A strong core is critically important for runners in providing stability and foundational strength, which is why ab workouts with planks and other stabilizing or strengthening moves are always a solid choice. As a runner myself, I've done an ab workout either before or after my runs for years. Those extra few minutes gave me the satisfying feeling of a good full-body workout. Who doesn't love to feel that burn in your abs?
But for runners, having a strong core goes beyond that, said exercise physiologist and marathoner Tom Holland, MS, CSCS. "Whether you are a sprinter or marathon runner, beginner or advanced, having a strong core will maximize your running performance as well as enjoyment," he told POPSUGAR. "It can help prevent running-related injuries as well."
Tom's favorite core workout for runners takes just three minutes, but don't let that fool you. "It's extremely effective and challenging, utilizing the plank exercise that works both the front and back of the core at the same time," Tom said. In fact, it's 100-percent planking: four different variations that combine to make a "full 360-degree core strengthening workout," Tom told POPSUGAR.
Directions: Hold each of the following planks for 30 seconds.
Keep reading for a description of each move. Then grab a timer, try the workout for yourself, and head out on a run when you're finished. (Try this outdoor interval workout to get started.)