Can lunges help you run faster?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 25, 2026
Lunges can also help you increase your stride length, which ultimately will help you boost your speed. In fact, according to a study published in the “Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research” in 2009, lunges (the forward and the jumping variations) have been shown to increase hamstring strength and running speed.
Do lunges help sprinters?
Benefits. Lunges help strengthen the quadriceps on the front of the thighs, which helps stabilize your knees and helps you quickly swing your legs forward when sprinting. Besides toning muscle, lunges also help lengthen sprinting stride.
What exercises make you run faster?
6 Exercises to Help You Run Faster
- Jump squats.
- Hip flexor training.
- Eccentric Romanian deadlifts.
- Sled Push.
- Hip thrusts.
- Nordic curls.
Are squats or lunges better for running?
Squatting develops your entire lower body and is arguably the best exercise for building running speed. There's no weight-training exercise more sport-specific to running than a walking lunge. It trains your body both to accelerate forward and decelerate, controlling the body's momentum.
Do squats make you run faster?
Squats, on the other hand, are a very efficient way to build muscular strength. Increasing muscular strength is what will allow you to run faster on flats, power up hills, and lengthen your stride. Additionally, well-developed muscles enable the body to use oxygen more efficiently, thereby reducing fatigue.
29 related questions foundDoes stretching help you run faster?
“It is an accepted thing that you do some stretches after you have exercised – you see all these people doing it in parks and it looks absurd. But from a performance point of view, there is no benefit, it is not going to make you run faster or better.
What foods can make you run faster?
Power foods: What to eat to up your immunity and run faster
- Coffee. Runners who had caffeine one hour before an eight-mile run improved their times by an average of 23.8 seconds, in a study reported in the Journal of Sports Science. ...
- White button mushrooms. ...
- Watermelon. ...
- Kale. ...
- Beetroot. ...
- Capers. ...
- Bran flakes.
Are lunges good for distance runners?
Benefits of Lunges for Runners
Lunges help prevent running injuries by building your lower body strength and stability and also improving your hips' range of motion. Runners tend to have tight hips, which can lead to injury, so physical therapists often incorporate lunges into physical therapy for runners.
Which lunges are best for runners?
Walking lunges are a great workout for strengthening your entire lower body and core. These are the best type of lunge for runners because they're a dynamic movement that's an exaggerated form of running.
Will lunges build muscle?
Muscles worked
Lunges increase muscle mass to build up strength and tone your body, especially your core, butt, and legs. Improving your appearance isn't the main benefit of shaping up your body, as you'll also improve your posture and range of motion.
What muscles help you run longer?
We recommend focusing on the key muscle groups involved in running, such as quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. Strengthening these key muscle groups will allow you to see immediate results as you run faster than you ever have before!
What muscles make you go faster?
The quadriceps work in conjunction with the hamstrings as the most important coordinating pair for sprints. The quadriceps pull the legs forward for fast bursts of running. The stronger the quads are, the faster your legs will pull your body forward — and the faster you'll be able to sprint.
Do squats and lunges make you faster?
Many runners skip strength training because they think it will make them bulky and slow them down. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Doing squats and lunges builds leg muscle, which gives you more power in your stride.
Do RDLS make you faster?
The Banded Single-leg RDL to Row is a great exercise to train the hamstrings, glutes, lower back and lats to decelerate and accelerate the body during all sports. Whether you want to sprint faster, throw a baseball harder, or protect your body from injury, this exercise should be a part of your training regimen.
Do Reverse lunges help with speed?
Often, a small change can make a big difference in the effectiveness of an exercise. If you're someone who's looking to increase speed and lower-body strength, the Reverse Lunge is a great way to do it.
Will squatting help my running?
The squat is a multi-joint exercise that primarily strengthens the hamstrings, hips, quadriceps, and glutes. “These are the biggest and most important muscles for runners because they power your stride,” explains Jason Fitzgerald, USATF certified coach and creator of Strength Running.
Why should runners do lunges?
What are the benefits of lunges? Lunges help runners control the hips and strengthen the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and core—all muscle groups we rely on to run). They also help identify weaknesses that can lead to running injuries, says McClendon.
Are weighted lunges good for runners?
Work some of the most important leg muscles runners need.
“Weighted lunges will improve the use of fast-twitch muscle fibers—muscle fibers that don't normally get recruited when running slowly,” says Jon-Erik Kawamoto, a Canadian strength-training coach. He suggests runners do lunges one to two times per week.
Are lunge pulses good?
With proper form, lunge pulses are an effective lower body workout that target multiple muscle groups. Hamstrings: As you dip up and down during the lunge pulse exercise, you activate the hamstring muscles on the back of your legs.
How can I increase my speed in 2 weeks?
Running Your Fastest Mile in Just Two Weeks
- Run strides 2 to 3 times per week. ...
- Do 1 or 2 workouts a week focused on running mile effort or a bit slower, targeting vVO2.
- Run consistently 4 to 6 times per week, with all mileage easy outside of your strides and workouts.
What can I drink to run faster?
A new study shows that pink drinks can help to make you run faster and further compared to clear drinks. A new study led by the Centre for Nutraceuticals in the University of Westminster shows that pink drinks can help to make you run faster and further compared to clear drinks.
How do I run faster in a week?
How to Sprint Faster in a Week
- Avoid shrugging your shoulders and keep your head still. ...
- Swing your arms the opposite direction to your legs. ...
- Maintain an upright posture while sprinting and lean forward slightly. ...
- Increase your stride frequency with shorter strides. ...
- Push off and land on the balls of your feet.
Is it bad for runners to be flexible?
“When it comes to running, flexibility is overrated,” says Steve Magness, author of “The Science of Running” and cross country coach at the University of Houston. “Research shows that if you are too flexible, you are a less efficient runner.” As Magness explains it, our muscles and tendons are designed like springs.
How do I run less stiff?
Stretch, stretch, and then stretch some more
"I do some static stretches, which always includes half pigeon, runner's lunge, and couch stretch," she says. Designating this time to stretch your body out can do wonders in fighting off stiffness and allows you to keep up with your running schedule.
Do bigger leg muscles make you run faster?
While a variety of processes helps to determine your running speed, the size and strength of the muscles in your legs are among the most important. Whether you run long distances or sprint competitively, increasing the size of your calves through exercise may help you to run faster.