What’s the ultimate truth? Do you really need to do a core workout routine if you’re a distance runner? The answer is yes. You absolutely need to do a core workout routine if you’re a distance runner. But before we get into the specifics of why, let’s first take a look at what the core is and what it does. This is what you need to know about a core workout for distance runners.
Reasons For Doing Core Workout
The core is the muscles in your midsection, including your abs, obliques and lower back. These muscles work together to stabilize your torso and protect your spine. They’re also responsible for generating power for running and other athletic movements. So why is it important to do the core workout specifically for distance runners? There are a few reasons. First, a strong core helps to prevent injuries. When your core is weak, you’re more likely to injure your back or hips. A strong core stabilizes your body and helps to keep you injury-free. Second, a strong core will help you run faster. A strong midsection helps you generate more power, which leads to faster race times. Third, a strong core is essential for good posture. Bad posture can cause pain in your neck, back, and hips. A strong core helps to keep your posture upright and pain-free.
Core Workout Functions
Consequently, core workout for distance runners also helps to improve running economy and performance. These three core workout truths are a great place to start. Because a strong core helps prevent injuries, it means that your body is better able to handle the impact and stress of running. A weak core can lead to injuries, such as back pain, hip pain, and knee pain. Also, a strong core helps to improve your running form and makes you more efficient. Furthermore, it helps to stabilize your body and prevents you from getting tired easily. More importantly, core workout for distance runners is essential because, it supports overall health and wellbeing. A strong core not only boosts a better run, but it also aids in looking and feeling better.
Examples of Core Workouts
Therefore, the ultimate truth about core workout for distance runners, is that they need a strong core. It’s as simple as that. There are many different types of core workouts that runners can do. Some of the most popular include crunches, Pilates, and yoga. However, any type of workout that focuses on strengthening the core muscles will be beneficial. Runners should aim to do a core workout at least 2-3 times a week. This can be done in addition to their regular running routine, or it can be done on days when they are not running. By incorporating a core workout into their routine, distance runners can achieve all of the benefits mentioned above.
Muscles To Focus On
What’s more, the main muscles of the core are the abdominal muscles, the back muscles and the pelvic floor muscles. All of these muscles need to be strong and healthy in order to run well. The best way to train your core is to do a variety of exercises that work all of these muscles. Hence, a good core workout for distance runners includes exercises that target all the muscles in your core. Some of the best exercises for a strong core are Pilates moves, like the Hundreds and the Scissor. These exercises work your abs, hips, and glutes. You can also do Pilates on a reformer or using a Pilates ring.
Exercise Duration and Reps
In addition to this, you can do exercises like planks, bird dogs, and Russian twists. These exercises will help you build strength and stability in your core. Also, crunches, Pilates roll-ups, side plank, and reverse crunch can be a good addition to your core workout. Doing three rounds of each of these exercises and resting for 30 seconds between rounds is ideal. In the long run, as a distance runner, when you’re training for a race, make sure to add a core workout to your routine. Remember, a strong core will help you run faster and longer.
Distance Running Vs. Sprinting
A few important factors for core workout meant for distance runners is that, this isn’t the same as sprinting. Sprinting puts significant strain on your muscles and limits what you can do in training or competition. By using endurance running to train, you’re able to meet similar mobility goals with less physical demand. Training for distance also has benefits like improved cardiovascular health, faster recovery time between sessions (and even between workouts), increased metabolic efficiency, strengthening of the joints and ligaments but most importantly it improves your immune system function!
Summary
In conclusion, core strengthening exercises are imperative for distance runners because they help decrease core fat deposits around vital organs reducing risk of injury. Additionally, it can cut peak heart rate allowing you to maintain light feet during challenging runs while increasing metabolism burning even more calories! Therefore, perform exercises that integrate your whole body to strengthen core muscles like the hips, back, and abs. These provide support to your spine which helps you maintain good posture during running. For example: planking, push-ups, squats with change of direction (lateral step). The increased strength in these areas will help keep you injury free and running at optimum speed longer without feeling fatigued or having any pain in your lower back or joints . You can perform these type of exercises multiple times per week for best results!
For more extensive insight on this topic get a copy of Core Workout for Distance Runners. Also support us by shopping our merchandise here.