Why Strength Training is Essential for Runners

Sometimes, it is crucial for runners to step away from the usual track or treadmill and focus on strength training. While running can help you continue your pace, strength training can help you take your run to the next level. What is strength training? It is also known as resistance training and is done by using your body or added weights to build muscle mass, strength, and endurance. You do not have to strength train every day, but doing resistance training a few times a week can help you become stronger and become a better runner. There are several other benefits of strength training for runners.

Decrease Chance of Injury

When we strength train our muscles, we can focus on different areas of our body. Concentrating on your leg muscles is extremely beneficial for runners. Running causes people to put the stress of the weight of their body on their legs, often causing runners to hurt or injure their knees. Moving quickly increases the weight’s intensity, but if you train your leg muscles to carry that weight, you decrease your injury risk. You also reduce your likelihood of joint pain and strengthen the connective tissues to your muscles. Incorporating weights, resistance bands, and even using your body weight in squats and lunges can decrease your likelihood of injury as a runner. Getting injured is often a runner’s worst nightmare, so incorporate resistance training in your routine to avoid it.

Improve Your Running Speed

Many runners find out that when they incorporate strength training into their routine, they improve their running speed. When you strength train, you strengthen your muscles and connective tissues, improve your coordination and power, and it even helps you hit an effective stride. It has been proven that incorporating weights into your training can increase your speed because your muscles do not have to work as hard to hit a certain pace. 

There are many benefits that incorporating strength training into your routine can have on your running abilities. You can decrease your chance of injury and improve your running speed just by taking time to focus on your muscles. So, add strength training to your low volume running days so you can still get your miles in but make yourself a better runner in the long run. If you need more advice on how to incorporate resistance training into your routine, contact us today.