Why Pilates Should Be Part of Your Marathon Training This Year

Pilates is a resistance training whole-body workout, which makes it great for improving performance in any sporting activity. With everyone well into their marathon training - and maybe feeling some aches and pains already – Personal Trainer and nutrition expert Max Ziegler, from Core The Studio, tells us why it’s a great time to think about how Pilates could be beneficial in preparing for the big day.
Pilates Increases Core Strength
Pilates is one of the only exercises that focuses heavily on core strength, rather than just abdominal muscles, meaning it strengthens your entire torso – abs, hips, pelvic floor, back, shoulders etc. This is hugely beneficial to runners, as it enables your torso to be stronger, more balanced, and more stabilising when you run.
Pilates Improves Posture
Improved posture through core strength means that your spine and surrounding muscle is protected during intense or repetitive exercise. This means that you are less likely to injure yourself through repetitive movement, and you can say goodbye to post-run back ache.
Pilates Improves Balance
One of the key elements Pilates is balance with mobility. Increased muscle strength and balance means that you can regain control much faster after a trip and nasty falls are prevented.
Pilates Teaches Controlled Breathing
A healthy breathing pattern is crucial to long distance running, and learning to regulate your own breathing will prevent you losing excess energy. Pilates teaches mindful breathing, as you learn to fill your lungs fully, engage your diaphragm, and create stable breathing patterns.
Pilates Can Speed Up Recovery
Pilates builds all over body strength, ensuring all muscles are in good condition.  Increased joint mobility, muscle strength and general fitness will decrease your recovery time after strenuous training or an injury, and you won’t be left feeling so sore after a workout.
Pilates Improves Flexibility
Since so much of Pilates involves stretching, muscles and ligaments become more flexible, and therefore less strained by the repetition of running. The actual stretching process of the exercise will also ensure that you really stretch out your muscles as much as you should after a run and you won’t be so stiff the next day.