Why are so many people using resistance bands – and how are they beneficial for runners?
Runners should be performing strength training and adding in resistance band movements into their routine, and here’s why:
- Resistance bands force your muscles to work harder against the pull of the band. This is great for strengthening purposes.
- Resistance bands are much easier on our joints than weights, with high benefits. As a runner, you’re beating your body down with heavy mileage and interval training, so it is helpful to incorporate resistance bands on those in between days from hard workouts without running the risk of over training.
- They are great to work smaller muscles. For runners, it’s important to strengthen the hips, glutes, and inner thighs to balance out weak areas. Many runners have muscle imbalances which can cause injuries.
- If you are injured, using resistance bands can help you recover faster.
- Resistance bands will help you work your core and improve balance and posture. These are all important areas to master when it comes to running faster.
Resistance bands come in many forms. For runners, you can purchase the Pull-Up bands from Fitccessory, which come in a range of strengths so you have your choice of resistance for several movements. You can also perform upper body and core movements with longer bands. Certain movements that runners can do with these bands are things like:
- Banded Hip Thrusts
- Band Sumo Deadlifts
- Band Bent Over Rows
- Band Lat Pull Downs
- Banded Pushups
- Kneeling “ROPE” Crunches
- Ankle Plantar Flexion (strengthens the ankles and calves)
It would also be helpful to get Glute Bands to perform exercises like this:
- Crab Walks
- Glute Kickbacks
- Squat Jumps
- Glute Bridges
- Banded RDL’s
The third and final resistance band useful for runners would be Mini Loop Bands , and the reason being that they are stretchier, can be used for many quick movements, as well as core, glute and several hip flexor exercises. A few movements that can be performed for runners are things like:
- Lateral band Shuffles
- Lateral “quick feet”
- Band bicycle crunches
- Plank jacks with a band
- High knees
These are a few movements that runners can perform to get stronger, faster, and be a better athlete overall.
Resistance bands are also great to bring while traveling, as they are compact and lightweight. They are also inexpensive, so they are affordable for anyone working on their strength and fitness level. You do not need a gym, just a set of bands and your bodyweight. Bands can also be used, however, in conjunction with weights.
“Strength training is crucial to improving form, efficiency and pace, and adding resistance bands to your workout is an easy, low-stress way to build strength in the muscles runners use most.” Says Erica Schuckies in a recent article.Overall, resistance bands will help runners improve in the long run as well as involving heavier strength training movements on some days once you feel like you are at that level.
Hope this article helped!