weights in the gym – you can benefit from as little as 15 minutes of core stability work if you manage to do a selection of exercises regularly. Exercises you can do at home are ideal for rest days too when your body needs time to recover. Remember

Riding all day nearly always exposes your weakest link, which for most riders is the core. "The core area - your abs, lower back, obliques, hips and glutes - helps transfer power to the pedals, as well as stabilise the rider on the bike," says US

cushion unless your backside is sufficiently padded to start with. – SnapstingetI learned the hard way that it's essential to do cross training to maintain running capability. I ran a lot from 1985-2000, 40+ miles per week and races once a month. All I did

without them." Hereare the key core muscles you need to run. Here's how your core works for you on the road...1. SpeedAs you extend your stride or quicken the rate of your leg and foot turnover when you're trying to pick up the pace, the lower abs

to the centre, then rotate your knees to the right. Do 10 to 12 reps on each side. Get It Right Make sure not to swing your hips or use momentum; start the movement from your core and continue to move slowly from side to side

and competitive runners were put to the test. After initial evaluation of ground reaction forces, lower-extremity stability scores and 5,000m running performance, half participated in a six-week core strength training programme while the other half did not. All

," Anderson says. "So keep it steady."The bands let you isolate and work on particular muscle groups. For runners, who often neglect their upper body and core, this means you can balance out your runs with a full-body workout. Try this routine a couple

. Don’t worry –the moves outlined below are easy to do anywhere and should make a real difference to the foot and ankle strength and mobility of any runner.The Monopoly Game Put 10 small objects – such as marbles or Monopoly pieces – on the floor

You might be able to run through a tight hamstring or a sore quad, but an injured foot or ankle usually puts the brakes on a session – and can ruin your entire training season. Our feet and ankles, after all, are the foundation of our sport. When they are working well, they allow...

of injury. But the instabilities that have developed over the years still need to be addressed. The correct prescription of exercise will ensure that the legs and core muscles become stronger, more stable and evenly balanced. This will add greatly