Athletes, whether professional or laymen, love a good physical challenge. Whether it is getting to the highest peak or being the fastest at a sport, competition with the self and others drives so many of us to seek sports or other avenues to release the competitive self. One such way is the marathon.
Marathon running is a unique challenge in and of itself. It is miles and miles of practice runs, dedicated nutrition, daily stretching, and also strength training. While the general misconception is that to be successful at running a marathon one only needs to run, the most stable truth is that preparation in the gym with a Midtown West personal trainer can benefit your time, endurance, and prevent injury.
To add strength training to your marathon routine, you need only 10 to 20 minutes each day. Don’t just jump on the next open weight machine, though. There are specialized running exercises to develop your ligaments, tendons, and muscles to work together and maintain good balance while dealing with the brutal impact of running long distances.
As you begin strength training, think that you are training for function over merely isolated muscles. Compound movements are best since your body runs using many muscles, not an isolated one or two at a time. Try squats and step-ups to begin. Overall, the best training here is what is called functional training, exercises that imitate functional day-to-day movements like picking up a toddler or pushing a heavy cart filled with protein shake materials.
If you don’t have access to the gym regularly, don’t fret. Using your own body weight is an excellent training tool. These build strength while also preventing overuse injury. Some examples are lunges, planks, side planks, and even split squats. Having the right form while completing any of these strength exercises is important. Upper West Side personal trainers can help you develop a routine well before your next marathon. Have a personal trainer in SoHo help you maintain your workout and then challenge you over the weeks as well.
