smrac distance make running a habit; consistency brings success

Core strength

The core muscles

Core stability is an important part of a middle distance runner's training. It gives your body the strength it needs to hold a good running action, meaning you can run faster when it matters. A runner with poor core strength is likely get 'ragged' towards the end of a race or training session as the muscles in their trunk start to tire. As well as running slower, the athlete with the weak core is more at risk of injury than the strong athlete.

There are many things that make a strong athlete, but you can start on the road to less injuries, a stronger finish to races and an impressive running action (!) by carrying out some strengthening exercises two or three times a week.

This document shows some excellent excercises and gives a detailed explanation of the muscles involved in stabilising your core.