If you’re a runner, there’s no question about it: You have strong legs. That’s because you need and use them in order to propel yourself forward and successfully log miles. Muscular calves and thighs can be a telltale sign that someone is a runner. But there are more muscles involved in running that are often forgotten about—namely the glutes.
“Many runners neglect strength training in general, mostly due to the misconception that strength training will make you slow or inefficient,” explains Cameron Yuen, PT, DPT, CSCS, physical therapist at Bespoke Treatments Physical Therapy and Fitness in New York City. “The glutes especially tend to get overlooked as there isn’t an intuitive connection between increased hip strength and running performance.”