Pump Those Arms!

Ever get to the end of a race and you just have nothing left? Not talking about hitting the wall. Your mind is clear, but you've just run out of steam? I sure have. Well, oddly enough this lack of steam could be due to lack of upper body strength. As runners, we tend to focus on the legs and pay little if any attention to the upper body. Your arm and leg movements are actually interconnected. Your left arm pumping-action works in conjunction with your right leg and your right arm pumping-action works with your left leg to help move you forward. It's kind of like follow-the-leader. Your arms are the leader. So, if you have strong arms and a strong pumping action to carry you through that last bit of the race, your legs have no choice but to follow the leader. Having a strong core will work to support that arm action as well as your legs.

Don't worry, I'm not talking about adding 20-pound guns to each arm, but doing the following routine will give you that extra strength to pull you across that finish line.

1. Shoulder Shrug Using Dumbbells

2. Lateral Raise Using Dumbbells

07 Beginner: Shoulders - Dumbbell Lateral Raise - For more funny movies, click here

3. Bicep Curls

Arm & Shoulder Workouts: How To Do Bicep Curls

4. Tricep Dips


5. Abdominal Bicycle Crunches