Ann Arbor Marathon Cross-Training with Pilates

How Pilates Can Support Your Ann Arbor Marathon Training

The Ann Arbor Marathon is more than just a race—it’s a celebration of community, commitment, and pushing personal limits. Whether you’re running your first 5K or tackling the full marathon, it takes more than just pounding the pavement to reach the finish line. That’s where Pilates comes in.

Traditional marathon training tends to focus on logging miles and building cardiovascular endurance. But there’s another piece to the puzzle: strength, mobility, and injury prevention. Pilates helps you build strength in the primary and supporting muscles you use to run, improve flexibility, and run with better alignment and posture—giving you the full-body support you need to train smarter, not just harder.

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a low-impact workout that zeroes in on core strength, body alignment, and controlled, purposeful movement. It’s known for improving flexibility and stability while helping you move more efficiently—something every runner can benefit from. At MOVE Wellness in Ann Arbor, our expert instructors work with people of all fitness levels to build strength, confidence, and a deeper mind-body connection through Pilates.

Why Runners Should Add Pilates to Their Training

Adding Pilates to your marathon training can bring big rewards. Here’s how:

Stronger core, better form: A stable core helps you maintain good posture and running mechanics, especially when fatigue sets in late in a race.
Improved flexibility: Tight hamstrings and hips? Pilates can help you loosen up and move with a fuller range of motion.
Better balance and coordination: Pilates fine-tunes those small stabilizing muscles that keep your movements efficient and aligned.
Faster recovery: The gentle, controlled nature of Pilates can help soothe sore muscles and support recovery between long runs.

Key Pilates Exercises for Runners

If you’re new to Pilates or just looking to complement your training, these are a few movements to start with:

Leg circles – Boosts hip mobility and stability and maintains range of motion.
Planks – The full “Leg Pull” builds a rock-solid core and enhances stability.
Bridges – Strengthens glutes and lower back for better running support.

Pro tips for beginners: Take your time learning proper form and don’t be afraid to modify as needed. Pilates isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress and body awareness.

MOVE Wellness Pilates Options for Ann Arbor Marathoners

At MOVE Wellness, we’ve worked with countless Ann Arbor runners who want to stay strong, prevent injury, and perform their best. Whether you’re looking for private training, reformer classes, or virtual options, we’ve got a format that fits your schedule and training goals.

Our sessions are tailored to support runners at every level. Many clients tell us Pilates made a noticeable difference—not just in how they move, but in how they feel throughout training.

What our Members Say About Running and Pilates

I love running. I hate running. But, mostly I love how it makes me feel strong and empowered. Working those small stabilizing muscles in my Pilates reformer and mat classes helps my running posture and keeps me aligned and injury-free. I make sure to keep Pilates in my weekly fitness routine for mobility, flexibility, and strength — plus it’s really fun to work out with others! – Robin Krienke, Co-Founder of MOVE Wellness

I wish I had discovered MOVE Wellness years ago when I first started running at the age of 40. Unlike other gyms and classes I have attended in the past, MOVE Wellness offers much smaller classes where the incredible instructors help me to understand my body and how to move so that my whole body is working together. If I am doing a movement wrong, they help me understand why and how to get it right. Doing classes on the reformer and Gyrotonics has helped me focus on my whole body, correct form, posture and stability. This has been very beneficial to my running and for injury prevention. Understanding more about breath and how to use it when exercising has been enlightening and so helpful. When I run now, or walk, even sitting in the car I try to focus on my total body, my posture, breath and core. Running is so much more than just getting the miles in! – Ros J., MOVE Wellness Member

Jumpstart Your Pilates Journey with MOVE Wellness

If you’re curious about trying Pilates, we’d love to help you get started. Our new client special is a great way to get going! It includes three private sessions for $180 and is the perfect way to experience the benefits firsthand. Plus, we offer supportive services like massage therapy, craniosacral therapy and physical therapy to help you recover and keep moving.

Whether you’re training for a race or just want to feel your best, we’re here to support your wellness every step of the way.

Final Thoughts: Pilates and the Ann Arbor Marathon

Training for the Ann Arbor Marathon is a big goal—but you don’t have to do it alone. Pilates offers the kind of strength, flexibility, and recovery support that can make a real difference in how you train and how you race.

At MOVE Wellness, we’re passionate about helping runners thrive. Let’s work together to make this your strongest season yet. Contact us or stop by our Ann Arbor studio to get started!

How Pilates Can Support Your Ann Arbor Marathon Training

What is Pilates?

Why Runners Should Add Pilates to Their Training

Key Pilates Exercises for Runners

MOVE Wellness Pilates Options for Ann Arbor Marathoners

What our Members Say About Running and Pilates

Jumpstart Your Pilates Journey with MOVE Wellness

Final Thoughts: Pilates and the Ann Arbor Marathon

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