I’ve known for a long time that strength training was one of those things that runners should do. It’s sort of like flossing your teeth—everyone knows that you should do it but do you know any faithful flossers? As an increase in pandemic mileage collided with an increase in age, I suffered a few minor injuries and decided that it was time to floss. Err, do strength training.

Quick Strength for Runners offers an eight week strength-training routine (two different workouts per week) that draw on a well illustrated collection of forty individual exercises that require minimal equipment. Each exercise routine can be completed in thirty minutes—thus the “1 hour a week” cover boast.

I followed the routine for the first six weeks before an elbow injury (unrelated to running) sidelined me. The progress I found both in body composition and in running endurance was notable. Quick Strength is the guide I’ll be returning to seasonally.

Horowitz, Jeff. Quick Strength for Runners: Eight Weeks to a Better Runner’s Body. Velo Press, 2013.