12 Essential Exercises Every Runner Should Do
12 Moves For Stronger Thighs
This simple, do-anywhere routine from the new book Build Your Running Body takes no more than 12 minutes to complete and targets every muscle—including your quads, core, glutes, and hamstrings—that runners need for strength and balance. And tagging it onto the end of your next run will be simple, because all you need is a timer. How's that for quick and easy?
1. STAND with your feet close together and your arms at your sides.
2. SQUAT down to the floor with your knees close together, placing your hands flat on the ground, shoulder-width apart.
3. KEEP your abs tight and jump your legs back to assume the push-up position.
4. “RUN” your legs under your chest, bringing your knees high and keeping your hips low for 5 seconds. Then jump your legs back to the squat position, stand, and repeat.
Inchworm Plank
The inchworm plank helps to awaken your muscles, working both flexibility and strength. And if you're not very flexible, it's okay to bend your knees for this exercise.
1. BEGIN in a standing position with your arms straight up. Be prepared to perform this exercise as quickly as you can without losing form.
2. COME into a forward fold, dropping your hands to your feet.
3. KEEP your legs straight (or bend them if you have to) and then walk your hands out into a plank position.
4. PERFORM one push-up. Then walk your hands back to your feet and return to your starting position. Repeat.
2. STEP backward, moving your right foot diagonally and to the left of your left hip. Simultaneously drop your right knee and bend your left knee.
3. PROPEL your right knee upward as you come off the ground with your left foot, and lift your left elbow by swinging it up and forward. Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
1. START in the push-up position, with the balls of your feet on a bench or chair.
2. BRING your left knee beneath your body toward your right shoulder.
3. REVERSE directions, bringing your left knee back as you rotate your hips up and to the left, stretching your left foot toward your right shoulder. Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
1. START in the plank position with your arms in full extension.
2. ROTATE your body to balance on the heel of your right hand and lift your opposite arm straight up (your wrist is directly beneath your shoulder).
3. LIFT and lower your top leg, keeping your hips level. Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
1. BEGIN at the top of the push-up position.
2. BEND your right elbow to lower onto your right forearm.
3. BEND your left elbow to lower onto your left forearm.
4. LIFT your right elbow so that you can place your right hand flat on the ground, then do the same with your left elbow and hand. Return to original position, repeat for 30 seconds, then lead with your left arm for 30 seconds.
1. STAND with your feet hip-width apart, your arms at your sides.
2. HOP to your right, landing on your right foot while balancing your left foot behind your right leg. Simultaneously move your left arm forward and your right arm back in a runner’s stance.
3. REPEAT to the other side. Focus on speed and control.
1. LIE on your back with your arms spread wide, palms down, thighs perpendicular to the floor and knees bent 90 degrees.
2. SWING your legs to one side of your body while maintaining the bend at your hips and knees. Make sure that your upper back maintains contact with the floor.
3. BRING your legs back to center, then repeat to the other side.
1. BEGIN in the forearm plank position, except stack your forearms horizontally.
2. ROTATE onto your left side, elbow beneath your shoulder and right hand on your hip. Your feet should be stacked, your body straight. Rotate back to the center, then repeat on your right side.
1. START from a standing position.
2. KEEP your back straigh and bend forward at the hips while lifting one leg straight behind you (in line with your spine) and reaching your hands toward the ground. Return to the starting position. Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
1. LIE on your back with your knees bent and feet hip-width apart.
2. LIFT your hips into a “bridge position.”
3. MARCH your knees toward your chest one at a time. Keep your back straight.
1. BEGIN at the top of the push-up position.
2. EXTEND your right arm in front of you and your left leg behind you at the same time. Stay level while balancing for 3 seconds.
3. AFTER bringing your hand and foot back to push-up position, repeat on the opposite side. (As an easier alternative, perform this exercise from a "down on all fours" position, with hands and knees on the ground.)
Adapted from Build Your Running Body: A Total-Body Fitness Plan for All Distance Runners, from Milers to Ultramarathoners—Run Farther, Faster, and Injury-Free, ©Pete Magill, Tom Schwartz, and Melissa Breyer, 2014. Reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Experiment. Available wherever books are sold.
This simple, do-anywhere routine from the new book Build Your Running Body takes no more than 12 minutes to complete and targets every muscle—including your quads, core, glutes, and hamstrings—that runners need for strength and balance. And tagging it onto the end of your next run will be simple, because all you need is a timer. How's that for quick and easy?
Squat-Thrust Climbers
Squat-thrust climbers are a great way to work your glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings.1. STAND with your feet close together and your arms at your sides.
2. SQUAT down to the floor with your knees close together, placing your hands flat on the ground, shoulder-width apart.
3. KEEP your abs tight and jump your legs back to assume the push-up position.
4. “RUN” your legs under your chest, bringing your knees high and keeping your hips low for 5 seconds. Then jump your legs back to the squat position, stand, and repeat.
