Core work - How often?

8 minutes then four minutes then repeat

I try and do 2 good core workouts a week, 25-45 minutes worth. I think your lower back/abs need a rest just like any other muscle or body part. Not to say that basic stretching isn't good.

I agree 2-3 times a week, no reason to go over that.

Here's a question. How is 25 to 45 minutes of exclusive core work, twice per week, helping you run faster?

It is only important after you are running 120 miles a week. If you are running 80 miles a week, RUN MORE before you start to worry about what else you can do.

from running times:

Running is a complicated, interdependent series of miniature events that requires us to accelerate, decelerate and stabilize our center of gravity over our base of support. The most crucial part of this chain is the core of the body—the mid-back through the hips—where all movement begins and is governed. A strong core that has been developed in all three planes of motion provides the foundation for power (speed), efficiency of movement, and injury prevention.

2-3 times a week would be a great choice. For the guy who said you should only worry about it when you're running 120 miles a week, I hope it was in jest. If it wasn't, you're an idiot.

Listing priorities wrote:

It is only important after you are running 120 miles a week. If you are running 80 miles a week, RUN MORE before you start to worry about what else you can do.

It is only important after you are running 160 miles a week. If you are running 120 miles a week, RUN MORE before you start to worry about what else you can do.

It depends on if it's a real weakness. It seems like a fair amount of women who are just starting running are very weak in the stomach (I guess some men are too, but it's more common and obvious in women). I've seen a lot of women almost bending over double at the waist when they're going uphill or swinging their shoulders and arms completely across their body. For a beginner woman, getting up to 80 mpw injury free could take a long time, and it would be better to get some decent core strength to be able to run properly from the beginning.

midwesta wrote:

from running times:

Running is a complicated, interdependent series of miniature events that requires us to accelerate, decelerate and stabilize our center of gravity over our base of support. The most crucial part of this chain is the core of the body—the mid-back through the hips—where all movement begins and is governed. A strong core that has been developed in all three planes of motion provides the foundation for power (speed), efficiency of movement, and injury prevention.

This didn't answer my question. Why isn't running enough to strengthen your core adequately if you have good posture? Or maybe one long set of situps alternated with one long set of back raises - 5 or 6 minutes tops?

Intuitively, I see how increased leg strength would help you run faster. Increased core strength - I just don't see the connection.

my humble opinion wrote:

Here's a question. How is 25 to 45 minutes of exclusive core work, twice per week, helping you run faster?

Like midwesta said, it's a matter of making sure the greatest portion possible of the forces created in the legs is transferred to pushing your COG down the road. Stiffer frames aren't just good for bikes.

Note: Lydiard reported in the original "Run to the Top" that his runners did standing back-bends daily. Also, his athletes weren't living modern American lifestyles, or even 1960s European lifestyles--after going on a performance tour of NZ in 1960, John Cleese said the place was "stuck around 1900", and when Bowerman came back from his mid-60s trip he said American runners wouldn't need to lift weights if everyone still pitched hay and chopped wood like the Kiwis did. So I guess I can claim never buying power tools for yardwork is about being a better runner and not about being a cheap-ass bastard.

I would be doing some core work nearly every day even if it's just doing a set of two of crunches. It doesn't take long and will make you a stronger more efficient runner.

To : My Humble Opinion...

if you really feel that way, you should do a bit of looking into what the core really is. It provides the anchor for all movements of limbs - lifting your legs, swinging your arms, all of it is made easier and more efficient with a strong core. Try a bit of research.