Legs? Check. Butt? Check. Arms and Abs? Check! This Running Workout Has It All

Updated on 7/30/2016 at 9:25 AM

I live on the northern East Coast, where frigidly cold weather (we're talking in the teens if we're lucky) dominates more than six months of the calendar year, so when warmer temps blow in — anything above 40 degrees — I slip on my shorts and head outside for a run.

Once a week, I'm all about doing a quickie 20-minute hill repeat workout to build endurance and leg power. There's just something about being in the fresh air and getting to the top of a big hill that makes me feel so strong and badass (cue the Rocky music). Don't get me wrong — I am totally winded by the time I sprint to the top, so I started doing a few basic arm and ab moves as an active recovery. Then I run down and repeat those same three moves. It totally breaks up the difficulty and monotony of running up and down the same hill, gives my lower body a rest, and strengthens the muscles running leaves behind.

Try this workout the next time you're running outside. It could definitely work on a treadmill if that's what you prefer, as long as you don't feel funny about hopping off every minute. Find a decent hill that takes about a minute to run up, and repeat this circuit as many times as you want (I do it about eight times).

Run uphill for one minute
Do 10 push-ups, 10 triceps dips, and 10 V crunches (instructions below).
Run downhill.
Do 10 push-ups, 10 triceps dips, and 10 V crunches.
Repeat.

Feel free to mix up the strength-training moves. Instead of regular push-ups, I'll bust out Chaturanga push-ups, because it feels so good to arch my spine. Or T push-ups, since they also target the waist. Try lifting one leg up when doing triceps dips, and mix up the ab move with bicycle crunches or scissor abs.

Then afterward, find a nice sturdy tree and do these postrun stretches before grabbing some protein (mmm, this hydrating watermelon smoothie is my new go-to) and cooling off in the shower.

Push-Ups

Begin in plank position with your arms and legs straight, shoulders above the wrists. If this is too difficult, do this exercise with your knees on the ground.
Bend your elbows out to the sides, and lower your chest toward the ground. Stop as soon as your shoulders are in line with your elbows. Then straighten the arms.
Do 10 push-ups.

Triceps Dips

Sit with your hands shoulder-width distance apart on the grass or resting on a curb, log, or bench, with the feet hip distance apart.
Straighten the arms, and lift your tush off the ground. This is the starting position.
Slowly bend your elbows to lower your body toward the floor, then straighten the arms.
Do 10 triceps dips.

V Crunch

Lie on your back, and lift your legs and arms up so they are extended toward the sky. Lift your upper back off the floor, reaching your hands toward your feet.
Lower your legs toward the ground while reaching your arms overhead, keeping your shoulders off the mat and lower back pressed into the mat.
Do 10 V crunches.