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Strong leg muscles are vital for success in running, whether your run of choice is a speedy road race or a 100-mile ultra marathon. It\u2019s crucial to focus on strength building to prevent injury and improve your skill on various terrains. The muscle groups runners most commonly use are quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, lower back and core.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are a variety of ways to strength train as a runner. Finding what works for you is key. When I\u2019m in season training for a race, I make it a priority to strength train at least three times a week.<\/strong> You don\u2019t necessarily need to use the heaviest weights to become stronger, either. Dumbbells are a great place to start.<\/p>\n Make a circuit<\/strong>\u00a0with various exercises so you\u2019re working a variety of muscles. Make sure to give yourself breaks between sets! My dumbbell workouts consist of:<\/p>\n I do reps of 10-12 per set for three to five sets.<\/p>\n The most important piece of any workout is the correct form. <\/strong>The more you\u2019re working and the more tired you become, the more likely you are to slack on your form, and bad form is how injuries can happen. Remember to engage your core, maintain good posture from start to finish and know when to keep pushing or when to take a break. I always go for quality over quantity.<\/strong> In the end, it\u2019s about doing the workout correctly.<\/em><\/p>\n Another great strength-building exercise for runners is the deadlift. When this exercise is performed correctly, it has huge benefits in strengthening the hamstrings<\/strong> and glutes<\/strong> \u2014 two essential muscles for runners. Deadlifts can be intimidating at first, but you can start with the bar alone and perfect form before getting into any serious weight. You can also ease into the deadlift by using dumbbells at first and then switching to the bar and weights when you feel more comfortable. Check out our deadlift master class here to fine-tune your lifts.<\/p>\n Strength training has huge benefits and is vital for a runner\u2019s success, which is why I always write out my plan beforehand so I know exactly what I\u2019m doing and always listen to my body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Happy Running!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Lindsay Walter is a run coach, health educator 43-time marathon runner and four-time ultra marathon runner. Walter has completed over forty marathons and four ultra marathons. Her lifetime goal is to finish 100 marathons.<\/em><\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n