The first thing we need to acknowledge is that in training athletes to become the best runners they can be there are “Many Roads to Rome.” That said, I’m a firm believer that runners should do non-running exercises if they want to to run faster. If you improve your General Strength and Mobility (GSM) you can reduce the chance of injury, and when you reduce injuries you’ll maintain consistency in your training, not missing days, weeks or months at a time. Consistency is one of the most important factors in racing to your potential.

So if you buy into the idea that you need to do non-running activities to reduce injury and maintain consistency in your training, the question becomes, “What non-running activities should I do?” For many runners this question is answered with “I need to get in the weight room, work on my core, and get strong.” That’s a not a bad idea, but it’s not my approach. The weight room has a place in distance running training, but I believe it comes after a progression of exercises and routines that can be done outside of the weight room. [Read more…]