I’m a runner. Do I need to strength train?

Running is a great form of cardiovascular exercise that you can do to improve your overall health and fitness, and reduce the risk of disease. If you’re a regular runner, you might wonder whether incorporating strength training into your routine is beneficial or whether you are already getting all the exercise you need.

In short, adding strength training to your workout routine can be extremely beneficial. Let’s take a look at why this is the case.

Why is strength training beneficial for runners?

Strength training can help to reduce your risk of injury. Running can place a lot of stress on your body, particularly on your joints. Overtraining can, therefore, lead to joint health issues or muscle strains and tears.

Incorporating weight training into your routine strengthens your muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints to lower your risk of injury when running. Strength training also improves your balance and coordination, which helps to prevent injuries caused by falls.

Lifting weights can help improve your running performance. Stronger muscles provide you with more power and better endurance, both of which can improve your exercise performance when running. It also improves your coordination, balance, and posture, which are key skills for running with good form.

Running can be hard on your body, and it's important to allow your muscles to recover properly. Strength training can aid your body's ability to recover from tough workouts by increasing blood flow to the muscles and reducing inflammation.

To conclude, as a runner, it’s definitely worth considering including two to three strength training workouts into your weekly exercise routine to experience the above benefits.