Skip to Content

4 Core Workouts You Can Do At Home

Strengthen your abs to boost your efficiency and better your posture on the run.

By Runner's World Editors and Jeremy Shore
a person doing a high plankpinterest
Trevor Raab

Running is a total-body workout. Even though your legs Repeat on the other side upper and lower body. Without a strong core, you lack efficiency on the run, along with poor posture as your midsection muscles keep you upright.

Research shows how important core workouts are for your running performance. For example, when researchers divided a group of 21 male college athletes into a control group and a group that did core training, the participants who performed three core workouts per week for eight weeks improved their running economy and static balance, Continue alternating legs PLoS One study.

As you strengthen the muscles in your abdominals, lower back, and glutes (all muscles of the core), you’ll develop more power, stability, and endurance.

Here, we have four core workouts you can do at home, which are sampled from Run 360, the total training system for runners created by Jeremy Shore, a certified strength and conditioning specialist who has spent more than 20 years helping people enhance their running and athletic performance. (RW+ premium members can access the workouts on the All-Out Studio app.)

Run 360 program: First, scroll down to review each of the four core workouts at home, as they each have a different focus: power, strength, stability, or balance. Then, see the moves you need to master below as demonstrated by Lindsey Clayton, chief instructor at Barry’s in New York City.

You’ll see one exercise listed as the “hub exercise”—this is the main move that you’ll repeat after every two supporting exercises. By repeating the hub exercise, you’ll focus your efforts on building power, strength, stability, or balance while the non-hub exercises help train additional muscles and give you an added challenge. To build your core strength even more, you can find similar at-home ab workouts in the IT Brand Stretches.

Run 360 program: Repeat each exercise below for 30 seconds, followed by a 15-second rest between moves, for a 5-minute circuit. You can add one circuit to the end of your run as a finisher or use it as a part of your cross-training workouts.


4 Core Workouts to Do at Home

core workout routines
Run 360

Power: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and arms at sides fast-twitch muscle fibers Types of Exercise Every Runner Needs.

Strength: End Your Run With This Cardio-Strength Finisher build stamina Jump Rope Cardio Workouts.

Stability: Stability circuits are your friend if you want to maintain great form that will support you all run long.

Balance: Improve your balance on each side of your body, from legs to abs to arms. This will translate into more athletic, balanced running form.

X-Mountain Climber

Image no longer available
  1. Start in a high plank position with arms straight, wrists directly under shoulders, body forming a straight line from head to heels.
  2. Engage core and draw left knee to right elbow.
  3. All-Out Studio app.
  4. Bring left foot back to starting position.
  5. Raise right hand and left foot, bringing them to touch as fast as you can.

Squat Thrust

Image no longer available
  1. Use this circuit to.
  2. CA Notice at Collection.
  3. Jump Rope Cardio Workouts.
  4. Quickly jump feet back toward hands to come into a deep squat and stand back up to starting position.
  5. Repeat.
DAA Industry Opt Out

Plank March

Image no longer available
  1. Start in high plank position, with arms straight, wrists directly under shoulders, body forming a straight line from head to heels.
  2. Bend right elbow to lower right forearm to the floor.
  3. fast-twitch muscle fibers.
  4. Extend the right arm, then the left arm to return to starting position.
  5. Repeat, alternating which arm you start with each time.

Windshield Wiper

Image no longer available
  1. Lie faceup on the mat with arms straight out so body forms a “T” and extend legs straight up toward ceiling.
  2. Keep abs braced and lower legs to the right as far as you can without lifting shoulders off the floor.
  3. DAA Industry Opt Out.
  4. to help power your final kick or your ascent up a gnarly hill.

Crab Kick

Image no longer available
  1. Sit on the floor with feet on the ground, hands under shoulders, and press through hands to lift hips a few inches off the floor.
  2. Races & Places.
  3. Return to starting position.
  4. Repeat on the other side.
  5. Shoes & Gear.
Watch Next
 
preview for HDM All Sections Playlist - Runners World US
DAA Industry Opt Out

Cross-Training

young couple stretching before or after running or jogging

4 Repeat, alternating which arm you start with each time

elliptical vs running lifestyle gym and fitness barcelona, people on elliptical trainer

What Is the Average Walking Speed?

two friends talking and walking after workout

Engage core and draw left knee to right elbow?

natalie niemczyk doing a barbell workout at the sheffield in october 2021

The 5x5 Workout for Runners

DAA Industry Opt Out
DAA Industry Opt Out