Whether you\u2019re running your first 10k race or gearing up for this year\u2019s London Marathon, strength training is your pre-race secret weapon. We sat down with six-time marathon runner and Lead Trainer at Digme Fitness, Ben Davie<\/strong><\/a>, to chat about the importance of mixing the miles with the muscle-strengthening exercises. Here\u2019s five reasons why you should:<\/p>\n Prehab = preparing your body for injuries before they happen. Regular strength work will help to strengthen your joints which will be a major player in injury prevention. Time to get acquainted with resistance bands and low-impact moves.<\/p>\n Incorporate running-specific strength exercises (like weighted step-ups and Romanian deadlifts) into your workout. Moves like this will activate all the right muscles you need for a speedier run, like your hamstrings and glutes<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Mixing up your training isn’t just good for you physically, mentally it\u2019ll completely refresh you. Yes, your body will thank you for it, but it also breaks up the monotony of just running 4-5 times a week.<\/p>\n Avoid joint stiffness on your run by improving your mobility in the gym. With a move like back squats, focus on control and making sure you\u2019re using a full range of motion (your thighs should be at least parallel with the floor at the bottom of each rep). Don\u2019t worry about the weights you\u2019re lifting; pain-free running is the goal here.<\/p>\nPREHAB PREVENTS INJURY<\/h2>\n
IMPROVES YOUR SPEED<\/h2>\n
KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED<\/h2>\n
STAY MOBILE<\/h2>\n
MAKES YOU MORE EFFICIENT<\/h2>\n