What if they're right?

Cross-Training for Sports: Gary T. Morgan & George H. McGlynn. Human Kinetics 1994. 231 pages paperback, 8½" x 11", £15.95. ISBN 0-88011-493-2

'All other men are specialists,' said Sherlock of his brother Mycroft Holmes, 'but his specialism is omniscience.' Most of us look for specialist manuals on our sport, but by definition the specialism of cross-training is all sports – or at least a range. There remain some doubts about how effective cross-training is, or even whether it's effective at all. Of course, it's one thing to argue that all training should be sport-specific, but what do you do to (a) avoid boredom and staleness, and (b) keep in shape in the off-season? And what if they're right anyway and it actually does help?

This guide takes it for granted that it works. The first third is devoted to principles. In addition to providing a mental break, cross-training is advocated for rehabilitation, strength, warming-up and cooling down, flexibility, plus the normal cardio-vascular-respiratory gains. The turbo-trainer is described as the most versatile cross-training tool, and cycling (as training) is recommended as a suitable cross sport for all others, especially in the areas of aerobic gain and rehabilitation. Others include swimming, rowing machine, weights circuit-training, stepping, stretching and plyometrics. Some demand equipment (the Versa Climber) normally found only in gyms. The drawings and diagrams are excellent.

The rest of the book is divided into sports according to whether they're primarily aerobic, sprint, power, or throwing and striking. Cycling figures twice, for distance and sprint. You get a matrix with machines down the y-axis and specific benefits on the x-axis, three weekly programs (3, 5 and 7-day), a weights program, and stretching. It's important to remember that cross-training carried on in the season may use energy that might be better spent on specific training. Whether weight-training is a good use of time and energy as preparation for distance cycling is another matter: recent research suggests otherwise, and roadmen don't need big pecs and lats; but you don't have to do everything in the programs. And that's the point: this is a book that's simple and straightforward enough for the athlete to use, but even more useful for a coach with the knowledge to adapt the schedules for particular individuals in a range of sports.

Ramin Minovi