YOU KNOW THE SAYING: Work smarter, not harder. You may have already incorporated that mentality into your training routine, subbing unfocused, 60-minute workouts for strategic 30-minute sessions, or opting for an active recovery day instead of another grueling HIIT class. Bravo for the balance! But what about your planks? If you’re still holding for minutes on end, you're wasting your time. Less is more when it comes to this OG core exercise—at least when it comes to the number on the clock.
You might look around at the gym and notice the other people sweating around you are up in the plank position for either brief moments or marathon holds. If you're wondering how long the average exerciser holds a plank, you're asking the wrong question. There's really no such thing as a standard here—everyone is working toward different goals, from different starting points and with different levels of fitness. The better question is: how long should you hold a plank?
