Here’s a brief recap of last week’s piece: I spoke about the general importance of core muscles. If you noticed, most of the highlighted exercises target the abdominals.
This is because the abdominal core is the foundation of a healthy posture and the key part of any sporting activity.
For athletes, this means that you should not skip core workouts and focus solely on running.
Strength and core exercise not only aid in the prevention of injuries, it also helps a sprinter with their overall performance.
Now, how would it help a sprinter? The abdominals provide the catalyst for power, and if your body does not possess a strong mid-section, you are not going to be powerful.
During the act of running, the pelvis and lumbar spine serve as the ‘pivot point’ for the body’s lever system, which facilitates movement.
As a result, there will be a rotation. Strong abdominals minimise the rotation by channelling energy in the right direction — harnessing power more effectively — to create the desired movement.
Over longer distances, a stronger core is crucial when it comes to utilising energy in a more efficient manner. In terms of timing, the greater the efficiency, the better the run.
Regulated movement of the hips and shoulders propel the runner forward while a firm mid-section stabilises the body to ensure that our running form is efficient and constant.
Runners who lack core stability will experience excess movement in the mid-section, resulting in a breakdown of running form, which hastens fatigue and greatly reduces performance potential.
Many young, upcoming sprinters aren’t aware of this and most seniors who are, aren’t certain of what to do or when to do these workouts.
I hope you can now understand the importance of having a strong abdominal core.
With that,
Love, Tana.
