Ready to take your running to the next level? Whether you’ve got a race planned or just fancy challenging yourself in a new way, a weekly conditioning routine for runners might be just the thing. Run faster, run for longer and do it all so much easier. Here’s how.   

Why is conditioning so important for runners? 

Conditioning is all about how efficiently your body performs over time. For running, that means how well you can keep pace (and increase it) as well as how easy it feels to you.  

Conditioning exercises are moves that challenge your body to adapt to different stresses and are often paired with strength. (Like in our Strength and Conditioning classes.) This is because the two complement each other and usually strength building exercises are also ones that condition your body.  

The strength element of the class is about how much force your muscles can produce. The conditioning element is about adapting your body to work more efficiently allowing you to train harder.  

The benefits of adding conditioning and strength training to your weekly workout routine is that you develop more speed, more power and also support your body to avoid injuries.  

How to condition your body for running 

There are plenty of conditioning exercises that you can do, whether you’re a total beginner or you’ve been round the gym a few times. They involve both bodyweight and weighted exercises and you can even do them in a class.  

You’ll want to aim for around two strength and conditioning sessions per week if you have the time. That way, you’ll see your running improve while also allowing your body enough time to recover.  

Conditioning exercises for endurance 

Endurance training works your stamina, helping you to run the extra mile (or few) without it feeling so difficult. Interestingly enough, running is actually one way that you can improve your endurance. Though other workouts like swimming and cycling work just as well too.   

For endurance-based running workouts, try: