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Lead Stories: Saturday, July 19, 2008

ASK FLASH: When should runners get strong?

Posted May 13th, 2007 at 3:01 PM by Joshua Flash Gordon

Section: Running & Training, Columns, Training Tips, Health & Fitness, Exercise, Ask Flash

Need advice? Injured? Confused? Overwhelmed? Bored? ASK FLASH!
ASK FLASH is a free advice column to help you with all of your running, fitness and nutrition inquiries. To ASK FLASH — simply fill out the form at the conclusion of the column.

Welcome back to ASK FLASH! I apologize for the brief hiatus…as lucrative as the running advice industry is…law school exams beckoned. A pleasure to be back and still standing! On to the questions du jour…

As a side note, in order to gain a foundational understanding of functional training and why I believe so strongly in it, I highly recommend Mark Verstegen’s three books as part of any runner’s reference library.

Q. Hope all is going well with you! Ran a great 10 miler this weekend. I finally broke an average pace under an 8! Very exciting! Anyway, I wanted your opinion on leg strengthening during a reverse taper. I really haven’t worked on them for over a month and a half with Nashville Marathon training and all. I am running SD in June and wasn’t sure if I should continue to avoid that or not. When I do work on my legs I do things such as leg curls, extensions, press, lunges and then floor exercises such as hydrants. Stick with these low weight, high rep? I know the machines are more isolating the muscles. Is there anything else you could suggest? I have also been using the half balance ball thing to strengthen my ankles and core. I feel as if my legs have been neglected and do not care for that :(
~ Legs from Strong Pumping Station Arkansas

A. Nice to hear from you! Sounds like a great run - you are cruising along well.
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