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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

You don’t know “SQUAT”: Part 2

Posted November 6th, 2006 at 4:00 PM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Running & Training, Training Tips, Cross Training

This is the second and final part of my series on beginner strength training for endurance athletes. Make sure to also go back and read Part 1.

We understand WHY strength training is important for runners, but now we’re left wondering HOW to start a program.

There are so many variables and concerns in commencing a weight training regimen. Unfortunately, many people choose not to properly research what they are doing; nor do they have the money to spend on personal trainer. The good news is training programs do not have to be complicated, nor they should they (especially for beginners). When starting a training program it is best to keep it simple because, that way, it will allow you to focus on the fundamentals and make it easier for you to stick with it.

For endurance runners, one great exercise to start with is the one-leg squat. Owen Anderson, of Peak Performance Online, believes this exercise is great for runners because it:

Mimics the basic biomechanics of the footstrike portion of the running gait cycle, and therefore can dramatically improve running-specific strength and coordination.

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