Upper Body Workout for Runners: Improve Your Running Performance and Prevent Injuries with These 11 Exercises

As a professional writer with extensive experience in the topic, I understand the importance of incorporating an upper body workout into a runner’s training routine. While running primarily focuses on the lower body, neglecting the upper body can lead to imbalances, reduced performance, and increased risk of injury. In this article, we will explore the benefits of an upper body workout for runners and provide 11 effective exercises to try out.

Benefits of Upper Body Workout for Runners

1. Improved Posture: Engaging the muscles of the upper body, such as the shoulders, back, and chest, helps maintain proper posture while running. This can alleviate strain on the lower back and improve overall running form.
2. Enhanced Arm Drive: Developing arm strength through targeted exercises allows for a more powerful arm drive, which translates to increased speed and efficiency while running.
3. Increased Core Stability: Many upper body exercises also engage the core muscles, including the abdominals and obliques. A strong core provides stability and balance, reducing the risk of injury and improving running performance.
4. Reduced Muscle Imbalances: Running predominantly works the lower body muscles, potentially leading to muscle imbalances. Incorporating upper body exercises helps address these imbalances and promotes overall body symmetry.
5. Improved Breathing Efficiency: Strengthening the muscles involved in breathing, such as the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, can enhance breathing efficiency during running, leading to better endurance.
6. Injury Prevention: A well-rounded exercise routine that includes upper body workouts can help prevent common running injuries, such as shoulder impingement, IT band syndrome, and shin splints.

Now that we understand the benefits of an upper body workout for runners, let’s explore some specific exercises to incorporate into your training routine.

Exercise 1: Push-Ups for a Strong Upper Body

Push-ups are a classic exercise that targets multiple upper body muscles, including the chest, shoulders, triceps, and core. Here’s how to perform a push-up correctly:

1. Start by assuming a plank position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your feet together.
2. Lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
3. Push back up to the starting position, fully extending your arms.
4. Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions, gradually increasing the intensity as you get stronger.

To make push-ups more challenging, you can elevate your feet, perform them on an unstable surface such as a stability ball, or try different variations like diamond push-ups or decline push-ups.

Benefits of Push-Ups for Runners:

• Strengthening the chest, shoulders, and triceps helps maintain proper running form and arm drive.
• Engaging the core muscles improves overall stability and reduces the risk of injury.
• Push-ups can be done anywhere, requiring no equipment, making them a convenient exercise for runners.

Incorporate push-ups into your upper body workout routine to reap these benefits and enhance your running performance.

Stay tuned for the next section, where we will explore plank variations for core stability.