The Best Workouts of 2022 for Runners
We dropped a new workout every weekend this year—these six were the most popular.
Every Saturday, Runner’s World editors and our team of trainers and run coaches put together a workout to support your miles. A mix of strength, mobility, and HIIT routines, these workouts target the muscles you need strong and resilient for every mile. They also get you to move in multiple directions, target muscles that power your runs and/or that runners tend to neglect, and they help keep you steady and ache-free in everyday life.
We’ve created more than 50 new workouts this year and these six stood out as the most popular among RW readers. Add each one to your weekly workout mix to get a well-rounded cross-training schedule—each one targets a different muscle group or training modality.
Leg Day
To build speed and power, strengthening your lower half is key. These exercises target the muscles of your legs from all angles. Don’t be afraid to lift heavy!
Bosu Ball Exercises
Create stability by doing moves on an unstable surface. This total-body Bosu ball workout hits every muscle of the body, while spiking your heart rate.
Calisthenics Workout
No equipment needed for these bodyweight exercises that mimic movements runners perform on the road! You’ll work your arms, legs, glutes, and abs.
Ab Exercises for Beginners
Solid running starts with a stable core! Begin building strength in your midsection with these exercises, designed for newbies.
Full-Body Circuit Workout
This challenging total-body routine will work your muscles in new ways! All you need is a set of dumbbells and these six exercises to work your entire body.
At-Home Back Exercises
Posture is not only important at your desk, but also on the run as it helps you breathe better and avoid discomfort. Strengthen the back of the upper body so you stand taller with these dumbbell exercises.
Mallory Creveling is an ACE-certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach, who also holds certifications in kettlebell training, sports performance, and more. She has more than a decade of experience covering fitness, health, and nutrition for a wide range of publications, and nearly 10 years of experience as a trainer and fitness instructor. Mallory stays on top of her continuing education in fitness, as well as the latest science in wellness. She has worked with some of the best experts in their medical fields, and regularly interviews researchers, trainers, athletes, and more to find the best advice for readers looking to improve their performance and well-being. As a freelance writer, Mallory's work appeared in Women's Health, Self, Men's Journal, Reader's Digest, and more. She has also held staff editorial positions at Family Circle and Shape magazines, as well as DailyBurn.com. A former New Yorker/Brooklynite, she's now based in Easton, Pennsylvania.
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