21/08/2026
Strength training makes a big difference when you need it the most.
In a 2025 study using a randomized control trial, researchers compared a group of trained male runners over a 10 week period. One group only ran. The other included 2 strength and plyometric sessions a week.
They found that at the end of a hard, race equivalent effort (90 minutes close to marathon pace) that the strength training group had increased running economy and time to exhaustion compared to the control group which decreased in both metrics.
While there are limitations to this study: only young male subjects, small sample sized, well trained athletes
It does provide evidence that strength training can stave off fatigue later in hard efforts and could be the key to a more durable, late race performance.
Also notable is that this was done in only 2 sessions a week so this doesn’t require hours and hours at the gym.
Researchers continue to find more benefits of strength training to runners, at all distances so if you’re not already doing so, this is the sign to start adding it to your workout routine.
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