Science of strength

I have lost count of the times I have heard a runner say that they don’t do strength training.

When asked why, I almost always get the response: “I don’t need it.”

I then ask “How many times have you been injured?” or “Don’t you wish you were faster?”, to which the usual answers are “Too many to count!” and “Obviously, Robert!”

A dig into the literature results in heaps of articles showing the benefit of strength training for runners. From improving running economy in elite 5km^{1, 2} and short-mid distance³ runners, to the recreational runner.⁴

Most articles point to the fact that