Ask the Trainer – TRX Suspension Training to Improve Running and Walking

Richard Pine is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, has been with Metro Run and Walk since 2004, and currently coaches the MRW Training Programs.

TRX Suspension Training to Improve Running and Walking

Suspension training is a versatile tool for runners, walkers, and a wide range of athletes as it leverages your own body weight to help improve your strength, flexibility, balance and endurance.  The versatility of the TRX allows for easy set-up and can be made more or less challenging depending on your level of fitness.

Many of the workouts performed on the TRX suspension trainer engage your core muscles to a greater degree in a wide range of movements.  Increased core strength allows for greater power through your movements as well as allowing you to perform your activities more efficiently, and as a result helping to reduce injury.  In addition to strengthening your core, it is equally important for runners and walkers to exercise their hip and leg muscles, as running and walking alone do not equally engage and recruit all the muscle groups to the degree needed for increased performance.  When performing leg strength workouts, it is also important to focus on single-leg exercises as often times there is an imbalance in both leg strength and flexibility.  Whether you are navigating the uneven footing of urban sidewalks and streets or the more rugged terrain of wooded trails, those imbalances in muscle strength combined with the repetitive impact movement of running and walking could potentially contribute towards any number of injuries.

With that said, here are three exercises that can be performed on the TRX suspension trainer that will help improve both leg strength and flexibility.

Check out our YouTube video for info on how to perform these exercises

TRX Squat

TRX Forward Crossover Lunge

TRX Abducted Lunge

Though the TRX is a great tool for runners, it is not just for runners.  Whether you run, walk, swim, play sports, cycle, go to the gym, or simply want to stay fit, the TRX suspension trainer is an effective tool to incorporate into your workout program, as it allows for a great full-body workout, incorporating strength, stability, and flexibility that will benefit anyone.

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