Don’t forget your calves!

When thinking about improving your running, we think to target 3 main muscle groups – your quads, glutes, and hamstrings. However, we often neglect to develop our calf muscle. By building your below-the-knee strength and power, you can significantly improve your stride and push your pace.

Strengthening your calves will not only improve your dynamic performance, but also help you reduce the likelihood of getting injured. With calf muscles being one of the first contact points for absorbing the force from each stride, weaker calf muscles can also put you at risk of developing an injury, especially your Achilles tendon as there is greater stress being placed on this area.

This week’s top tip explores how to test your calf strength and identify your weakness. With this simple exercise, you will have the tools to start building your strength and developing your running.

Build your calf strength, build a dynamic runner