There are few things in life that I love more than running. Most of the people I know would not agree with that statement, but those of you that get my point know what I am talking about
Waking up early in the morning, putting on shoes and going for a run is so lovely in many aspects of it.
- It is the first accomplishment of the day.
- It takes your mind from being tired to being happy and alert.
- It removes all worries off your shoulders.
- New ideas and solutions often pop up.
But just as important as running is to make you run faster and further, strength exercises are the key for us all to be able to run and limit injuries. I know that we, the runners, would much further like to go for an hour run than taking strength training for an hour.
We think it is annoying and not practical, but most of it has to do with the fact that we are junkies. Yes, I said Junkiess. Some people crave drugs, alcohol, sex, food and power. Others like us want dopamine that the brain creates and the feeling of freedom and accomplishment after a run.
But as nice as running is, it is the same movement over and over again, and over time, it brakes the muscle down and makes them more vulnerable to injuries. That’s why it is essential to spend time strengthing the muscles.
One excellent test I learned from my physiotherapist is to stand on one leg and lift the other, so it is at a 90° angle. Then see if the leg is stable and robust or if all the muscles in the leg are working overtime trying to keep the leg steady and you from falling.
Another good exercise is to see if you can stand on one leg and do one leg squat with the leg sliding to the side. If you can do this exercise a few times, your butt and hamstring are likely strong enough for running.
If the result is that you can’t do it, then there is an opportunity to make some improvements in that area.
Take time every week at least three times to do some strength exercise.