Running has so many benefits — cardiovascular health, weight loss and stress release. However, mixing up your routine is important to improve your speed, form and endurance.
Almost every muscle group is involved in running, so taking time to focus to build up strength in specific areas can give you that little edge to set some new personal records.
Adding some simple CrossFit exercises into your workout routine is a great way to target specific muscle groups while keeping your heart rate up.
Kettlebell Swings
The core muscles are imperative for keeping proper form while running. They need to be solid and strong. Kettlebell swings get your heart rate up, but they also rip your core. The force from swinging the kettlebell pulls your body forward so your core has to engage in order to control the momentum of the movement and keep you balanced and upright.
Box Jumps
Running and sprinting require huge bursts of energy and power to get a fast launch and power to get up huge hills. Focusing on building up these bursts of power through cross training can increase both your speed and running efficiency.
To get your body up on top of the box fox box jumps, your legs need to explode with power. Doing box jumps also trains your body to pull your knees up higher. This puts more height in your jump and more distance your stride. The increased explosive ability helps you run faster and power uphill like Sonic the Hedgehog.
Squats
Runners are prone to knee injuries due to the repetitive motion and striking impact on the joints. Weak joints can also lead to injuries if the knees are misaligned in improper form.
When performed properly, squats train your body to keep your knees aligned. Make sure your knees are in line with your ankles when you squat and not pushing inward or outward. This movement will strengthen your knees so that you keep proper form when running and help you avoid injuries.
Jump Rope
Learning to stay light on your feet can increase your running speed. A great way to practice this skill is to jump rope. You can also step it up a level by doing double unders. This means that instead of swinging the rope once and jumping over it, you swing the rope around your body twice during each jump. It takes a lot of practice to get the hang of it, but it can make a huge difference in your running.
If aches or pains have been keeping you from your favorite workouts, contact Airrosti today to find a provider near you and start your road to recovery. Our providers treat pain at the source and equip patients with the skills and knowledge to implement at-home active recovery exercises to eliminate the pain quickly and get them back to their pain-free lives.
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