Although running is my true love, running and I rarely are exclusive. I am always incorporating some sort of cross training into my marathon or half marathon training. One of my favorite ways to keep motivated to do strength training during marathon training is group fitness classes. Signing up for a class and knowing that people there will be expecting me to show up is all the motivation I need to get my butt to class. Once I’m there, the camaraderie of the group (plus let’s be honest some friendly competition) really helps me push myself to get a great workout in.
I’m also not one to stick to one studio or even type of strength training class – I’ve tried it all – barre classes, Pilates, yoga, boot camps and more. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out which studio or class I want to try next. That’s where FitMob comes in. San Francisco, and soon many more cities across America, are luckily enough to have FitMob to help them find ways to get stronger and feel the burn while also making new friends.
FitMob was invented by the co-founder of Snapfish, a martial arts champion and Tony Horton, the creator of P90X, the program that inspired this very blog! The mission of the company is all about community. The founders believe that going to the gym and slogging through a weight routine on your own isn’t going to get your motivated to get in shape – instead, it’s all about being inspired. And inspiration often comes from community not from the workout itself (as us runners can attest to!).
To find the class that will motivate you, simply go to FitMob.com or download the app, sign up (no payment required) and simply put in your zip code for work and home. You can then search for classes based on neighborhoods and workout type (strength, cardio, yoga, social, dance and other). With FitMob’s free 7 day pass, you can attend as many classes as you want in a week and there are over 200 in San Francisco to chose from. Once your pass is up, you can buy credits and attend classes as often as you want instead of paying for a costly gym membership. I really hope FitMob starts up in San Diego soon because this is right up my alley.
Even better, FitMob is offering one of my readers a $25 Athleta gift card! Please use the rafflecopter app below to enter if you like free stuff. The contest ends on October 17th at midnight and I’ll announce the winner on the blog shortly after.
What is your favorite way to cross-train? Would you try something like FitMob?
My favorite cross training activity is probably swimming. I especially like it when my legs are tired from running or cycling!
Fitmob! Sounds interesting!! I am sure that it will be in lots of cities before we know it!
Hey Nicole, nice work putting the blog together, will have to point my wife over here, we really liked P90X as well! Ran across your blog searching for Long Beach Marathon info… found you in my search results. Wanted to comment on cross training, I was predominately a cyclist the past 15-20 years, I find cycling to be a great break on the joints while still allowing me to increase/maintain fitness as I continue to improve my pace time. I was thinking of tackling my first Tri this year, but couldn’t make the time to add swimming to the routine… been running too much. Here’s why: My wife and I ran our first half, RNR San Jose in October 2013 (this year’s was yesterday).
Once she figured out there were cool medals to be collected, it was all downhill from there. We’ve been on a half marathon frenzy all year, including Disney events (WDW included), Northern and Southern CA Peace Love Runs & Girls on the Go, Diva Runs, the SF Half, Nike SF Womens Half coming up along with the Disney Wine and Dine in WDW and Avenger in November. We even flew to Tampa just for the Pirate medal they have for the Gasparilla Distance Classic. YTD, my wife has run 12, I have run 8. We have 4 & 3 respectively, the next two months, then Dec off. Then, we have our first full marathon in January, the WDW Marathon. Needless to say, PRs are not our primary goal with this number of events, however, we have both seen incremental improvements as we use tempo work mid week to help us get our cadence up. With all my running this year, I was able to hop on my bike and complete a 75mi MS charity ride with literally no training… felt pretty good during and after, I really like cycling and running together as complementary cross-training workouts.
So, back to why I was looking around for Long Beach half info… the Surf City in Feb was our 2nd half ever, add the OC in May, we will complete the our first Beach Cities Challenge next week with you! The madness does not appear to end (just signed up for the next Surf City) until sometime next summer where we will be a bit more selective in events and I hope I can get a bit more road bike time in…
This is so awesome ! It sounds like running is having a great impact on both if you!
Cycling is hands-down my favorite way to cross train! Can’t ever be enough time on the bike 🙂 FitMob sounds sweet!
My favorite way to cross train is my boot camp classes. Good luck at CIM!
My favorite way to cross train is bootcamp classes. Good luck at CIM!!
I love to take yoga classes as part of my cross training.
I do a lot of cycling and swimming, and like to lift weights when I’m not running!
I am a big Les Mills fan! Body Pump and Body Combat are my favorite added to training.
Yoga classes!
Yoga is my favorite cross training.. 2nd would be barre!
I love cross training with classes too- running is my main love and typically do it solo (my ‘me’ time) so cross training with others is great for the balance.
I love BodyPump! What an awesome giveaway 🙂 They’re putting a new one in near me!
Masters swimming is my favorite activity, I swim with a great group of people and I love the racing options – swim meets and open water!
Body Pump and Barre!!
This is interesting! Have you ever heard of classpass? It sound super similar!
Anyway, my favorite XT is spinning 🙂 And a boutique fitness class in NYC called Refine Method!!
No I haven’t heard of it!
I sure wish we could cross train together!!
Me too!
I strength train in the gym and do insanity for my cross training. Probably wouldn’t do fitmob since I’m not a huge fan of classes (unless it’s yoga). 🙂
My favorite cross training is tennis, actually – followed by spinning. Can’t wait till FitMob comes to NYC!
would love to try something!! My fav way to cross train would be rollerblading or yoga!!
I like doing yoga. Thank you for the giveaway!
I love cycling and taking spinning classes!
I like to ride my bike and jump rope.
I like to cross train on the elliptical , kayaking,aerobics, or playing tennis.
I’m a big fan of calisthenics or spinning!
Cycling is my favorite!!
I love to rock climb to cross train
I love p90x and Pilates!
I love to do yoga and workout videos (Jillian Michaels mostly). Hate to admit it it though, I definitely don’t do enough of cross training.
Yoga!!
Spin class!
Cycling is one of my favorite ways to cross train
I like doing military-style circuit workouts!
I love swimming and Yoga!
I really like body pump and zumba classes!
i love zumba. i do it on my kinect at home when i cant make it to the gym.
i do a lot of snorkeling when the current is strong (coming in, not going out!). it’s underwater sight seeing and a workout all at once!