Sure, your quads, hamstrings, and calves work hard to propel you forward. But there’s another muscle that’s a power player in your running: your diaphragm.
With each forceful contraction, this key breathing muscle helps expand your lungs to bring in oxygen—a gas your muscles need to create energy, says Michael Jordan, D.P.T., Director of Research & Education at Fast Track Sports Medicine & Performance Center in Fairfax, VA. As it works, you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, the buildup of which can cause anxiety and breathlessness.
Bringing awareness to your breathing builds more efficiency, a steadier pace, and a calmer mind, even during high-pressure races, says Boulder-based pro runner and coach Neely Spence Gracey. If you focus on solid breathing, “you’ll be able to push through fatigue and maintain…
