Six exercises all runners should be doing, according to a physical therapist

If you haven’t caught on yet, strength training and running go hand in hand. No matter how much you’d rather be outdoors clocking miles, gym time can make all the difference to keeping your body strong and injury-free.

Spending time strengthening your legs, core, and upper body can reduce the risk of common running-related injuries. If you don’t know where to start, we recommend this routine from physiotherapist Tash Gale.  

Watch Tash Gale’s workout for runners

@galephysio

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There are six moves in the routine and you’ll need minimal gym equipment to do it: a dumbbell, a step, and a small exercise ball. 

Gale recommends that runners strength-train between one and three times a week (depending on your training capacity) to help avoid injuries.

Each of the exercises in this routine strengthens the muscles you use while running, which helps to improve your load tolerance as well as your running technique. 

There are no given sets or repetitions (reps), but in other similar videos by Gale, she suggests eight to 12 reps and three or four sets. 

If you’re not sure what dumbbell weight to use for the step-ups and Bulgarian split squats, aim for a load that challenges you, but not to the extent that you’re struggling to complete the reps. 

Benefits of strength training for runners

If you’re a runner who is looking to get faster, stronger, and run for longer, then the answer lies in strength training. It increases your muscle strength, which in turn increases your power. It also reduces your risk of injury by increasing the stability of your joints and helping to correct muscle imbalances—all this helps to keep issues of overuse at bay.

Need some new tech to help you soundtrack your run? Our guide to the best workout earbuds can help