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Last year, someone held a plank for nine hours, 38 minutes, and 47 seconds. Josef Šálek, from the Czech Republic, could probably clock a mean marathon time if he tried—because a strong core is crucial in keeping you upright during long runs, and planks are one of the best multitasking moves for increasing core strength and stability.
“Planks are an easy way for runners to activate much of the core system without something like a crunch, which targets only a few parts,” says Samantha DuFlo, an RRCA-certified running coach and founder of Indigo Physiotherapy. They also build running-specific strength, because your back isn’t supported while you perform one, adds Meredith O’Brien, a USATF-certified endurance coach, ACSM-certified personal trainer, and head coach and owner of East Coast Run Project in Virginia Beach, VA. “That makes the muscles work in the same way…
