Does Running Give Abs?

So no for most people, running alone will not give you abs. Once I hung up my running shoes for good, trading in long runs for HIIT training, my body slowly krept down to my leanest point, hovering around 8% body fat. The noticeable—some might even say drastic—changes in my body had about 20% to do with science and 80% to do with my mental state.

But while the world’s top runners all seem to have rippling six-packs, physical therapist Toni Dauwalter explains that running is not necessarily the secret to washboard abs. Can Running Give You Abs? Running is an excellent cardio exercise that burns fat (including belly fat) and reduces the risks of cardiac disease and diabetes.

Plus, “running is a great cardiovascular form of exercise, which in return is one of the best ways of reducing body fat levels, and thus help in making your abs more visible.”

When it comes to getting visible abs, runners need to optimise their diets, Pearson explains. “To support your abs workout, you need to ensure your diet is rich in protein to support muscle growth and promote muscle recovery.” How much protein should runners consume?

How do I work my abs?

So, to conclude, if you want to work on your abs – think like a sprinter. On the running front, add speedwork into your schedule, whether that’s fartlek , tempo or interval runs. In the gym, think power and add full body weight exercises to your cross training, whether that’s in the form of tabata, plyometrics or bodyweight training.

According to Naughton, the best form of running session to work on your core and develop strong abdominal muscles is speed sessions. If you’re predominantly a distance runner, a good, simple speed session to try is 10-20 reps of 100m sprints, with 30-40 second walking breaks between sprints.

Pearson outlines the healthiest way for runners to do this is to “minimise consumption of sugars, refined, starchy carbohydrates and highly processed foods. Instead of focussing your meal around pasta, rice or bread, base meals on a source of protein, some healthy fats and plenty of vegetables.

Firstly, we address the function of the core when running and how you can strengthen your abdominal muscles, depending on how you train. Then there is ‘getting abs’, as in achieving a specific aesthetic that is often seen on runners (be it mainly the pros). This is more often than not a by product of training very hard and so yes, …

How to build abs while running?

So, to conclude, if you want to build your abs while running – think like a sprinter. Do plenty of speedwork workouts, whether it’s intervals, hill reps, or fartlek. Your diet and cross-training workouts also matter. The rest is just details.

To stop going over your daily caloric allowance, stop eating processed foods. Instead, consume food in its most natural and raw form. This means lots of vegetables, lean proteins, fresh fruits, as well as healthy fats and grains.

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