Does anyone do exercises at their desk to improve their running?

Ha! I don't have a desk cycle, but I do toe raises while sitting at my desk. I also do that thing where you write the alphabet with your toes sometimes and generally try to keep my ankles mobile. These things help prevent lower leg injuries in someone like me, for whom those are common.

I'll try the toe raises. A lot more discrete than under the desk cycling!

I have a treadmill desk and set it to about an 11:00 mile pace. I guess some people say junk miles don't count but I'm not in that school of thought. Anyways, I get about 40 miles per day that way. Lots of aerobic development.

Typical runner or sockpuppet wrote:

Anyways, I get about 40 miles per day that way. Lots of aerobic development.

You cycle 40 miles a day while at work? Wow that is a lot! I figure that I might only use a desk cycle 20-30 minutes a day. Looks like you are getting some good use out of it. What brand do you have? Is there one you'd recommend?

I'll do the alphabet spelling with my foot sometimes for the ankle as well and the stress fracture exercise with the foot, plus slide my desk chair backwards and forwards for the hamstrings.

jjjjj wrote:

I'll do the alphabet spelling with my foot sometimes for the ankle as well and the stress fracture exercise with the foot, plus slide my desk chair backwards and forwards for the hamstrings.

That's a good tip. I was looking to do something to build up my thighs to help overcome a knee injury. I have also been doing some one legged squats on staircases

I stretch at the drinks machine

gregmacd wrote:

I saw this "under the desk cycle"

http://www.deskcycle.com/

and I was wondering if anyone does that, or something similar, or anything else to improve their running when they sit at a desk.

Do you have stairs at your office?

Once every hour, I get up and walk up and down the stairs. Keeps the blood flowing, burns a few extra calories, keeps the metabolism cranking, etc. I also do a lot of work standing up (although not all of it).

Stand and move as much as you can while at work. You'll feel a difference in your overall energy, and even structurally (standing up more helps your posture) you'll feel a difference when you run.

gregmacd wrote:

jjjjj wrote:

I'll do the alphabet spelling with my foot sometimes for the ankle as well and the stress fracture exercise with the foot, plus slide my desk chair backwards and forwards for the hamstrings.

That's a good tip. I was looking to do something to build up my thighs to help overcome a knee injury. I have also been doing some one legged squats on staircases

Along those lines, I keep a racquetball at my desk to massage my feet when little injuries start to flare up. I've also used ankle weights on my feet under my desk to help strengthen lower legs and quads I guess to a certain point.

I work in a cubical so there really isn't a whole lot of available space but I have maximized what I do have. I brought in a flat bench and stand it up next to one side of the cube when I am not using it. I usually take a small break every 15 minutes or so and do a few sets of dumbbell exercises (flat presses, incline presses, curls, bent over rows, squats, shoulder presses, lateral raises). I try to keep the yelling down to a somewhat manageable level for the coworkers, but that gets harder in the heavy sets. I keep a gallon of water nearby to maintain proper hydration and I make sure to wear my weightlifting belt.

I kick ass.

Kudos to you sir for a fine routine. May I suggest you keep a 5 gal jug of water nearby just to ensure you're well hydrated at all times?

Also, a cubicle is a fine place to keep a stack of "adult" magazines to whip out and get a quick workout in while all of your co-workers are away at lunch or away in some meeting.

Keep up the good work.

I move my fingers around in various positions while typing on a keyboard.

I am constantly in motion. Right now, I am doing leg lifts that are imperceptible to the human eye. They're called hummingbirds. And although I seem relaxed, I am actually incredibly tense at all times

Butler Fan wrote:

They're called hummingbirds.

You got me, that made me laugh out loud.

On topic, I have an office, and a stress fracture, so I do get up through the day and do exercises my physio has me do, 3X per day ideally, but often only once or twice (or not at all). I close my door though, not sure I would do them if my co-workers were watching me.

you win wrote:

Butler Fan wrote:

They're called hummingbirds.

You got me, that made me laugh out loud.

On topic, I have an office, and a stress fracture, so I do get up through the day and do exercises my physio has me do, 3X per day ideally, but often only once or twice (or not at all). I close my door though, not sure I would do them if my co-workers were watching me.

Must be nice to have an office.

I'd get the cycle thing but the work culture wouldn't support it.

I have a pillow for naps.