A Runner’s Guide to Fabulous Abs
18 March 2009
A chiseled midsection doesn’t just look good; it’s also good for your running
There are two types of runners: those who have great abs, and those who want them.
Go ahead, admit it: you want great abs! It’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, some scientists, including Devendra Singh, Ph.D., an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Texas, speculate that we humans are genetically predisposed to covet a lean midsection, because it’s a sign of good health and “reproductive fitness”.
Besides looking good, great abs really are healthy. Research has shown that, for both genders, there is a strong correlation between the amount of abdominal fat a person has and the risk of developing metabolic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Obviously, men 
and women with visible abdominal muscles have a small amount of belly fat and therefore a lower risk for these diseases.
There’s another pair of benefits to having great abs that is specific to runners: better running performance and fewer injuries. Visible abdominal muscles result not just from having a small amount of abdominal fat but also from having well conditioned core musculature. Strong abs increase the stability of your hips, pelvis, and even your knees during running. The result is less strain on your muscles and connective tissues and consequently less chance of injury. Also, by minimizing wasteful movement at the joints, strong abs make your stride more efficient, so you can run faster, longer.
How do you get great abs? Running is a good start, because it burns fat. But running alone won’t do the job. You also have to eliminate those extra calories from your diet that are turned into belly fat. Even if you run 50 miles a week, your paunch won’t vanish if you continue to eat donuts and french fries all day long. Finally, you need to condition your abdominal muscles with core strength exercises, because even with a very small amount of belly fat your core muscles won’t show through if they are poorly conditioned.
Since you’re already running, let’s look at how you can make your diet leaner and your abs stronger: check out the full article to learn more about how you can get fabulous abs!
Nutrition article courtesy of PacificHealth Laboratories, makers of nutrition tools such as Accelerade, Accel Gel, Endurox R4, Endurox Excel and much more. For product information or to purchase products, please visit www.pacifichealthlabs.com.
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