You’re clocking mile after mile, but pounding the pavement alone won’t propel you to new PRs or distance milestones. That’s where intentional strength training comes in.
Enter the 10k Pursuit: an 8-week training program designed to elevate runners of all levels. With group long-runs, agility drills, and strength training, it’s the secret weapon to conquering new goals. On strength days, you’ll be doing targeted exercises like squats, lunges, deadlifts and more.
But why is strength training important for running performance?
1. Improving Form and Mechanics:
Running requires both endurance and muscular endurance. By enhancing strength, your overall stability will improve. You’ll sharpen your mechanics and stride efficiency, translating to increased power and speed. How? Building strength in key muscle groups—such as glutes, hamstrings, and calves—translates to increased power output in each stride allowing you to maintain faster speeds for longer.
2. Injury Prevention:
This improvement in mechanics helps your form and avoid injury. Strength training increases your range of motion and flexibility, reducing the risk of strains. And strong muscles also act as shock absorbers, reducing impact on joints and lowering the risk of common running injuries like shin splints.
3. Elevated Endurance, Stamina and Efficiency:
Strengthening muscles enhances your ability to sustain effort over time, resulting in greater endurance and stamina during longer runs or races. Your stride will become more and more efficient as you maintain your pace and form over longer and longer distances.
4. Mental Toughness and Resilience:
Pushing limits in the studio builds mental fortitude that translates to greater resilience on the road or trail. You’ll be more prepared to overcome any challenges or mental setbacks that try to slow you down.
Whether you aim to crush personal records or simply enhance your running experience, integrating consistent strength training into your routine will help unlock your true potential as a runner.
The 10k Pursuit kicks off in St. Paul on June 12. Click here for more information and to sign-up now!
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