20 Minute Workout for Better Running

Enjoy today's 20 minute workout for better running: it's all about improving your running performance and strength. Often traditional strength exercises like squats and walking lunges are recommended to runners but these are unlikely to be useful in the long term.

But what is sports specific training and why should you be sports-specific in your exercise routine?

Well, if you aren't, it's like trying to prepare for a dance competition by practicing hula hooping – sure, it's a cool move, but it won't impress the judges if you're aiming to win a 1st place trophy at salsa dancing.

These are the main benefits of making your training more sports specific 👇

1. Skill development: Imagine a football player doing pirouettes – impressive, but not exactly helpful when it comes to scoring goals. They need specific exercises that allow them to improve rapid change of direction, acceleration and deceleration. It's the same for running although different of course, with different exercises!

2. Reducing Injury Risk: Whilst it's impossible to prevent injuries in any sport, building specific skills can reduce your risk as you adapt to be able to cope with the forces and environment that you need to perform in. After all;  you wouldn't see a gymnast practicing sumo wrestling moves to lower their injury risk, would you? (Although that would make for a hilarious YouTube video.)

3. Energy system development: While general fitness is important, each sport has its own unique physical demands. Sports-specific training ensures that athletes are not only fit in a general sense but also have the specific fitness attributes necessary for optimal performance in their chosen sport.

4. Sport-specific fitness: By tailoring exercises to mimic the demands of the sport, athletes can optimise their performance potential. This includes improving speed, agility, strength, and other sport-specific attributes.

5. Periodisation: Sports-specific training allows for effective periodization, where the training program is structured to peak performance during specific times, such as competition seasons. This strategic approach helps athletes reach their peak at the right time.

If you're a beginner you don't need to worry about periodisation much: this is when you are preparing for a race. Making training more skill specific is still useful however to help you build your skills and help you channel your inner gazelle!

So without further ado here is the workout- it's 20 minutes, requires no equipment, barely any space and is adaptable whether you are a beginner or are more advanced.

If you have questions regarding the workout or would like to work with me to improve your running drop me a message below to get a 10% discount on my packages.