Benefit of Strengthening your Body Core

Strengthening the body's core is key for endurance athletes. However, this is often an overlooked element of strength training and becomes a factor in many who set out with determination but lack the "guts" to finish.
With many options to strengthen the core during a training period endurance athletes can make a real difference in their performance by including any of the following:
Pilates - builds strength in the body's core postural muscles which support the spine. These  exercises require awareness and control of breathing, spine position and torso muscles creating a total body workout without impact. They tone and realign the body improving flexibility, strength and posture, reduce the chance of injury,  and even muscular imbalances.
Gym Equipment - Today's fitness facilities include many pieces of equipment that strengthen and build the body's core:  Machine Crunch, Captain's Chair, Balance Ball, Hyperextension Platform, Exercise Floor, etc.  Each of these offers a variety of abdominal workouts that will build the body's core and produce results.
Yoga -  uses a combination of physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to push the body to gain increased flexibility, strength and balance. The concentration and mind-body connection gained in yoga enhances the mental focus needed in endurance sports training and racing. It can alleviate stress, muscle tension, and aid in recovery. 
Adding core body strengthening to a well developed training plan will take each athlete's training and racing to a whole new level! 
Thoughts, comments, questions?
An athlete is only as strong as their weakest physical or mental element!