Triathlete Frederic Funk for a running analysis at CURREX. In the 5D Lab, Fred lets the treadmill glow, learns more about his running technique and which exercises ensure an even better running style.
We give valuable strengthening exercises to make the running style more economical.
Liesa Fialkowske - Dec 30 2021
Triathlete, coffee lover and, above all, always looking for new challenges. Frederic Funk has been competing as a professional triathlete since 2018 and put a huge exclamation mark right in the first year of his professional career. Four middle distances with four podium successes. But that's not enough, because his career continues to pick up speed, so he could shine in 2019 with a victory at Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote and in 2021 he secured first place at Challenge Mallorca and St. Pölten. Frederic also won the title of European 70.3 champion at the Ironman race in Walchsee this year. In the next few years, he wants to establish himself among the world's top middle-distance athletes and, in the long term, make his dream of winning the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii come true.
After a successful but long 2021 season, Frederic is using the offseason and training break to do a running analysis. He is curious and wants to find out what he can still achieve in the third and final discipline, running.
Frederic is very aware that almost no one can currently outrun him on the bike, but that he still has hidden potential on the run. For this, we do a running style analysis with him on our 5-D LAB at the headquarters in Hamburg. We drew some exciting conclusions from this analysis that we don't want to withhold from you.
"The results have shown that there is still something to be gained and that there is further potential - I am pleased about that."
The focus of strength training is now on the lower abdominal and rear thigh muscles. A strong musculature ensures that the entire torso is calm and no unnecessary force and work has to be done. This saves energy and makes the running style more economical. Frederic focuses on functional exercises and eccentric strength training (e.g. Jefferson Curl, Nordic Hamstring Curl, Reverse Nordic Hamstring Curl).
If you also want valuable tips for your strength training or need the right exercise, then take a look at the following video on strengthening exercises for runners:
An optimisation of the stride frequency is also on the plan. Frederic's stride frequency has to be raised especially during the long and slow endurance runs - this consolidates a strong and fast coordination ability, which is necessary later on during fast tempos in order to generate short contact times without tiring too quickly. In order to increase the frequency, among other things the arm work is improved, i.e. an acute elbow angle is realised over the entire stride cycle, which can increase the frequency of the arms and legs.
Frederic relies on the RUNPRO in training and the RUNEXPERT in competition - last but not least, we were able to prove this in the 5-D LAB. The running analysis in the 5-D LAB was in any case motivating for Frederic to start the 2022 season with full throttle and a concrete plan.
"Especially in times of carbon running shoes, which also have a high sole construction, it is great to have insoles that give me stability and better contact with the shoe and the ground. I always use RunExpert insoles in my races. In training, I rely on the RUNPRO. "
We've gathered the most important information about running shoes for you, so that everything fits when you buy your next pair of running shoes.
Germany's best-known marathon runner Philipp Pflieger meets the 5D LAB for the first time at CURREX and is amazed at the hidden potential that a professional running style analysis can bring to light.
Frederic makes the treadmill glow: After a successful 2021 season, Frederic uses the training break to do a running analysis. He is curious to see what can still be achieved in the 3rd and final discipline, running.
