An increasing number of top runners do regular routines of what they call “general strength” exercises. By that they mean Pilates-meets-football-practice exercises like leg lifts, oneleg squats, push-ups with a clap, lunges, etc. The theory is that modern life deprives children of the all-around general body fitness that agrarian lifestyles and unstructured play helped build fifty years ago. Without that type of fitness, the theory goes, you’re much more susceptible to injury once you devote yourself to the one-directional movement patterns of running. General strength exercises build that fitness that used to be taken for granted.
You probably won’t be surprised to hear I think the theory makes sense, especially for adult runners who are sedentary all day except when they run. For many people, the issue will come down to time: Can you find time to run and stretch and do running-specific strengthening, and then find more time for general strength routines? If so, Jay Johnson is again your guide, and this time the resources are free: Go to runningtimes.com/gsvideos and you’ll find five videos by Johnson detailing a progression of general strength routines.