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RunAnnapolis.com |
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Annapolis' Running Resource Network |
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Articles for Runners & Others |
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While the fastest endurance athletes runners certainly will never win a bodybuilding contest, a well thought out strength training program will absolutely improve endurance performance. Given the duration of endurance events, performance will be limited by the muscles of the extremities, not the cardiovascular system. A fit athlete has an extraordinarily strong cardiovascular system, but the winner is the athlete whose muscles hold up to the demands of racing.
Interestingly, the greatest benefit of strength training for endurance sport is improved economy. Strong athletes can move fast using less energy than weaker runners. So it isn’t that strength training enables you to sustain a higher workload, but that strength training enables you to go fast with a reduced workload.
Injuries are an ever-present risk with endurance training. Beyond using correct technique and developing training schedules that balance volume, intensity, and recovery, strength training is an athlete’s best defense against injury. Strength training increases the strength of all of the connective tissues as well as the muscles. More... |
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Top Ten New Years Resolutions for Runners © 2008 by Ken Mierke |
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The new year is finally here and it is time to start preparing for 2008 races. So many athletes are telling themselves, “This year will be different.” Before you get too hyped up, remember that there are many little steps that contribute to your success on race day. Make plans right now to incorporate the following strategies into your preparation in 2008. Resolution #1: I will train easy when I should this year. Almost every runner conducts their long workouts and easy workouts too hard. This is very ineffective. Smart runners train at a very easy pace when working on endurance and very hard when it is time to go hard. Doing easy workouts at the proper intensity leaves an athlete well-rested and enables the hard workouts to be most effective. When working on speed, work on speed. When working on endurance, work only on endurance and slow way down.
Resolution #2: This year I will work hard on running technique and efficiency. Every runner trains hard to become stronger and fitter, but few pay enough attention to efficiency. Fitness is limited by … More...
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