Pushups and situps? Do runners even NEED to do them?
Well, maybe 20 of each perhaps, but isn't that all??
Pushups and situps? Do runners even NEED to do them?
Well, maybe 20 of each perhaps, but isn't that all??
Depends who you ask. Core strength (or lack thereof) has been implicated in injuries of the hip/groin area.
People say the Kenyans don't do core strength, which a) simply isn't true as they do calisthenics all the time and b) might be a valid statement if american distance runners walked everywhere and didn't spend 8 hours a day sitting down slouched over a desk, but they do, and it contributes to a lack of "general strength" and muscle conditioning, etc etc etc.
Lydiard said that weight lifting is never necessary if you have access to hills, but Bowerman defended his use of weight lifting at Oregon, saying that the reason the Kiwis didn't need to lift was because they had to chop their own firewood and other kinds of "physical work"! I'm sure you could make some sort of rationale along those lines. Have a field day.
The bottom line is it won't hurt. Many, if not most, elites do some sort of core strengthening exercises, but I'm sure some don't. As long as it's not at the expense of your real training, I recommend doing some "general strength" work.
yes especially americans