Written by Linzay Logan for Competitor.com
Want to become a stronger, faster, injury-proof runner? Add these four exercises to your training routine!
To become the best, most efficient runner you can be, just running isn’t going to be enough. Strength training is one of the single most important non-running aspects of training that can help you become a better runner. Add these four running specific strength training exercises to your running routine and you’ll become a stronger, faster, more complete runner for it.
Bodyweight Squats
Stand with your feet hip distance apart with your toes facing forward. Sit back like you are sitting in a chair behind you without allowing your knees to drift beyond your toes. Sit back until you feel your glutes, quads and hamstrings engage (about a 90 degree angle in your knees) and come back up to standing. Complete eight to 12 repetitions, adding weight when this becomes easy.
“If I had to pick just one strength training exercise for runners it would be body-weight squats,” explained Atlanta-based running coach Carl Leivers. “Squats hit a lot of running-specific muscles, don’t require any equipment, and can easily be added to your post-run routine. Pair that with some lunges and I guarantee 90 percent of runners will be sore the next day!”
Single-Leg Deadlifts
Holding free weights or a barbell in front of your body slightly, bend one knee, hinge forward at the waist and lift the opposite leg behind you. Lower the weights, keeping them very close to the tops of your legs until you reach just below your knees. Engage your hamstring and glute of the leg planted on the ground and come back to standing. Repeat eight to 12 reps and switch to the other leg.
“A lot of runners are hamstring dominant and don’t use their glutes,” explained John Martinez, assistant head doctor for the Ironman World Championships. “Runners figure out a way to run without using their glutes the way they should.”
Doing glute specific exercises such as the single-leg deadlift can build the glute muscles so they can be used when running. “Donkey kicks and the single-leg pelvic bridge are other good exercises to tire the glute muscles out.”
Core Work
There are hundreds of exercises to do to strengthen your core. Crunches, planks, the bicycle, reverse crunch—they are all effective. The important issue is doing these exercises often and treating them as just as important part of your training schedule as your weekly long runs or speed drills.
“Most runners are probably sick of hearing about how they should strengthen their core, but guess what? There’s a reason! Those muscles are vital and they don’t always get worked enough with just running,” explained Leivers. “If you don’t have hours to spend in the gym it’s always best to focus on core muscles—and not just abs. Back muscles are just as important and are often ignored.”
Single-Leg Squats
Balancing on one foot and squat down, bending at the knee and sitting your hips back as if you are going to sit in a chair behind you. Once down to about a 90 to 115 degree angle in your knee, extend your leg back up to standing. If this is too challenging allow the toes of your hovering foot to lightly rest on the ground. Complete eight to 12 repetition then switch to the other leg.
Running is basically hopping from foot to foot for miles and miles so it is important to build solid balance in your pelvis so you don’t have to balance yourself every time you take a step when running, explains Martinez. “Make sure your form is perfect with a regular two-leg squat and then move onto the single leg squat that requires you to stabilize your pelvis,” he said. When your pelvis is stabilized, your entire body, gait and stride become more stable, too. “This can help a lot with people with foot pronation,” Martinez said.