07/21/2026
📣⚡️The soleus is important—but it's NOT the only muscle powering your run.‼️
✅️Running is a full lower-leg team effort. The gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, fibularis (peroneal) muscles, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, and the intrinsic foot muscles all work together to absorb force, stabilize the ankle, control foot strike, store and release elastic energy, and propel you forward.
✅️No single muscle "owns" running performance.
The soleus is a major contributor to endurance running because it generates substantial plantarflexion force and helps support the body during stance. But efficient running depends on the coordination of the entire foot-ankle complex.
Train the system—not just one muscle.
💥Science: Studies have shown that multiple muscle groups contribute to running economy, propulsion, shock absorption, and stability. The soleus is a key player, but it works in concert with the gastrocnemius, tibialis muscles, fibularis muscles, and intrinsic foot musculature (Hamner et al., 2010; Dorn et al., 2012; Farris & Sawicki, 2012).