Glutes. Gluteus maximus. Buttocks muscles! I read recently that men tend to use their glutes more in running, while woman tend to use quads and hamstrings more in powering movement. Interesting. So, i’ve taken an inactive interest in my glutes. I always assumed they must be somewhat strong from all the running, but a few strength exercises have confirmed otherwise. They’re weak and could be much stronger. To boot, sitting all day hinders the engagement of glutes, meaning that when I do go for a post-work run, I’m probable that my glutes are lazy AF and are allowing my quads do all the work. How rude! So, not only do my glutes need a crash course in strength training, I need to figure out how to re-engage them to ensure they fire! To ensure they take the brunt of running and give my hamstrings a break. So i’m on a mission! The issue with this mission!
The mission has been not as fruitful as I’d like. Exercising the glutes means a sore running day. But this evening I think I had a breakthrough! I completed a few treadmill miles. (Yes only a few, because I could feel my life slipping away with boredom) and then I switched to weights. I engaged those butt muscles. I mindfully felt each buttock contract to ensure they were firing. And when I was done with the gym, I decided to walk home from the office. And let me tell you, that 30 minute walk felt great! I felt like I was gliding! Gliding home at a record pace without even trying to be fast. My glutes had been activated, that posterior to anterior swing was back in action and I was gliding. It’s been said, that the “glutes are the rotator cuff of the pelvis,” so now my aim is to keep that rotator cuff strong and well oiled and then maybe I have a chance of being a better marathoner!