Try these quick dynamic stretches that move the joint through the full range of motion to warm-up before your next run to improve performance and help avoid injuries. It just takes a few minutes to warm up to maximize your running potential.
3 SIMPLE RESISTANCE BAND EXERCISES FOR RUNNERS TO BUILD HIP STRENGTH & AVOID INJURY
STRENGTH & RUNNING WORKOUT
Welcome to the latest edition of workout Wednesday when each week I share a running or runner-specific strength workout. This week you are getting the best of both worlds because we are combining strength moves with a running interval workout. It's a great way to get in your strength and running in on the same day. This works best in a gym setting when you have access to a treadmill, but you could certainly do the run portion outdoors with a timer.
strength and running workout. Free PDF printable download. Save to Pinterest for later
CIRCUIT ONE
There are three exercises in the first circuit. Move through all three exercises with little to no rest. Move swiftly but not so fast that you sacrifice form. Proper form is always more important than speed. After you complete the exercises, take a short rest or water break and repeat two more times.
LUNGE
Starting with your feet hip width apart and your toes pointed straight ahead, engage your core and keep your back straight. Take one large step with your right leg to lunge forward until your front knee is lined up over your ankle and your back knee is nearly touching the floor. Once you are in the lunge position push back up to starting position. Perform 8 reps on each leg.
PLANK ROW
Start in a straight-arm high plank position with your wrists directly under your shoulders and your legs slightly wider than hip width for stability. Keep your body in a straight line from your shoulders to ankles while engaging your core. Do not allow your hips to hike up or sag down.
With your core tight and your glutes engaged lift your right elbow to row as you bend your elbow up toward the ceiling. Keep your elbows close to your side, do not allow them to flare out. You can do this exercise with or without weights. Perform eight reps on each side
BRIDGE
Lie on your back with your knees bent and push your hips off the floor so your body is in a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. Push your shoulders into the mat. Squeeze your glutes and engage your abs. Pause for 1-2 seconds at the top of the the move. Perform 12 reps.
CIRCUIT TWO: RUN
Run for 90 seconds at an easy effort pace, then run for 30 seconds at a hard effort. Your hard effort pace should leave you out of breath. Repeat for a total of 4 cycles.
CIRCUIT THREE
Move through the three exercises with little to no rest. Complete the circuit three times
ELBOW PLANK TO SIDE PLANK
Position your elbows on the floor with your shoulders directly over your elbows. Your body should be in a straight line parallel to the floor. Engage your core while breathing normally. Squeeze your glutes. Be careful not to sink your hips or raise your butt in the air. Do not clasp hands in front as this throws off your alignment.
Twist up into an elbow side plank position with your shoulder directly over your elbow. Don't allow your hips to drop. Hold the position for 1-2 seconds in the top position. Alternate sides and perform eight reps.
BICYCLE CRUNCH
Lie flat on the floor with the lower back pressed into the ground. Place your hands on either side of your head, do not lock your fingers or pull on your head. Lift your head and shoulder off the floor and touch your right elbow to the left knee. At the same time, straighten your right leg, keeping it several inches off of the floor. Alternate sides to repeat the motion you'd make while pedaling a bicycle. Perform eight reps on each side.
SUPERMAN
Lie face down on the floor with your arms extended in front of you, raise your arms, chest and thighs off of the floor (like you are flying like superman) Pause for 1-2 seconds at the top position. Perform eight reps.
Download a printable version of this workout.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes in the comments, on Instagram or on Twitter.
Take a rest day or schedule easy effort paced-runs in the day or two following this workout. Always allow proper recovery after a high intensity workout. Adaptation (getting stronger and faster) happens during the rest period after the workout, not during the workout itself. If you don't allow your body the proper recovery time you won't see the full benefit of your workouts!
Questions? I'd love to help.
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THE PLAYLIST HIIT RUNNING WORKOUT
I get most excited and energized by blogging, running and rock music so I am always thrilled when I get the opportunity for a passion trifecta to blog about running and music.
Welcome to workout Wednesday when each week I share a new running or strength for runners workout. This week we have a fun running workout that takes all the pressure and stress out of your runs and lets you just go with the flow, or the beat of the music.
The idea is to create a playlist with the beats per minute or BPM in mind. We start with a song with a mid tempo BPM for a moderate pace to warm up and then alternate between higher BPM songs and medium BPM songs until the run is complete.
