Excellent lecture from TheSockDoc on the leg muscles that are key for runners: your gluteus medius, which stabilizes your legs and keep them strong. He demonstrates how you can isolate the muscle if you are experiencing pain.
The other muscle is your soleus, one of your two calf muscles. This muscle allows you to flex your foot, which provides stability and allows you to spring forward.
He also shows you exercises that you can do to hone your muscles:
- Standing on one foot with your eyes closed
- Deep squat – back as straight as possible, shoulders behind your knee. Great for mobility of your ankles, knees and your hips. Try doing this for 30 times every day for maximum benefit