I found a very helpful website that I wanted to share with everyone. It has a list of muscles and shows how to do exercises targeting those specific areas using mini-bands. Check it out: http://www.coreperformance.com/mini-band/
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Sunday, November 10, 2013
Mini Band
So I was introduced to these mini-bands a few years ago and finally used/saw them in action with the high school team I now work with. These cheap and easy to use bands help build strength and prevent injuries.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Single Leg Deadlift
The exercise of the week is a single leg deadlift. This is an essential injury prevention exercise for runners because it strengthens the hips and activates the glutes and hamstrings. It can be done either with a dumbbell or kettle bell. Since you are isolating the legs, you are also challenging your core and balance, which will improve running form.
1) Begin by holding a weight in each hand and standing on one leg.
2) Keeping the knee slightly bent, bend at the hip and extend your free leg behind you for balance.
3) Continue lowering the weights until you're parallel to the ground and then return to upright position. Perform 10-12 reps and switch legs. Repeat for a total of 3 sets.
1) Begin by holding a weight in each hand and standing on one leg.
2) Keeping the knee slightly bent, bend at the hip and extend your free leg behind you for balance.
3) Continue lowering the weights until you're parallel to the ground and then return to upright position. Perform 10-12 reps and switch legs. Repeat for a total of 3 sets.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Plyometrics for Performance
Many traditional running programs incorporate drills, strides, and hill sprints to increase turnover, speed, and muscular strength. Plyometrics are another useful tool that runners can incorporate to target key muscles, while also taking a break from the repetitive motions of running that can lead to overuse injuries.
An easy way to start is with box jumps. Stand next to a box that's about half the height from your foot to your knee. Begin conservatively by jumping for 3-5 sets of ten. After jumping to the top on both legs, gently step back to the starting position. That's one.
When beginning Plyometrics, it's smarter to err on the side of caution. This is a new, high intensity activity for your body that may hit under developed muscles. It's critical to be cautious to avoid injury. If we can do that, we can use this as another tool that will translate to faster times on the road and track.
An easy way to start is with box jumps. Stand next to a box that's about half the height from your foot to your knee. Begin conservatively by jumping for 3-5 sets of ten. After jumping to the top on both legs, gently step back to the starting position. That's one.
When beginning Plyometrics, it's smarter to err on the side of caution. This is a new, high intensity activity for your body that may hit under developed muscles. It's critical to be cautious to avoid injury. If we can do that, we can use this as another tool that will translate to faster times on the road and track.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Dumbbell Side Bend
This week's exercise is a side bend, which will strengthen your external obliques, along with your rectus abdominis. A staple in any runner's core routine. Here's how to properly execute it:
1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold a dumbbell in one hand with the arm extended downward. The other hand can rest on your hips.
1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold a dumbbell in one hand with the arm extended downward. The other hand can rest on your hips.
2. Bend at the waist in the direction of the hand holding the dumbbell, allowing the weight to pull the side down gradually.
3. Complete a set of 12 reps and then switch the dumbbell to the other hand and repeat.
Balancing the abdominal muscles is the goal of this exercise. The side-to-side movement helps develop the external oblique. Strengthening the external obliques helps minimize the side-to-side rocking at the end of a race (or speed workout). This exercise will also help maintain erect posture.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Knee Exercises – Preventative & Strengthening
By: Jessica Byrnes
As runners, our Type A personalities and competitive nature tells us that running more means more fitness gains. Often times, it isn’t until we feel a tweak or twinge that we start to look beyond running and search for the cause of a new or lingering injury that is holding us back from our potential.
As runners, our Type A personalities and competitive nature tells us that running more means more fitness gains. Often times, it isn’t until we feel a tweak or twinge that we start to look beyond running and search for the cause of a new or lingering injury that is holding us back from our potential.
Don’t wait until injury has already set in –
by adding these strength exercises for runners, many common overuse injuries
can be prevented and these simple, no-equipment-needed exercises will only take
a few minutes of your day!
1. Bodyweight Squats
This exercise is a great glute strengthener
and gets your hips activated. Start in standing position with your arms
outstretched. Lower your body to a seated position while keeping your back
straight, chin and head looking forward.
2. Single-Leg Squat Touchdown
One of my favorites that includes knee and
core strengthening – a lot more challenging than it looks!
Start by balancing on your right leg with
your knees slightly bent and your left arm raised straight up. Slowly bend your
right knee to lower your left arm towards your right foot. Push through your
heel and squeeze your glutes to return to starting position. Continue with this
exercise for 10-15 reps on your right side and then switch legs.
3. Core Work is extremely important!
Refer to previous blog posts (yoga, planks,
and dynamic warm-up exercises, and single-leg exercises to name a few) for some great core strength
exercises that will help keep you injury-free!!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Plantarflexion with tubing
This exercise promotes strength and flexibility of the foot and ankle to prevent injury when running on uneven terrain. Since it is not weight bearing, it can be performed daily. It can also function as a rehabilitative exercise to overcome an ankle sprain or mild achilles tendonitis.
1. Sit on the floor with legs fully extended in front of the body. A length of tubing, an end in each hand, should extend underneath the foot, wrapping around the ball of the foot. Make sure there is no slack.
2. Extend the foot to full extension
3. At full extension, hold the position for one second before pulling the tubing backward in a smooth motion. The foot will be forced to dorsiflex and return to its initial position.
4. Repeat the push/pull of the exercise, adjusting tension though-out, until fatigue.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Try Some Yoga!
Yoga is great for runners because it not only stretches you but it strengthens you in many ways. Yoga prevents injury, improves recovery time, improves flexibility for better from, and gets you stronger!
I like the "Sun Salutation" because it really targets everything and make you feel really good after a run. It's easy to do too. Try going through it 3 times after your run holding each pose as long as you feel you need to:
I like the "Sun Salutation" because it really targets everything and make you feel really good after a run. It's easy to do too. Try going through it 3 times after your run holding each pose as long as you feel you need to:
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