We naturally match our stride to the BPM so we may feel motivated to keep up a faster pace in sync with the music. Since most songs are around three minutes long (give or take), a playlist built around BPM can be the perfect high intensity interval workout.
The Playlist HIIT running workout. Save to Pinterest for later.
Start off with a song with a mid tempo BPM to get started, then make the next song on your playlist an uptempo song with 155-185 BPM. Some say 180 is the perfect BPM for runners as it's been claimed that 180 strides per minute is the most efficient turnover.
How do you find BPM of popular songs? The site songbpm.com lets you enter any song and it returns the BPM. Spotify also has playlists built around BPM, so you can pick and choose your favorite songs to build you own playlist HIIT workout around the music that you love.
If you like alternative rock like I do, your playlist might look something like mine. With this playlist we are alternating between mid tempo and up tempo songs. I created a playlist on Spotify if you want to hear my song selections. Create your own playlist with the music that you love.
THE PLAYLIST HIIT WORKOUT
Against Me! Don't Lose Touch 120 bpm
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs Phenomena 157 bpm
Band of Skulls - Sweet Sour 127 bpm
The Hives two-timing touch and broken bones 165 bpm
The Black Keys Howlin for you 133 bpm
Cake the distance 183 bpm
Young the Giant My Body 130 bpm
Millencolin - Ray 197 bpm
The fratellis - Henrietta 122 bpm
The Kills Sour Cherry 160 bpm
Create your own playlist and see how it feels to run by music bpm. As a running coach I will advise you to not try to run faster than your current fitness level. If you can't keep up with the tempo of the song, it's always better to go at your own pace for safety and sanity.
I'd like to thank hubby, the drummer, for a little bit of music education as I put together this post.
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CORE STABILITY BALL TRAINING
Welcome to the latest edition of workout wednesday when each week I share a new running or runner-specific strength training workout.
This week we are talking about core stability and strength. As runners, core strength is important to keep proper form, to provide a stable base between the lower and upper body and to power our stride. You don't need to spend hours in the gym or devote your life to strength training to reap the benefits of runner-specific core work. Spend 5-10 minutes on core exercises before you hit the road for your next run. You'll help activate running muscles and core training can be part of your warm up before you hit the road.
This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I make a small percentage of the sale with no additional cost to you. No one is getting rich here, it just helps with the cost associated with running (pun intended) this blog. Thanks, as always, for your support.
EQUIPMENT
STABILITY BALL
You can work to strengthen your stabilization muscles and joints by providing an unstable, but controllable base like a stability ball. Some of the benefits of balance and stabilization training for runners are improved joint stability, increased flexibility, improved posture control, improved balance and coordination.
Core Stability Ball Training. Save to Pinterest for later. Download a printable PDF of this workout.
CORE STABILITY BALL TRAINING WORKOUT
BALL CRUNCH
Position the stability ball under the small of your back. Place your hands behind your head, do not pull on your neck, and lift your shoulders and chest up into a crunch. Engage your abs and hold for 3 seconds in top position. Slowly lower back to the starting position. For an added challenge hold a medicine ball for additional resistance. Perform 12 repetitions before moving onto the next exercise.
BALL SQUATS
Place the ball against a wall and position the ball in the middle of your back. With your feet about hip width apart and your toes pointing straight ahead, walk your feet forward. Lower yourself into a squat until your thighs are parallel to the floor, like you are sitting in an invisible chair. Be careful not to lean back into the ball, but use it as a guide to lower yourself. Once in the low position, press through the heels and push back up to standing. For an added challenge hold a medicine ball at your chest. Perform 12 reps before moving onto the next exercise.
BRIDGE WITH HAMSTRING CURLS
Lie on your back with the stability ball positioned under your calves. Lift your hips off the ground into the starting bridge position, engage your abs and glutes. Bend your knees and lift your hips to curl the ball towards your body. Straighten your legs back out and perform 12 repetitions without lowering your hips to the ground.
STRAIGHT ARM PLANK WITH TUCK
Position the stability ball under your thighs and walk your hands out until you come into a high plank position with your shoulders directly over your wrists and the ball under your shins. Pull your knees in towards your chest to roll the ball forward, then straighten your legs to return the ball to the starting position. Do not to lower the hips between reps. Perform 12 repetitions, take a one minute break then repeat the circuit one or two more times.
Do you work in core and stabilization exercises into your running routine? Give this one a try and let me know what you think on Instagram, Twitter or in the comments!
download a printable PDF core stability workout
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