(excerpt from article on page 30)
Q: Does running in place with a game like Wii Fit Running have any real training value?
A: Five to 10 minutes of running in place can be a decent warmup for any run or gym workout because it elevates your heart rate and prepares your muscles and central nervous system for more vigorous activity. If you plan to stay rooted longer than that, increase your cadence. Running in place with a rapid “turnover” may burn calories at close to the rate you expend on an actual run. Add hops and jumps for variety.
- MIKE COLEMAN, of San Jose, California, is a running coach, marathoner, and personal trainer (mikecolemanfitness.com).