You run for exercise 3-4 times a week. It’s part of your lifestyle now. You slip your running shoes on, plug your earphones in, turn up the music and off you go! There are a lot of benefits to running regularly like cardiovascular fitness and weight loss, just to name a few. There’s also a flip side to this wonderful form of exercise that may include injuries (particularly knee, hip and lower back) and the feeling of being run down.
Have no fear, there is a way to run consistently and avoid these common pitfalls. It’s called strength training and it can help you maximize your running program results while protecting you from frustrating injuries.
Here are some key strength training benefits for runners:
1. You’ll be able to run better times with a stronger overall body! Studies show that with as little as ten weeks of weight training, 10K times decrease by an average of a little over one minute.
2. You’ll feel stronger and less beat up after your running session due to your increased overall strength.
3. Studies show that strength training can decrease risk of injuries in runners such as knee, hip and low back pain by strengthening muscles and connective tissues.
4. You’ll look and feel better due to the firming effect and strength that muscle can provide!
Are you convinced that strength training is something you’d like to do? If the answer is yes, you should start by recruiting a personal trainer or fitness coach to teach you the basics (including proper technique) to ensure maximum results and safety. Personal trainers can be found at your local health club or you can do a search on the internet for personal training services offered in your area. You can also hire a trainer to come to your home for added convenience. This is a service that my fitness studio (CircuitFIT) offers in Midtown Toronto. For more information please visit circuit-fit.com or call 416-483-4500.
Alex Savva is the founder of CircuitFIT studios. His unique 30 minute total body workout incorporates cardio, weight training and core training creating an optimally balanced exercise program. Alex has appeared on City TV and CP24’s Perfect Fit as a fitness expert. He is a certified Kinesiologist with a degree in Physical and Health Education. Alex is urbanmoms.ca’s fitness and health expert. If you have questions or suggestions please send Alex an email. You can learn more about CircuitFIT by visiting their website at www.circuit-fit.com