people and HATED getting hit. A distinct disadvantage, football-wise.

I think that was when I focused on performing arts. I’m much better at giving & receiving snarky remarks. And being judgmental. Neither of those are of much value in performing arts, but they are pretty much endemic in that world…

…but I digress…

I discovered that running was about training and pain tolerance. I discovered that I can stick to a plan, and on race day I can put up with a fair amount of discomfort. My 1st actual race wasn’t until I was 38 and on tour with Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey circus.

Dallas,Texas. Mid-summer. I won my age group and got a medal.

I won something athletic. And got a medal. To the kid who never won anything, especially something athletic, that closed the deal. I was a runner. and now, 25 years later, I’m still running.

By the way, running is dumb. It is high impact. Kinda like beating on your feet, ankles, knees, hips, & lower back with a mallet. Over & over, day after day, mile after mile. You get the idea. But it’s MY dumb fitness hobby. And it gets me out with liked minded people. Other people who are dumb enough to enjoy running. It’s taken me around the world. I’ve run all over the States, and Europe, and Mexico, the Caribbean, China, Japan, Thailand (where it damn near killed me). It got me hooked up with a 2nd family & a 2nd home. ( Looking at you, Derry..)

And yes, I know we are insufferable about it. I know we post about it almost as much as yoga people.

Almost.

If I see another yoga pose on a beach or mountain or Potato Chip rock in San Diego, I gonna puke all over my yoga mat…..Sorry yogis. I’m sure you feel the same way about me posing with my medals 😉

OK, so what am I writing about today?

Non-running cardio! Ta-Da!!!!

For all you people who hate running, and there are a fair couple of you out there. Here are 10 cardio ideas that don’t involve you putting foot to pavement. Some you can even do while staring into your iPhone. Because some of y’all literally can’t do anything with our staring into your iPhone. God forbid that a Kardashian post a pic and you not be online to see / comment on it. And I won’t even start on the folks who think I need to hear their personal conversation while I’m unlucky enough to share space on the planet within earshot. Or their music..

…God I am bitchy today, aren’t I ?

OK, here we go. 10 cardio alternatives to running…..

10. Treadmill

I know, it’s almost running. But it’s not. You can do it inside. You can do it at home, though in homes I tend to see more treadmills in closets and garages than anywhere else, and I don’t know HOW you use them in there.( the closet, that is) . A study by the Medical College of Wisconsin found the average calories burned jogging on a treadmill for one hour was 705 to 866. Other advantages are;

-Treadmills offer a wide range of options in terms of speed, incline, and multiple training programs.

-The treadmill is familiar and emulates natural movement for walking, jogging, or sprinting.

-Propelling your body weight requires substantial effort. As a result, your body will burn calories at a higher rate.

-The weight bearing effect of treadmills can help strengthen your bones and muscles which can aid your posture and sustainability as you age.

9 Elliptical

An estimate by Health Status found using an elliptical trainer for one hour will burn approximately 773 calories.  It’s low / no impact. Most machines have moveable handles which allow you to exercise your upper body and lower body simultaneously. Most ellipticals also allow you to stride in reverse which can activate different muscle groups. In addition, studies show that people are actually working harder than they think they are when operating an elliptical. Personally, this is what I do at the gym because, like I said above, at 63, I like to alternate between running and a low impact cardio routine.

8 Cross Country Skiing

According to experts cross country skiing delivers a better cardio workout compared to running at about the same pace, thanks to the fact that the sport requires you to push with your lower-body and pull with your upper .In fact, a good cross-country ski session can burn more than 12 calories a minute, according to the Compendium of Physical Activities. Ha. I used the word “compendium”.

7 Boxing;

Hitting a heavy bag, working with a partner, or just performing punch combos on air can burn up to 800 per hour. Caution from someone who has taken, and taught, a lot of kickboxing and cardio-kickboxing classes. If you are going to hit anything: A mitt, a bag, a person, ANYTHING. Learn the technique of throwing a punch and learn how to wrap your hands. Trust me on this.

6 Kettlebell Swing

This explosive cardio exercise works the big, powerful muscles around your glutes and quads, and sends your heart into overdrive, according to research from the University of Wisconsin. In the study, participants burned 20.2 calories a minute and their average heart was 93 percent of its max for the course of a 20-minute workout. But again, the key to this is technique. If you have any physical issues, especially lower back, think about this one long and hard before engaging your inner Russian athlete.

5 Indoor Rowing

A 185-pound guy can burn 377 calories during 30 minutes of vigorous rowing, or about 12.5 calorie per minute, reports a Harvard University study. And because you need to utilize the muscles in your arms, legs, and back for efficient strokes, it’s a great total-body trainer.

4 Jumping Rope

Moderate-intensity rope jumping—about 100 to 120 skips per minute—burns about 13 calories a minute, according to the Compendium of Physical Activities. This cardio exercise uses more muscle groups than jogging and challenges your balance and coordination. At least it challenges mine.

3 AirDyne Bike Sprints

It sounds downright crazy, but it’s been proven that you can burn up to 87 calories a minute on this type of stationary bike, which increases its resistance as you pedal harder. My personal opinion? I’ve used these when I’ve been injured and unable to run. They are a great cardio workout. And they are a bastard. I would say they are a bitch, but that might come across as sexist. A good, hard cardio workout.

2 Burpees

A 180-pound person burns about 1.43 calories per burpee, according to exercise scientists. So if you shoot to average at least 10 every 60 seconds, or a rate of 14.3 calories per minute. Performing just 10 reps at a fast pace can boost your metabolism as much as a 30-second, all-out bike sprint, according to a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting.

And, last but not least….

1 “Cindy”

This CrossFit Workout of the Day (WOD), named after the youngest of the Brady kids, (I kid, I kid) burns an average 13 calories per minute, according to scientists at Kennesaw State University. It’s effective because it pairs three exercises—5 pullups, 10 pushups, and 15 air squats—that work different major muscle groups, and you do as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes. It takes you from standing, down to the ground, and back up to standing again, which really spikes the heart rate. And you get to wear crossfit outfits, and talk crossfit talk. And talk about your WOD. At your Box. I’ll stop now.

Honorable mention goes to biking. Great cardio, and you get to wear spandex if that’s what you’re into. And you and your group get to take over a Starbucks every Saturday and click-clack your way to caffeinated conversation.

OK, there you go. 10 great cardio workouts which are not running. All very good, very effective. Feel free to choose the one that works for you.

I’ll be running.

Talk later,

Bob