
What if the reason you’re not strength training has nothing to do with being lazy, you just think it takes more time than it actually does?
Maybe you’re injury-prone. Maybe your last few races felt harder than they should have. Maybe you’re just tired of watching other runners hold their pace while you fade in the final miles.
The missing piece isn’t more running. It’s actually only 20-40 minutes of the right kind of strength training per week.
Here’s how it looks.
Listen to audio podcast below on your next run or watch the video above to learn more
What You’ll Learn
- Why most runners lift wrong, and how to fix it fast
- The Research showing how strength training can boost your running economy by 5%; that’s a 3:30 marathon becoming a 3:20 without running more miles
- The 10 best exercises for runners that I actually do
- And If you’re short on time, I’ll show you the exercises that give you the biggest return
What Is Strength Training for Running?
The Core Idea
It’s a Simple idea: train your muscles to handle the forces of running. Run faster and farther with less effort and fewer injuries.
Running uses something called the stretch-shortening cycle.
Think of your muscles loading up like a spring, store energy, then snap forward. Every single step.
Your strength work should copy that.
We’ll use a specific tempo for every rep. I call it the S.H.E. Method: Slow, Hold, Explode. I’ll tell you exactly how to do that when we get to the exercises section of this post.
Why Low Reps = Less Fatigue
Remember – We’re lifting for power, not size. Heavy weight, low reps; usually 4 to 6 reps per set at 80 to 90% effort.
Heavy, low-rep lifting builds neural strength, and it does this without the drain that wrecks your running.
You’re training your nervous system to recruit more muscle, produce more force, and move faster.
When you’re tired during a run, you’re not muscling through it like pushing a sled. Strength training makes you more efficient by teaching your body to store and release energy through physics, not just brute force.
Here’s a theory: strength training doesn’t make you faster by building bigger muscles. What it does is let your body go a few percent harder or longer in workouts with way lower injury risk, a hidden effect that adds up over time.
Finding Your Starting Weight: Pick a weight you can do 6-8 reps with good form. If you hit 8 easy, add a little more weight next time.
If you want to find your 1 rep max, online calculators can help you find the correct weight if you input a few things.
“If you’re still doing high-rep, light-weight circuits, you’re wasting precious gym time.”
Which Muscles Power Your Running
Not all muscles do equal work. The primary running muscles aka your glutes, hamstrings, and calves are your engines. They drive you forward and protect you from injury. Distance running is posterior-chain heavy.
Your secondary or back up muscles—quads and hips and adductors/abductors… these give you stability and support. When your main engines get tired, like in the last miles of a race, these backup muscles jump in. That’s why you feel sore in weird spots after races but not after easy runs.
But what about upper body and core muscles?
Yes all things are important but they would fall in third priority for running.
So in the gym I use a 30/70 split when I workout: 30% upper body and core, 70% lower body.
You can save time by doing upper body exercises between leg sets without hurting performance. I call this paired-set training and it keeps me moving efficiently so I don’t waste time scrolling, etc. but still get a rest. Plus, it trains your body to resist rotation and stay stable when you’re tired and your form starts breaking down.
“You don’t need more mileage; you need powerful muscles that actually support your speed.”
S.H.E. (Slow-Hold-Explode) Method Explained
Remember how I talked about the S.H.E. method? Here’s why this matters before you do a workout
The S.H.E. Method (Slow down, hold and explode) is a lifting style where you move slowly for 3-4 seconds going down, hold for 1-2 seconds at the bottom, then push up fast in 1 second. This timing helps build stronger tendons and trains your muscles to handle the impact when your foot hits the ground while running.
For each exercise, you’ll learn the main lift first, then discover which explosive jump movement goes best with it; kind of like pairing foods that taste good together. You’ll also get easier versions of each exercise if you need to start lighter or mix things up.
The Top 10 Best Running Strength Exercises

1. Squat (Half)
Go slightly above parallel, 90 degree angle (like sitting in a chair) with heavy load.
Half squats showed a 5% boost in running economy in [one study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18460997/#:~:text=The intervention group (four males,training during the same period.)—that’s the gap between a 3:30 and a 3:20 marathon. This builds max strength without killing your range of motion.
Use the S.H.E. Method – slow down, hold, explode up.
Best plyometric pairing: 2-leg squat jumps.
Variations and Regressions: Full squat, wide stance squat, goblet squat, side single-leg squat, pistol squats (HARD; needs super mobile hips, which I don’t have)
2. Romanian Deadlift (RDL)
Posterior chain king. The lowering part builds hamstring and glute strength; your drive system.
Best plyometric pairing: Kettlebell swings (with hip snap) or standing broad jumps.
Easier versions: Use 1 or 2 dumbbells, kettlebell RDL, resistance band RDL, or good mornings
3. Single-Leg RDL
One-leg posterior chain plus balance. Fixes side-to-side differences and builds body awareness.
Best plyometric pairing: Lunge Jump or Skater Lateral Lunges
Easier versions: Kickstand RDL, B-stance RDL, hand on wall for support.
4. Bulgarian Split Squat
Running is single-leg. This fixes left-right imbalances and (depending on how far forward your foot is) hits your glutes hard. Back foot up on a bench, dumbbells in hand.
Best plyometric pairing: Lunge Jump or Bulgarian Split Squat Jump (Super advanced; needs coordination)
Easier versions: Regular split squat, goblet Bulgarian, bodyweight tempo.
5. Step-Ups
New for me. Most running-like pattern. Builds upward quad and glute strength with less pounding. Doesn’t need a high box if you focus on glute activation and driving your hip up.
Best plyometric pairing: Box lunge jump, or horizontal bound for length
Easier versions: Lower box, side step-ups, using stairs—up 2 stairs, down 1 (work one leg, then switch on next flight)
6. Calf Raises
New to calf raises? Do two-leg.
3 to 4 seconds down, 1 to 2 second pause, explode up. Builds tendon stiffness; free speed and Achilles protection.
Best plyometric pairing: Pogos (2-leg and 1-leg) or Drop Jumps
Variations and progressions: Single leg, or bent knee for soleus strength; the ignored part of the calf that does most of the work in distance running.
7. Plyometric Movements (POGOS)
Small knee bend, quick ankle bounces. Trains the stretch-shortening cycle at the ankle. I’ve done these for years. Pair with calf raises.
Ways to progress: Two-leg, one-leg, forward pogos.
8. Drop Jumps
Also new for me. Drop from a 12 to 18 inch box, immediately explode up. Gold standard for reactive strength. Pair with half squats or step-ups.
Ways to progress: Lower box, drop-to-stick with no jump, drop-to-jump.
I Tried Them And It Hurt
So I did the drop jumps and incorporated them into my training. It felt like nothing but I was wrecked. My Achilles was not happy. So many other issues. I did six of them from like slightly above my knee. Lesson learned. Even though it didn’t feel hard, like pogo and some of the plyometrics, ’cause I wasn’t doing a concentric jump up, which is quite taxing on your body and you know, you’re breathing hard. It’s the actual drop down. So it’s the height and the force that’s coming down, and then I’m accelerating back up.
9. Squat Jumps
Builds vertical force. Weighted vest or bodyweight, explosive intent. Pair with half squats.
Options: Box jump, use dumbbells/weight vest, lunge jumps, skater lateral jump, drop and explode
10. Single-Leg Bounds (Forward or Up)
Big running stride, max distance per bound. Most running-like plyometric. Pair with Bulgarian split squats or single-leg RDLs.
Ways to progress: Switch legs, same-leg bounds in a row, uphill bounds.
The Load-Explode Protocol
The Load-Explode Protocol pairs heavy lifts (4-6 reps at 80-90% effort) with explosive plyometrics (4-6 reps, max effort) after just 15-20 seconds rest, then you recover 2 minutes before the next round. This contrast training builds both slow-force strength and fast-twitch power; exactly what running demands. Keep 1-2 reps in the tank with clean form, and when it feels easy, add weight instead of more reps to build strength without burning extra time or energy.
