Jump Start Your Running
Plyometrics, used primarily by athletes in power sports, combines strength and speed training, and research shows these moves could benefit distance runners too.
Researchers at the Australian Institute of Sport divided highly trained runners into two groups; one group underwent plyometric training three times a week for nine weeks. At the end of the study, those runners could run faster and/or farther without fatigue.
To gain the same benefits, try incorporating squat jumps (using just your bodyweight then working up to small weights such as a med ball to start) for maximal height and fast feet drills "with emphasis placed on short contact time and fast force production" says researcher Philo Saunders, PhD. (source Frank Claps, Med, CSCS).
For more information on Plyometrics, check out these recommended online resources:
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