Pilates for Runners

One of my many weaknesses...strength training.

I asked a few of my friends from my running club (Heart of the Valley Runners) what they do for strength training, and the consensus was Pilates. When I asked around for a recommendation for a pilates video (since I work from home with two small kiddos getting to a class isn't happening right now), I was recommended Ana Caban, Pilates Intermediate Mat Workout and Pilates: Abs Workout. I love these videos. The instruction is great for a beginner and I really appreciate how she is constantly instructing when to inhale and exhale.

However, that being said I think that taking a class would be better so that instructor can help with form (in Anna's videos she constantly refers to 'pliates stance', which until I did my homework had no idea what that was). Also, for me exercising around other people tends to feed into my competitive nature which makes me work harder and get more of a workout.

Now, I have only been doing pilates for four weeks, and I'm sure it is all in my head, but I already feel stronger, leaner and taller. My posture has improved and I feel great overall. And as a side note, I won my first race! Well, I was the first female across the finish line, and it was just a small local 5K race, but for me I was pretty darn excited.

So did pilates make me better runner (and help me to win the race)? Maybe not yet, but if I stick with it I think it will. According to Runner's World, "pilates moves strengthen the diaphragm, stretch tight muscles, and improve posture to help you run with less effort."

Pilates 4 Runners provides a list of reasons why runners should do pilates:

• Greater strength and muscle tone
• Improves performance during physical activities
• More efficient respiratory and circulatory systems
• Better posture
• A flatter stomach and trimmer waist
• Improved flexibility
• Less incidence of injury and back pain
• Increased joint mobility
• Stress and tension relief
• Heightens concentration and mental focus

For me to better understand how pilates helps my running, I wanted to find out what my body is doing while I run. Pilates Digest describes what the muscles in your body are doing while running, "Primarily, the hip flexors to pull the top of the leg forward, the quadriceps to extend the knee then tibialis anterior to flex the foot and prepare to plant the forward foot. Once down, that leg is pulled back using the glutes and hamstrings. The big issue here is that while in that running gait, the runner’s body is moving in the sagittal plane therefore the muscles that support movement in the horizontal and frontal planes are not challenged specifically."

So if pilates can help with my balance and strength to improve my running (and avoid injuries while helping me breath easier). That is enough for me. Pilates it is.