What exercise to help with running?

Strength training is pretty essential. I do 2-3 sessions a week. If I’m injured I find spin classes good and also swimming, although my technique is awful. I also think having a personal trainer is very useful as they can keep you on track and it makes things a bit more interesting. I would definitely get one if I could afford it.

@CrumblyCrimble - I completely agree with everything you've said. There's no substitute for seeing a physio in person, as they help track your progression.

@pepperminttaste - I think seeing a physio person will be more beneficial for you. They can watch your form and help you make adjustments, so that you're focusing on loading the muscles in the correct way.
I know that it can be boring, but correct form and avoiding injury are so important. Once you've got a programme sorted, try and mix things up a bit. You could try strength training, yoga, Pilates, swimming, cycling on different days, alongside your rehab exercises. Once you can see that you're building strength, it should help you stay motivated to keep going.

I found YouTube exercises using kettlebells very useful and also rock climbing will help your core (and is very good fun)

Sounds like you're struggling with boredom when you do classes or physio prescribed exercises.
The physio exercises are so important to sort out the underlying weakness. Leaping straight into weights etc won't hit the little imbalances or muscle atrophies or whatever the physio has spotted.
Get a face to face physio. Mine has been open all through 2021, you'll find one. If they set an exercise you find tedious, ask them to switch it up a bit or give you more of a challenge or goal.

Do the exercises EVERY DAY in front of the tv or listening to a podcast or whatever you enjoy to relieve the tedium. Yes, it's a bit boring but it's an investment in future you.

I feel similar to you but did them daily and you should see how great my legs looked after! Oh and I'm stronger and not in pain. I'm also an injury prone runner

Good luck

I've done Couch to 5k, but would never call myself a runner.

Do you have a running shop anywhere near you? The sort of place that assesses your gait?

I only ask because one of my friends really suffered with knee and shin pain when she upped her running and the local shop sold her a different style of shoe. She's still showing off her runs on SM, so it must have done the trick!

Also HIIT classes too as these often have some body weight exercises in too.

Also outdoor boot camp type classes. A regular group to go with is quite motivating.

Weight training and pilates has changed my core strength massively in 12 weeks, by only doing one session a week. I have gone from struggling through a 7 second plank to 40 seconds. I plan on doing more weight lifting as I’m still quite weak and upping my Pilates to 2-3 sessions a week

Pilates will be very similar to physio exercises. I do remote but some in person is useful to look at form, as it's really easy to do Pilates badly and achieve very little. My teacher does both which means she knows what to look at in the classes online.
I find running and Pilates are good counterparts, with hiit for fitness and kettle bell for strength (but I'm getting very lazy about it all at the moment).

weight training and yoga. Weight training gives you the muscular and vascular strength to make running easy even if you haven't done it for a while (I know this as I used to run, then had severe plantar pain and stopped for years. Took up weights. Can now run with zero training very easily.
Yoga because it stretches mucles and tendons so you are less likely to get injury from tight or too contracted muscles, and because all those balance poses strengthen core and ankles, again leading to fewer injuries.

Squats - start off with body weight and then build up to weighted - try a kettlebell, Olympic plate or dumbbells.
Walking lunges.
Planks.
Yoga.
Resistance band exercises - pop one around your ankles and do crab walks.
Ask your physio to design a programme for you to use at home / in the gym. They should be working with you to improve your strength and flexibility!

‘Bundling’ is good for motivation, eg I only listen to my favourite podcasts and music while running.

You’re playing the ‘yes but’ game.

If it’s important enough to you to get stronger, reduce pain and be more active again, you’ll find ways.

You’re not helping yourself not doing the recommended physio exercises! So what if they’re dull?

Weights won’t strain your joints if the weight and your form are OK. The problem with group classes like body pump is that many people have poor form and the instructor rarely corrects.

Swimming or biking would be good cardio. Pilates probably best for core. Yoga is fun. Both yoga and pilates can be done online.

Walking good too.

I've been doing exercise dvds like Jillian Michaels 30 days shred etc most mornings for the last 6 weeks. I also do body pump and fit step class at the gym and try to swim once a week. I've only been running once a week at parkrun and I've just managed to beat pbs I had from a few years back which I got when I was doing red January so the exercise must be helping!! My body shape has also toned quite a lot tho the weight is being stubborn!!

Weight training.

Body weight is fine but also getting into heavy weights. Squats and deadlifts are great for core strength.

I don't run but I do hill/long distance walking and when I did Jillian Michaels 6 week 6 pack DVD a few years ago I noticed a big difference in my ability to walk downhill! Didn't get a 6 pack... But improving my core did really help my balance.

I think pilates would be good if you were going to do a class. What kind of yoga have you tried? I get bored if I do a class (an hour plus) but cope ok with doing 15-30 minutes of youtube (I do Yoga With Adriene) and I find that if I do it daily I get used to it AND it makes a big difference.

Outdoor swimming and indoor cycling???
Yoga/pilates on the TV, or is that still a class in your eyes?
Weights?

Reformer Pilates. Brilliant. I can’t do the mat Pilates, it bores me, but something about using the machines is addictive (for me). I have a rowing machine at home which I used regularly before I discovered Pilates. And still use when I can’t afford the classes!