At the gym uses machines & weights. At home swaps in band versions of every exercise.
Warm-up
- Brisk walk4–5 min
Walk into the run so the first mile doesn't feel like a fight.
- Leg swings + ankle circles2 min
Open the hips and ankles before the first stride.
Run
- Easy run2–2.5 mi
Conversational — you could talk the whole way. RPE 4–5.
Run by feel, not pace. If your legs are heavy from lifting, slow down or walk 30 s and pick it back up — the mileage matters more than the speed.
💡 Same route, same effort, different day: consistency is what burns the weight off.
Activation (after the run)
- Glute activation3–4 min
Banded walks, glute bridges, fire hydrants. Wake the glutes up so they do the work, not your lower back.
💡 If your glutes feel 'asleep' after the run, do a little more here.
- Hip openers2 min
Deep squat hold and a couple of lunge stretches to loosen the hips before you load them.
Legs — squat pattern (heavy, short)
- Smith machine sumo squat3 × 8–12
Wide stance, toes out, sit straight down. Hits glutes and inner thigh differently than a normal squat.
- Leg press (narrow feet, deep)3 × 8–12
Feet low and close for more quad and range. Change the stimulus, keep the volume.
- Smith machine step-up (bench)2 × 10 / leg
Bar on the back, tall bench, no push off the back foot — all front-leg glute.
- Seated leg curl2 × 12–15
Keep the hamstrings in the week even on squat day.
Cool-down & stretch
- Light walk3–5 min
Let the heart rate settle and flush the legs.
- Hip flexor + couch stretch45 s × each
Open the front of the hip after heavy thrust/squat work — tight hip flexors flatten the glute.
- Pigeon / figure-4 glute stretch45 s × each
Release the glutes you just worked.
- Hamstring fold45 s × each
Gentle forward fold to release the posterior chain.
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