Inchworm Plank
The inchworm plank helps to awaken your muscles, working both flexibility and strength. And if you're not very flexible, it's okay to bend your knees for this exercise.
1. BEGIN in a standing position with your arms straight up. Be prepared to perform this exercise as quickly as you can without losing form.
2. COME into a forward fold, dropping your hands to your feet.
3. KEEP your legs straight (or bend them if you have to) and then walk your hands out into a plank position.
4. PERFORM one push-up. Then walk your hands back to your feet and return to your starting position. Repeat.
Curtsy Lunge Hop
Curtsy lunge hops are the best calf-strengthener on the menu, so work them! You’ll also target your hip abductors, glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings.
1. START with your feet hip-width apart.2. STEP backward, moving your right foot diagonally and to the left of your left hip. Simultaneously drop your right knee and bend your left knee.
3. PROPEL your right knee upward as you come off the ground with your left foot, and lift your left elbow by swinging it up and forward. Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
Scorpion Fighter
The scorpion fighter works your shoulders and core while stretching your obliques and hip flexors.1. START in the push-up position, with the balls of your feet on a bench or chair.
2. BRING your left knee beneath your body toward your right shoulder.
3. REVERSE directions, bringing your left knee back as you rotate your hips up and to the left, stretching your left foot toward your right shoulder. Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
Sidewinder Plank with Leg Lift
This exercise is great for your hip abductors and improving stabilization. It also targets your obliques, back, glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings.1. START in the plank position with your arms in full extension.
2. ROTATE your body to balance on the heel of your right hand and lift your opposite arm straight up (your wrist is directly beneath your shoulder).
3. LIFT and lower your top leg, keeping your hips level. Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
Plank Pups
Plank pups will put the burn into your arms, shoulders, back, and core.1. BEGIN at the top of the push-up position.
2. BEND your right elbow to lower onto your right forearm.
3. BEND your left elbow to lower onto your left forearm.
4. LIFT your right elbow so that you can place your right hand flat on the ground, then do the same with your left elbow and hand. Return to original position, repeat for 30 seconds, then lead with your left arm for 30 seconds.
Lateral Speed Runners
Lateral speed runners work both your hip abductors and hip adductors, plus lots of core.1. STAND with your feet hip-width apart, your arms at your sides.
2. HOP to your right, landing on your right foot while balancing your left foot behind your right leg. Simultaneously move your left arm forward and your right arm back in a runner’s stance.
3. REPEAT to the other side. Focus on speed and control.
Windshield Wipers
Windshield wipers target your full range of abs, and they’re terrific for improving stability.1. LIE on your back with your arms spread wide, palms down, thighs perpendicular to the floor and knees bent 90 degrees.
2. SWING your legs to one side of your body while maintaining the bend at your hips and knees. Make sure that your upper back maintains contact with the floor.
3. BRING your legs back to center, then repeat to the other side.
Plank Rotations
This variation on the traditional plank offers good core work while giving your shoulders a workout, too.1. BEGIN in the forearm plank position, except stack your forearms horizontally.
2. ROTATE onto your left side, elbow beneath your shoulder and right hand on your hip. Your feet should be stacked, your body straight. Rotate back to the center, then repeat on your right side.
Single-Leg Deadlift
Single-leg deadlifts are fantastic for improving balance and stability. They’re great for your core, glutes, and hamstrings.1. START from a standing position.
2. KEEP your back straigh and bend forward at the hips while lifting one leg straight behind you (in line with your spine) and reaching your hands toward the ground. Return to the starting position. Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
Marching Bridge
This exercise is great for your glutes and also works your hamstrings and lower back (it’s often used to help relieve lower back pain).1. LIE on your back with your knees bent and feet hip-width apart.
2. LIFT your hips into a “bridge position.”
3. MARCH your knees toward your chest one at a time. Keep your back straight.
Supergirl Plank
The Supergirl plank finishes your workout with a tough challenge to your core, shoulders, and back.1. BEGIN at the top of the push-up position.
2. EXTEND your right arm in front of you and your left leg behind you at the same time. Stay level while balancing for 3 seconds.
3. AFTER bringing your hand and foot back to push-up position, repeat on the opposite side. (As an easier alternative, perform this exercise from a "down on all fours" position, with hands and knees on the ground.)
Adapted from Build Your Running Body: A Total-Body Fitness Plan for All Distance Runners, from Milers to Ultramarathoners—Run Farther, Faster, and Injury-Free, ©Pete Magill, Tom Schwartz, and Melissa Breyer, 2014. Reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Experiment. Available wherever books are sold.
Credit: Diana Hernandez
Cheers,
Eve :-)
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