Don't Skip Leg Day!
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Don't Skip Leg Day! Now, I can almost hear some of you thinking, "Come on, David! Every day I hit the pavement, it's leg day!" And hey, I get it – but hear me out. I'm talking about those crucial lower-body strength workouts that can take your running game to the next level! If you're like me, prepping for mountain races while stuck on flat roads presents a challenge. That's where the leg work comes in! Currently, I'm gearing up for the High Lonesome 100 in Colorado, I've got altitude and elevation to contend with – neither of which is a thing in Oklahoma, right? To get race-ready, it's a mix of trail pounding on weekends, road running during the week, and yes, dedicating at least one day to some serious leg love in the gym. Trust me, when you're faithful to the strength work, you feel the difference – and we'll save the altitude talk for another day! Some of the runners I coach have seen this on their schedule. It's called the "David Special." So, what's a "David Special" leg day look like? Glad you asked:
That’s part of my weekly fun to get my legs ready! And to really test the legs, I'll be throwing in some training races as "test runs" – because practice makes perfect, right? Now, a quick note: I'm not neglecting the rest of my body either. On top of my regular running, two other days a week, I'm hitting the weights to keep my upper body and core in check for the rigors of race day. How about you? How do you prep for those mountain races when the mountains are nowhere in sight? Are you incorporating strength training into your routine? What's your goto workout? On the journey! David P.S. Don't miss the latest Run the Riot Podcast with Alex Larson: Dietitian for Endurance Athletes. It's full of goodness! It's on all platforms and you can even watch it on YouTube! P.S.S. If you're looking to run your first or furthest ultra or just looking to take your running to the next level, we'd love to chat with you about it! Click here to learn more! |
Run the Riot
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