Some of the benefits of running include increasing your lung capacity and your heart muscle strength, burning fat, reducing weight, and making you feel good. The result is less strain on your muscles and connective tissues and consequently less chance of injury. But that core benefit that we don’t think about with jogging is toned abs.

When you're sprinting you also work your abs. It can also be a way to build strength. Gradually increase your time by increments of five to 10 minutes bi-weekly. If you’re predominantly a distance runner, a … Strong abs increase the stability of your hips, pelvis, and even your knees during running.

According to the Washington Running Report, you can improve your technique and reduce risk of injury by engaging your abdominal muscles while you run. Remember that every time you lift you lift your leg in the air. It can also be a way to build strength. Your abs are definitely in use and engaged during running, but as far as actively building them and making them stronger, Kelly said, running … Your obliques get a good workout from running, but the real star of the game is your rectus abdominis -- the muscle that gives you a "six pack." This puts tension on the abdominal area and releases tension placed on the lower back and pelvis area, according to the report. For the best results, eat a healthy diet. Running can lead to muscle loss if you overdo it, which is why it's a good idea to incorporate both running and strength training into your routine to see the best results. Also, by minimizing wasteful movement at the joints, strong abs make your stride more efficient, so you can run faster, longer. So think about this: you've just worked your abs in one 100 meter sprint 57 to 60 times. Because running causes a significant amount of spine movement, strong abs can stabilize your spine to prevent injury. Strengthen Your Abs for Your Run Although running will strengthen and tone your abs -- and help you burn fat around your midsection and elsewhere -- several strength-training exercises can further build your abs. A 20-minute sprint interval workout every day will likely help you lose belly fat, and therefore flatten your tummy and reveal those abs you have underneath. Truth be told, you don’t actually need that many ab exercises to build the abs you want. The rectus abdominis is responsible for holding you upright as you propel yourself forward. Gradually increase your time by increments of five to 10 minutes bi-weekly. While bursts of weight training do spike your GH temporarily, steady-state cardio sends it soaring, they found. While running can build muscle, it’s still important to include strength training in your training regimen. And it delivers a longer-lasting boost than your standard-issue weight lifting, too.

According to Naughton, the best form of running session to work on your core and develop strong abdominal muscles is speed sessions. Engaging Your Abs. In fact, ab training is the least of your worries. Strong abs increase the stability of your hips, pelvis, and even your knees during running. A world-class sprinter covers 100 meters in about 44 to 47 steps and the average person would probably cover that distance in about 57 to 60 steps. For best results, however, you’ll want to combine cardio sessions with targeted ab training, which has the sole aim of building up the muscles in your mid-section. Flexing your muscles is more than just a way to show off the results of your strength training workouts. Also, by minimizing wasteful movement at the joints, strong abs make your … Until your have built up your muscle endurance on the treadmill, limit your sessions to a maximum of 25 to 30 minutes. The result is less strain on your muscles and connective tissues and consequently less chance of injury . To do this, tighten the abdominal muscles, as if you were trying to pull your navel toward your spine. Running strengthens the bones on … Your abs won't be getting the same intense stimulation that crunches give, but the longer duration of running compared to ab exercises means they will still strengthen and tone. Although resistance training moves such as situps and the plank tone core muscles and increase abdominal strength, running also helps.