Pilates and running are a winning combination if you’re looking for a healthy cardiovascular, strength, and mobility training. Incorporating Pilates into your running practice can help reduce your chance of injury without draining your energy tank before a long run. If you’re looking for a winning exercise for runners, keep reading. In this article, we’ll cover why Pilates is good for runners and three key tips for how to be a better runner with Pilates.

Why is Pilates good for runners?

If you’re wondering how to be a better runner, the answer may lie in Pilates. Pilates is a low-impact, mind-body exercise that can be incorporated into your running routine. A few minutes of Pilates is an excellent pre-run warm-up. Pilates mat exercises can engage your entire body while stretching and strengthening at the same time. The low-impact exercises are gentle on your joints, helping to counteract the high impact of long distance running on the feets, knees and hips.

How to be a better runner with Pilates – 3 Tips

1. Improve your posture

A healthy posture and gait can improve your running by not only reducing the likelihood of an injury, but by making you a more efficient runner. Pilates builds your entire core, including the lower back and pelvic area.  Building your core strength helps improve your posture, making your stride movements more efficient.  When your core is strong and stable, your body’s energy can power into your legs rather than fight to maintain your posture. Building endurance in your core, means you can likely run further and faster than before.

Improving your posture with Pilates core strengthening will also improve your overall balance. If you’ve ever tripped while on a run, either from tired ankles and an unstable surface, you know a quick catch of your balance can make the difference between finishing your run or an unexpected acute injury.  

2. Cross train

Incorporating low-impact exercise for runners can make or break their ability to cross the finish line.  Long distance runners are prone to injuries in the knees, hamstrings, achilles tendon, shins and ankles. While Pilates emphasizes core strength, it can vastly improve lower body strength, flexibility and stability.  Correct alignment is a key focus on Pilates. Sharpening your body alignment in PIlates will likely translate into your running practice, making you more aware of your stride and posture. 

Most of us walk around with some kind of imbalance in our body, be it from an old injury, lifestyle habits or unawareness of our posture. When we go for a run, we bring these imbalances with us and after pounding the pavement for several miles it’s likely to show up with some aches and pains. Pilates can help highlight and restore muscular, mobility and postural imbalances in your body.

3. Keep your feet healthy.

Keeping your feet healthy, strong and happy equals a long, more enjoyable running experience for you. Pilates can teach you correct weight distribution and placement while standing, carrying over into your runs. Footwork in Pilates also helps with ankle strength and mobility, helping to prevent sprained ankles, achilles tendonitis and shin splints.

If running is part of your healthy lifestyle, Pilates can keep you feeling strong, healthy and ready for another run. ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates is a fully equipped Pilates studio in Peachtree City, GA. The ProHealth staff is available for online and in-person classes and private Pilates sessions.