Running doesn’t just require good cardiovascular fitness – you’ll need a good level of strength to really push yourself, too.

“Strength training can help you build stronger muscles, improve your running form and increase your running speed,” explains Ania Gabb, ASICS FrontRunner, running coach and personal trainer. “Focus on exercises that target your lower body and core muscles like squats, lunges and planks.”

Wendy Rumble, an England Athletics running coach and Boobydoo ambassador, agrees. “Add in some resistance training to strengthen your key running muscles – squats, calf raises and core work are all great,” Rumble recommends.

“In an ideal world, runners should have at least one strength training session per week. With running being such a high-impact sport, it’s vital to build the strength required to stay injury-free, and this is especially significant when building mileage and pace.”

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