Putting It All Together
Here’s how to sequence the workout.
Sample Session (25-30 Minutes)
Warmup (5 minutes): Your warmup can be an easy jog, light burpees, or movement prep like squats and lunges. Just get your body moving and heart rate up, then ease into your first set.
Block 1: Half Squat 4 sets of 4 reps → Squat Jumps 4 sets of 5 reps (rest 2 minutes between rounds)
Block 2: Bulgarian Split Squat 3 sets of 6 reps each leg → Single-Leg Bounds 3 sets of 4 reps each leg
Block 3: Calf Raises 4 sets of 6 reps → Pogos 4 sets of 10 seconds
Upper and core filler during rest: Planks, dead bugs, bench press or push-ups, rows and pull-ups.
1-2 sets total is fine for the session.
Note: Rest is critical. Don’t rush it. You need 2 minutes minimum. As you get stronger and go heavier, 3-4 minutes is better.
How Often
Twice per week, 6 to 24 hours away from hard runs.
Getting Stronger
Add weight. Not reps. Not sets. Weight equals strength without extra drain.
The 4 Golden Rules
1. Doing Something Beats Doing Nothing
This is the best approach. But if you can only do 10 minutes, split it across the week. Just don’t skip it.
2. Don’t Do Too Many Reps
If you can do more than 12 easy and it’s not arms, add weight.
Add the smallest amount possible. The goal isn’t lifting the heaviest. It’s using the gym to supplement your running without getting hurt.
3. Use the Best Form You Can
If you can’t hold good form, the set is done. Don’t push more reps with bad form. That’s asking for injury.
You’ll know form is breaking when your lower back rounds, knees cave in, or you lose tempo control. Film yourself every few weeks; what feels right often looks wrong.
Start with bodyweight or light weight until the movement feels natural. You can’t go heavy and explosive until your technique is locked.
4. Rest Periods Matter
Think of it like rest between 800-meter repeats. You wouldn’t start your next interval while you’re still gasping. Same rule here.
Rest is not optional. Your nervous system needs recovery for explosive reps. Two minutes minimum, but if you’re still breathing hard, wait longer.
Remember the whole session should take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes per session—depending on exercises and sets—and only needs to happen twice a week. That’s it.
How This Scales To Your Time Commitment
Pick the level that fits what you can commit to right now. You can always scale up later.
15 Minutes Per Week (1 Session):
Do one exercise combo: Half Squat + Squat Jump OR Bulgarian Split Squat + Single-Leg Bounds.
This hits your main movers and gives you the foundation. You’ll still see gains in strength and injury protection.
30 Minutes Per Week (1 Session):
Add two more combos: Half Squat + Squat Jump, Bulgarian Split Squat + Single-Leg Bounds, AND Calf Raises + Pogos.
Now you’re covering all three major areas; quads/glutes, single-leg stability, and ankle/calf power.
45-60 Minutes Per Week (2 Sessions):
This is the full program—all 10 exercises split across two 25-30 minute sessions.
This is where you get maximum strength gains, injury protection, and running economy improvements. This is the complete system.
Which Level Should You Pick?
New to lifting? Start with 15 minutes for 2-3 weeks to build the habit, then scale up when it feels easy.
Already comfortable in the gym? Jump straight to whichever level fits your schedule.
The goal is consistency first, volume second.
Links & Learning
- 📈 Get Strong & Run Fast In Less Time (Free Training Plan): https://dlakecreates.com/strengthfree
- 🎧 Listen, read and learn more here: https://dlakecreates.com/strengthbest
- New To Strength Training? Start Here: https://dlakecreates.com/10w2s-5
- How To Gain Muscle & Run A lot: https://dlakecreates.com/gainmuscle
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dlakecreates
- Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/120507


