Strengthen Your Core…

Planking!  A strong core can improve your posture, creating better mechanical positions for running. When your foot strikes the ground, it absorbs force that travels up your body to the core. A weak core can’t handle that force, making you less efficient, slower, and more susceptible to injuries.

The solution: Try the “pedestal routine.” For the entire sequence, keep your legs and torso straight, and raise your foot at least 6 inches off the ground. Come to forearm plank, making a straight line from shoulders to heels. Lift right foot off the ground 10 times, keeping leg straight and pressing heel toward the sky. Repeat with left foot. Flip over so you are facing upward, still supporting yourself on your forearms. Lift each foot off the ground 10 times, this time with toes pointing toward the sky (pictured above). Do a right side forearm plank, lifting left foot toward the sky 10 times. Repeat on the left side. Do the entire sequence once a day.

Since I haven’t been able to get outside to run, and I can only do so much on the treadmill - I am finding other alternatives and planking is helping and it is harder than it looks!

Thank you Shape Magazine!