Is Pilates good for runners?

Still got it!

Sub 2-hour Half Marathon last weekend, and I actually enjoyed it. Very pleased with that.

And it brings me to one of the questions I get asked all the time:

“Is Pilates good for runners?”

Short answer: yes.

But maybe not for the reasons people think.

The thing that makes me a better runner is… running.

The miles, the tempo runs, the consistent training. That’s the law of specificity. Same goes for golf, tennis, rugby or skiing. You get better at your sport by practising your sport.

Which is exactly why I don’t really believe in “Pilates for runners”, “Pilates for golfers” or “Pilates for skiers”.

Pilates is Pilates and beneficial for everyone.

What Pilates does brilliantly is support your body around the demands of your sport.

Running is repetitive. Single plane. Single leg. High impact. Pilates gives the body something different: movement in all directions, strength through range, control, mobility and stability — all without constantly hammering the joints and legs.

Then there’s the core strength side of things. Better trunk control means less wasted energy. Better posterior chain endurance. More hip stability when fatigue kicks in at mile 10 and everything starts wobbling a little.

And reformer Pilates is such a smart way to load the hips, legs, and trunk without completely frying them between running sessions.

So no — Pilates alone won’t magically turn you into a faster runner.

But as cross-training? It’s gold.

It helps you stay strong, balanced, mobile, and resilient while still leaving enough in the tank for the actual running.

And honestly… the feeling after a really good Pilates session is hard to beat.

A bit like crossing the finish line of a half-

marathon: energised, accomplished, and ready for more. Book your first session today and discover the difference Pilates can make.