Strength Training for Runners: Building Injury Resistance

Discover how strength training for runners can dramatically improve your race times while preventing common injuries like IT band syndrome, runner’s knee, and shin splints. This comprehensive guide reveals the exact exercises, movement patterns, and training strategies that transform weak posterior chains and poor movement mechanics into powerful, resilient running performance. Learn why proper strength conditioning isn’t just about injury prevention—it’s the secret weapon that elite coaches use to help distance runners achieve personal records year after year through improved tissue tolerance and force production.

Chest Supported Y Raise

The chest supported Y-raise is a powerful upper back exercise that specifically targets the lower trapezius muscles while building essential shoulder stability and corrective postural strength. This movement serves as an excellent rehabilitation and prehabilitation exercise for desk workers suffering from forward head posture and overhead athletes needing improved scapular control. By emphasizing movement quality over heavy loads, the chest supported Y-raise effectively addresses common shoulder dysfunctions while strengthening the often-neglected lower trap muscles that are crucial for optimal shoulder blade positioning and overall upper body health.