Planks are one of the most popular exercises for runners, and for good reasons. The simple exercise builds stronger cores, improves your running form, and helps you sculpt flat abs, all in only a few minutes per day. Planks are also an amazing multi-tasker exercise. In addition to working your abdominal and back muscles, planks can tone your glutes, shoulders, arms, and chest, especially as you expand beyond the traditional plank into different variations. Planks are so ...
Workouts for Runners
Threshold Intervals and a Workout
A couple months ago, I wrote about what tempo runs are and why they are important for training. Today, I want to discuss a specific type of tempo run: threshold intervals. Between all you hear about shorter interval repeats and traditional tempo runs, threshold intervals do not get a lot of attention. However, threshold intervals offer tremendous benefits to your running, whether you are in the last few weeks before a 5K or 10K race or training for a half or full marathon. Threshold ...
Why Glute Strength is Important and a Workout
If you struggle to power up hills or maintain a consistent pace through hard workouts, if you are plagued by knee injuries or shin splints, or if you spend all day at a desk without much movement, you are probably suffering from weakness in one of the most major muscles of the human body. I’m not talking about your core (although core strength is incredibly important for runners), and you don’t need to drop and give me 50 push-ups; your glutes are what needs strengthening. That’s right, your ...
Winter Workouts
Winter seems to have fiercely hit all across the country! Here in northwest Indiana, we are have the winter trifecta of lake effect snow, harsh winds, and bitingly cold temperatures. Running outside is not only less than appealing, it is also downright dangerous here! So with the running outside for the next few days (or weeks!) as not an option, I've been looking elsewhere for winter workouts—as I'm sure many of you have! Here are some of my favorite winter workouts. Treadmill ...
Tempo Runs and a Running Workout
I've said multiple times on this little blog that my favorite type of run is a tempo run. I try to include some form of tempo run each week of running, whether I am specific training for a race or am enjoying a less rigorous off-season. What is a tempo run and why should you include them in your training? Keep on reading! Whether you are training for a 5K or a marathon, or even if you are just trying to stay fit and maintain a healthy weight, tempo runs should be a regular part of your ...