October 2, 2019
Functional Strength Training.
Say what?
That is the current buzz from all corners of the fitness industry. If you are an endurance athlete, gym rat, group exercise junkie, yogi, or cross fitter.
So let’s start with a definition.
Functional strength training is “real-world fitness”; it attempts to mimic the specific demands of real life activities. For example: Squats are a functional exercise because they train the muscles we use to get up from a seated position.
Now, I admit, that starting functional training can be a little bit intimidating. In your gym, it is what all those people are doing on the turf, just past all the machines, with all the toys you don’t recognize. But those toys…that’s all they are…toys that allow you to have multiple options with a variety of training methods. This includes barbells, dumbbells, TRX, resistance tubes and bands, kettlebells, sandbags, medicine balls, and gliders…so many options!
When starting with functional training, establishing a baseline is important. One of the great thing about this type of training is there are benefits from bodyweight exercises to heavy lifting. But the focus is on establishing:
1. Good movement patterns.
2. Range of motion.
3. Stability.
Once you start to address imbalances and where your limiters are…the sky is the limit. You will get faster, stronger, leaner, more agile, more flexible, an less injury-prone.
Sounds good, right?
And post-race season is the perfect time to start on those gains! If you aren’t sure how get started, hook up with a trainer at your local gym. Or head over to my YouTube channel where I have a growing list of functional exercises. Strength and mobility work is a piece of the puzzle that too often gets lost! Imagine spending weeks putting together a puzzle to find out your box didn’t have all 500 pieces? Bummer!
Specific strength training questions? And how they fit into your triathlon puzzle? Send me a message!
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