crosstrainer are these any good for thai training instead of pounding the streets ? thought might be better on the joints than pounding the streets what do u think.

from my experience the cardio gain from running is far greater than on a cross trainer.

if you don't want to do road work go swimming instead.

cross trainer makes you sweat a lot though.

So do hot peppers.

You don't have to propel yourself forward you just have to move your legs forward.

Very dead experience for your brain too I think.
Also uneven ground (especially barefoot or in something like Nike Frees) has HUGE benefits and in my opinion is by far the first option running if possible.

Outside has many benefits also - sun (extremely underrated - even if cloud cover), hopefully vegetation (nature) but being outside, even in city, is closer to nature than inside.

Just as one example the sun - vit D is a small portion of it. It is not only a huge key to life but quality and health of life which absolutely affects performance in my opinion.

fitness and health are not synonymous

health creates fitness but many fit people are not healthy (mare athletes today die than in the past)

your body, propriocepters, brain, sense organs of all kinds are mostly unused and bored (use it or loose it) when being on a hamster wheel (treadmill). You are working your body systems at a fraction of their potential in my opinion and experience.

(sun is bad for you is laughable in my opinion) - if you get outside more you will be healthier - healthier leads to increased performance

no comparison with running outside compared to inside.

The natural undulations, the air.the fact you have to do it all for yourself etc.

Would always choose outside, especially at this time of year, plus it`s free!

no comparison.
i think treadmill can be good if you dont live near hills, put it on maximum possible incline and very fast walk , very good for your cardio.

Nice answer from Mark L. Exactly how i feel about running without ever having thought about it in that much detail!!

How about cycling, any good for fitness.

Cycling is outside so against the wind, can be uphill etc but less strain on the kneews.

Obvousily have to stretch after it

Cycling, in my opinion, is worthwhile or not depending on what you want out of it.

In my opinion "cardio" or developing energy systems is movment specific to a large degree. An extremely well conditioned distance cyclist will not have equally preportionate conditioning when running or rowing or fighting. One example is holding pads for a triathelte - one round he was pooped. Now to a degree he'll be more relaxed running etc than kicking and this will play a factor but I think it is also movment specific. Also cycling and running, even with sprints etc or not as explosive or start and stop as kicking and punching and the muscles are not conditioned nor is the energy system conditioned to facilitate that as much as kicking and punching will. IMO&E

Consideration of postural weaknesses might be worth it. If you have tight hip flexors and your hunched all the time it will only make things worse without some counter strengthening/stretching etc

IF you decide to ride a bike for any reason a recomendation is to keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Cycling tends to separate the linking of the right and left hemospheres of the brain (not sure why exactly - I think it might be discussed in "Your Body Doesn't Lie" - Diamond... the tongue in its physiological rest position helps keep the right and left hemospheres working together.

Swallow, feel where your tongue goes and that is the tongues natural resting spot when not being used - eat, sing kiss etc. Over a short period of time if you practice this the body will remember the tongues natural resting spot and will automatically go there.

side notes on tongues natural resting position

some muscles in the neck only activate when the tongue is in its natural resting position - that means your neck is stronger, as more muscles will be used, when the tongue is on the roof of your mouth - this is huge in wrestling, getting hit and doing explosive and power moves

two main Chinese meridians also connect when the tongue is on the roof of your mouth and the energy flows are strongly affected in good ways, affecting EVERYTHING to do with mental, emotional and physical health.

IMO&E