Running, Part 3

In this post I'll won't be writing how "how to run well" or anything like that. I'm going to be writing about why overall body strength helps you run.

To start it off, I'll be obvious: leg strength is important! Calves push your foot off the ground and help prevent you from running on your heels. Shin muscles counter the calf and help you not run on your toes.

The quad pulls up your leg (not the only muscle group that does, mind you), and extend your leg. Very import while sprinting because extending your leg is part of the explosion that pushes you while sprinting, or just running.

The hamstring counters the quad. It pulls your lower leg up by contracting. This makes it so you won't be running straight legged and so when you kick something you don't hit your face.

Your hips and glutes are big muscles that are the primary muscles for pulling your entire leg up. This is important for obvious reasons such as bringing your knee up while you run.

Now that all was pretty obvious, but did you know that your core and arm strength play a big role in running? Especially sprinting. Arm and core strength are not too big a deal if you're a distance runner, but it's still helpful to have some.

Now, how do your abs help you run? I'll tell you what I know! Your abs (mainly lower abs) help lift up your legs. Do some leg lifts and you'll see that they do, and they can get tired pretty fast if not strengthened and toned.

Your back is the counter for your abs. It does a ton of stuff, but I don't want to write about all of it, and I'm kind if ignorant on back strength. Just assume it's a good thing to keep strong!

Your abs and your back (your core) are also stabilizer. They keep your upper body from being thrown around, which prevents injuries and makes helps with speed by making your legs only have to do one thing: go forward.

Your core can't stabilize everything. Your body would still twist and turn just because the shear weight of your legs. Your arms, chest, and shoulders can counter this weight-unbalance! Your chest pulls your arm forward, so to balance you when the leg on that side is in back of you. The shoulder is the counter for your chest, and pulls your arm back, which balances you when the leg on that side is in front of you. Your biceps and triceps keep your arms in good form, and your forearm and wrist keep your hand upright and lined up with your forearm so that you don't injure your wrist while running.

Guess what? Your neck help too! It keep ls your head in a neutral position, keeping your spine healthy and your body a little more balanced!

Now, to end this post I'll say that all this should prove to you that building muscle helps you run, and that running is a great fully body workout! That doesn't mean you should make running your only workout! Strength all these muscles by lifting weights, or doing body weight workouts. You will probably notice a difference in your running capabilities if you strengthen these muscles! I did.