Escape the Gym

Body Shop Escape the Gym

Boost endurance and burn fat with trhee solar-powered plans

Your cardio routine is like your razor: After a few weeks of constant use, it becomes increasingly dull and ineffective. That's when you need to find a new challenge, says strength and conditioning specialist Patrick Ward. Here are three finely honed workouts for wherever your summer takes you

Pool

DO THIS

In a 25m pool, swim two laps (that's four lengths, or 100m) using a freestyle stroke. Rest for 20 seconds. Next, do two laps using a backstroke. Rest 20 seconds. That's one round. Do four more rounds, for a total of five rounds and one kilometre.

WHY IT WORKS

Swimming provides all the heart-healthy benefits of running without the joint-jarring impact. A recent French study of triathletes found that swimming accounted for just 7% of training injuries while running accounted for 73%. "The pool is ideal for cross-training," says Ted Knapp, an associate head coach of the NCAA's third-ranked Stanford University men's swim team. "You can rest the muscles you typically hit on long runs or bike rides without sacrificing your cardio burn."