I used to be one of those runners who always ran the same pace. If I couldn’t do a longer run at the pace I could do for a 2-mile run, then I viewed myself as not ready for longer distances yet. I only allowed myself to run a max of 3 days per week because I couldn’t hold the same pace for more than that, as I was exhausted (and my pace used to be a lot slower than it is today). Training for a race became an exercise in willpower, and I would always take time off…

Let’s talk about your peach (aka your butt) and how integral it is to running performance. Your butt is comprised of 3 gluteal muscles: the gluteus maximus, the gluteus medius, and the gluteus minimus. They’re commonly referred to together as “the glutes.” It’s difficult to ascertain which exercises target which of the 3 muscles, as it varies depending on several factors. What can be determined is whether an exercise targets the upper or lower subdivision of the glutes, or both (like the hip thrust). The glutes are either directly or indirectly connected to your lower and upper back, your…