So many elite distance runners look like they never spent a minute on their core. Is core really necessary or worthwhile?
So many elite distance runners look like they never spent a minute on their core. Is core really necessary or worthwhile?
Not bad, just useless. Core is good if you want to make your body look better, but it won't help your running.
Leo does! I suppose this is mid distance though.
How is core useless? Your upper torso needs support when you contact the ground. If your core is not able to stabilize the upper body, you will be forced to use additional energy to remain balanced.
Some people might overdo the training of their abs, but a functional core is a must for proper running mechanics.
Check out some of Vern Gambettta's suggestions for balance and postural alignment as it pertains to core training.
Your upper torso will get stronger by running more and faster. You don't need to do core specific workouts to make it stronger. How many Kenyans have you seen do core?
a lot actually.
Fluffy wrote:
Your upper torso will get stronger by running more and faster. You don't need to do core specific workouts to make it stronger. How many Kenyans have you seen do core?
It will get stronger, but it is definitely useful to supplement with core exercises. As mentioned above, it is necessary to stabilize your torso while running, and without it is much easier to hit bad running mechanics.
The kenyan comparison is just silly. Their lives are so unbelievably different from our own in so many ways, that comparison of something so specific is "useless." Also, do you watch Kenyans 24/7? Who knows which ones of them do or do not do core. Such a silly blanket statement. Some people in this country need to work on their core because having a solid core will help running form (and also help it to not break down as quickly)
What elite athlete doesn't spend time on core? Anyone saying that it's useless is someone who is just lazy and looking for an excuse to not do the supplemental training. Same with people who do no weight training.
scottyent wrote:
Fluffy wrote:Your upper torso will get stronger by running more and faster. You don't need to do core specific workouts to make it stronger. How many Kenyans have you seen do core?
It will get stronger, but it is definitely useful to supplement with core exercises. As mentioned above, it is necessary to stabilize your torso while running, and without it is much easier to hit bad running mechanics.
The kenyan comparison is just silly. Their lives are so unbelievably different from our own in so many ways, that comparison of something so specific is "useless." Also, do you watch Kenyans 24/7? Who knows which ones of them do or do not do core. Such a silly blanket statement. Some people in this country need to work on their core because having a solid core will help running form (and also help it to not break down as quickly)
It doesn't matter if their lives are different. The pro Kenyans still do the same basic training as American pros. No one needs to do core to work on core. Your core will get stronger just by running more, there's no need to supplement anything. Just run more and knock out two birds with one stone. If you want to waste time doing silly core exercises instead of just running more be my guest. In the long run (pun intended) core workouts make no difference. You become a better distance runner by running, not core.
Yup. Don't do the following: stretch, do anything to make you stronger, eat well, hydrate properly, ice bath, get enough sleep, massage, talk to girls, or do homework. It's all bad!
Or you can go to the other side of the spectrum and do all the little things and never do any real training.
Or you can do what 99% of let's run does and focus on your training and racing workout predictors rather than doing real races.
It doesn't matter what you can run it matters what you do.
Fluffy wrote:
It doesn't matter if their lives are different. The pro Kenyans still do the same basic training as American pros. No one needs to do core to work on core. Your core will get stronger just by running more, there's no need to supplement anything. Just run more and knock out two birds with one stone. If you want to waste time doing silly core exercises instead of just running more be my guest. In the long run (pun intended) core workouts make no difference. You become a better distance runner by running, not core.
I think the problem here is comparing elites. What I mean is that for the average person, core work will help your running. For example, if there is something wrong with your running form, having a strong core that you did supplemental work with will help you adjust and give your lower body the support it needs to run correctly. It provides a solid balance and base from which you can hopefully align your lower body.
As for the elites, they have been training their whole lives, and if they ever had any muscle imbalances, they fixed them. Whether with core work, weights, whatever. So for the non elites, it is the same situation, if you have a weakness, do the work to supplement it and bring it up. If you find that your core area doesn't get tired quickly, and that it isn't a place where you start to hurt, great! But if you have a weakness there, or if perhaps off running form is causing you pain, then core work can help
scottyent wrote:
Fluffy wrote:It doesn't matter if their lives are different. The pro Kenyans still do the same basic training as American pros. No one needs to do core to work on core. Your core will get stronger just by running more, there's no need to supplement anything. Just run more and knock out two birds with one stone. If you want to waste time doing silly core exercises instead of just running more be my guest. In the long run (pun intended) core workouts make no difference. You become a better distance runner by running, not core.
I think the problem here is comparing elites. What I mean is that for the average person, core work will help your running. For example, if there is something wrong with your running form, having a strong core that you did supplemental work with will help you adjust and give your lower body the support it needs to run correctly. It provides a solid balance and base from which you can hopefully align your lower body.
As for the elites, they have been training their whole lives, and if they ever had any muscle imbalances, they fixed them. Whether with core work, weights, whatever. So for the non elites, it is the same situation, if you have a weakness, do the work to supplement it and bring it up. If you find that your core area doesn't get tired quickly, and that it isn't a place where you start to hurt, great! But if you have a weakness there, or if perhaps off running form is causing you pain, then core work can help
Agree with everything you said. I only argued with the other guy because he talks like a prick. Thanks!
Training Injury Free wrote:
So many elite distance runners look like they never spent a minute on their core.
What's this all about? Not true at all.
I wouldn't say it's necessary I'd say it's essential. 'Core' is just a new word from the last 15 years but it's basically the same stuff the top guys were doing 50 years ago.
your core will not get stronger by running. Some muscles might actually get too tight while others might never become activated. This will become a long term problem to those who already have relative flexibility and postural distortions. Many of us sit most of the day and have tightness and weaknesses that will effect us as we get older. Running will not address these issues unless we correct them with supplemental exercises. You might not need a 6 pack but you need strong stabilizers. Planks, bridges, supermans, are great exercises not useless while hundreds of crunches are a waste of time.
This is all you need
it does matter wrote:
How is core useless? Your upper torso needs support when you contact the ground. If your core is not able to stabilize the upper body, you will be forced to use additional energy to remain balanced.
Some people might overdo the training of their abs, but a functional core is a must for proper running mechanics.
Check out some of Vern Gambettta's suggestions for balance and postural alignment as it pertains to core training.
Agree
Fluffy wrote:
Your upper torso will get stronger by running more and faster. You don't need to do core specific workouts to make it stronger. How many Kenyans have you seen do core?
Funny you should mention Kenyans. We used to look at film of the kenyan 800/ 1500 meter runners. When they tied up at the end of a race they would use a much higher back kick to try and make it home. The reason was they had such weak lower abs that they would arch at the lower back and their stride shortened as they lost all power. You need core strength to keep your body in proper position for maximum stride efficiency. Running alone will not build the muscles you need for running efficiently. Well they will, but not as well or as quickly as doing other exercises in addition to running.
Pascal Dobert has been helping Schumaker's guys with their core since they were at Wisconsin. Seems to be working out pretty well for their training group.
The routine is pretty intense too. Focuses on a wide range of both movement and isometric exercises.
Maybe they should drop it so they stop setting national records...
If you are going to go slogging and not worry about technique then no abs for you. But if you want good running form and posture then you need abs.
Trolol wrote:
What elite athlete doesn't spend time on core? Anyone saying that it's useless is someone who is just lazy and looking for an excuse to not do the supplemental training. Same with people who do no weight training.
Any elite athlete is only doing core exercises because they have nothing else to do the other 20 hours of the day after they ran their 22 miles and they are afraid that in the slight chance it may help, they don't want to not do it.
