3 Squat Variations for Endurance Athletes
It’s marathon season. If you are like most endurance athletes, you may think that to get better at your sport, you must practice it continually. And I would agree to a point, since specificity is king to succeed in a specialized sport.
However, in order to prevent structural and muscular imbalances, it would be wise for endurance athletes to consider a strength training program that emphasizes full range of motion through multiple joints. A strong Squat can help address such imbalances.
RELATED: The Squat Variation That Torches Your Core
One of the best things endurance athletes can do is to incorporate Squats into their training routine.
Squatting is a compound movement that targets many of same muscle groups required for running, cycling or swimming. The primary movers are the quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes, in addition to the erectors, abdominal muscles and calves. The degree of flexion and extension of the knees, hips and ankles required during the movement can lead to increased muscle mass around the joints, improving stability.
Why are Squats useful to endurance athletes?
Think about the final leg of an event and the all-out effort required to get past the finish line. You must exert all your strength and power to produce muscle fiber recruitment when you need it most. Squatting heavy teaches your body to move heavier loads for lower reps, resulting in increased power and force production. Then, when you push your body for that last-ditch effort to get up a hill or sprint past the finish line, it will be able to do so.
RELATED: Squat 101: A How-To Guide
3 Variations Endurance Athletes Should Try
Front Squats
The Front Squat is traditionally a quad-dominant exercise. Given the position of the bar, you are forced to use your hips and core more than you do in a Back Squat. Essentially, as Coach Miguel Aragoncillo says, Front Squats are just legs and abs.
[youtube video=”GPvHaBlMmbA” /]Zercher Squats
If you have not tried these in your training regimen, you’ve been missing out. Zercher Squats require a huge emphasis on the posterior chain muscles and the core to perform the movement.
[youtube video=”Y_YvKREjiOA” /]Bulgarian Split-Squat or Rear-Foot-Elevated Squat
As with the other variations, the primary movers are still your quadriceps, glutes and hip flexors; but the single-leg version also addresses any imbalances you may have.
[youtube video=”XTfS5oowhxM” /]Summary
Assuming you are not within a few weeks of a major endurance event, the Squat and its variations are great exercises to add to your training arsenal. They confer huge benefits to endurance athletes who have not already incorporated them into their routines.
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3 Squat Variations for Endurance Athletes
It’s marathon season. If you are like most endurance athletes, you may think that to get better at your sport, you must practice it continually. And I would agree to a point, since specificity is king to succeed in a specialized sport.
However, in order to prevent structural and muscular imbalances, it would be wise for endurance athletes to consider a strength training program that emphasizes full range of motion through multiple joints. A strong Squat can help address such imbalances.
RELATED: The Squat Variation That Torches Your Core
One of the best things endurance athletes can do is to incorporate Squats into their training routine.
Squatting is a compound movement that targets many of same muscle groups required for running, cycling or swimming. The primary movers are the quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes, in addition to the erectors, abdominal muscles and calves. The degree of flexion and extension of the knees, hips and ankles required during the movement can lead to increased muscle mass around the joints, improving stability.
Why are Squats useful to endurance athletes?
Think about the final leg of an event and the all-out effort required to get past the finish line. You must exert all your strength and power to produce muscle fiber recruitment when you need it most. Squatting heavy teaches your body to move heavier loads for lower reps, resulting in increased power and force production. Then, when you push your body for that last-ditch effort to get up a hill or sprint past the finish line, it will be able to do so.
RELATED: Squat 101: A How-To Guide
3 Variations Endurance Athletes Should Try
Front Squats
The Front Squat is traditionally a quad-dominant exercise. Given the position of the bar, you are forced to use your hips and core more than you do in a Back Squat. Essentially, as Coach Miguel Aragoncillo says, Front Squats are just legs and abs.
[youtube video=”GPvHaBlMmbA” /]Zercher Squats
If you have not tried these in your training regimen, you’ve been missing out. Zercher Squats require a huge emphasis on the posterior chain muscles and the core to perform the movement.
Bulgarian Split-Squat or Rear-Foot-Elevated Squat
As with the other variations, the primary movers are still your quadriceps, glutes and hip flexors; but the single-leg version also addresses any imbalances you may have.
[youtube video=”XTfS5oowhxM” /]Summary
Assuming you are not within a few weeks of a major endurance event, the Squat and its variations are great exercises to add to your training arsenal. They confer huge benefits to endurance athletes who have not already incorporated them into their routines.
RELATED: 5 Ways to Improve Your Squat Strength