Run Run Away

Question:

I have spent more of my life lifting than I have running and would now like to do some serious running perhaps  a tri because I bike also. My question I am not overly muscular, but more than most runners I know, will the weight lifting hurt my running  on the aerobic side.

From Coaching Science Abstracts: "RESISTANCE TRAINING CAN BE UNDERTAKEN CONCURRENTLY WITH RUNNING TRAINING Nicholson, R. M., & Sleivert, G. G. (1999). Impact of concurrent resistance and endurance training upon distance running performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 31(5), Supplement abstract 1559. The impact of concurrent resistance and endurance training on 10-km running performance in a simulated competitive situation was investigated. Runners (M = 19; F = 11) were matched and randomly assigned to an experimental (running and resistance) or control (running) group. Ss performed the same training program for 21 weeks, running from 5 to 8 times per week for 30 to 90 minutes at a heart rate intensity ranging from 75 to 95% of maximum. Resistance training involved 3 x 8 repetitions per exercise (intensity level of 8-RM), except for abdominals (15 repetitions). Testing occurred during weeks 3, 9, 15, and 21. The resistance group improved significantly in running time (3.5%), VO2max, lactate threshold velocity, and upper and lower body strength. The running-only group improved in running time (2.2%) and lower body strength. The addition of resistance training did not adversely affect the beneficial effects of running training. It added some extra fitness improvements and might be considered as a beneficial training addition for the basic preparatory phase of a running specialist’s annual training plan or by individuals interested in a more generalized fitness program. Implication. Resistance training does not interfere with running training improvements." Unless you intend to compete in the next Ironman, don’t worry about it. Lyndon

Response:

I’m a lifter and a runner.  David and Jeff have given you good advice. Will lifting hurt your running?  It depends!  It could help or it could hurt, all depending on what sort of lifting you do, what sort of running you do, and on what schedule. If you want to share a little more about your lifting history and plans, and your running history and plans, we might be able to provide more specific advice. -S- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have spent more of my life lifting than I have running and would now like to do some serious running perhaps  a tri because I bike also. My question I am not overly muscular, but more than most runners I know, will the weight lifting hurt my running  on the aerobic side.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have spent more of my life lifting than I have running and would now like to do some serious running perhaps  a tri because I bike also. My question I am not overly muscular, but more than most runners I know, will the weight lifting hurt my running  on the aerobic side. It isn’t hard to be more musclar than many runners. The lifting itself won’t affect your aerobic ability much. In fact strong abdominals may help in breathing more effectively. Having no real abdominals I wouldn’t really know. What will effect your aerobic abiliby is the muscle itself. The extra weight in your arms and other areas, that don’t actually benefit you in running, are just that, extra weight. And you will be working harder to move your body than a non-lifting runner does. You may be ahead of that runner, but you are working harder. Another thing to look at is recovery. You could do a full weight lifting routine and add a full running schedule. At some point in the future you will discover the limits of your body’s ability to recover from a workout, either running or weights. After you do a full weight workout your body goes about rebuilding muscles that have been worked. This requires energy, protien and nutrients. If you were to go running the energy, protien and nutrients that would be rebuilding your lifting muscles would be diverted to recovering from running. And vice versa if you ran and then lifted. You will learn how much recovery you need, might be alot or alittle. But it may be difficult for you until you learn how much you can and can’t do. How far you proceed depends on what your goals are. Andy What I have seen with myself and my friends that try to lift and

run is that they are incompatible. Running injuries are certain, some rather lingering. Usually, lower back pain, ham string pulls, popliteal tendonitis, and knee pain occur as time goes on. Same seems to go for tennis and running although there’s lots of running in tennis.

Response:

Your weight lifting will hurt your running if you are too big, but it won’t hurt your aerobic fitness as far as I know.  The main problem with being too muscular is that you have to lug all that additional weight around with you when you run. -jeff

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have spent more of my life lifting than I have running and would now like to do some serious running perhaps  a tri because I bike also. My question I am not overly muscular, but more than most runners I know, will the weight lifting hurt my running  on the aerobic side.

Response:

I have spent more of my life lifting than I have running and would now like to do some serious running perhaps  a tri because I bike also. My question I am not overly muscular, but more than most runners I know, will the weight lifting hurt my running  on the aerobic side.

It isn’t hard to be more musclar than many runners. The lifting itself won’t affect your aerobic ability much. In fact strong abdominals may help in breathing more effectively. Having no real abdominals I wouldn’t really know. What will effect your aerobic abiliby is the muscle itself. The extra weight in your arms and other areas, that don’t actually benefit you in running, are just that, extra weight. And you will be working harder to move your body than a non-lifting runner does. You may be ahead of that runner, but you are working harder. Another thing to look at is recovery. You could do a full weight lifting routine and add a full running schedule. At some point in the future you will discover the limits of your body’s ability to recover from a workout, either running or weights. After you do a full weight workout your body goes about rebuilding muscles that have been worked. This requires energy, protien and nutrients. If you were to go running the energy, protien and nutrients that would be rebuilding your lifting muscles would be diverted to recovering from running. And vice versa if you ran and then lifted. You will learn how much recovery you need, might be alot or alittle. But it may be difficult for you until you learn how much you can and can’t do. How far you proceed depends on what your goals are. Andy

Response:

I have spent more of my life lifting than I have running and would now like to do some serious running perhaps  a tri because I bike also. My question I am not overly muscular, but more than most runners I know, will the weight lifting hurt my running  on the aerobic side.

Response:

I have spent more of my life lifting than I have running and would now like to do some serious running perhaps  a tri because I bike also. My question I am not overly muscular, but more than most runners I know, will the weight lifting hurt my running  on the aerobic side.

If you are one of those ‘bodybuilder’ types with big muscles, they’ll unfortunately more of less reduce a little in size over time if you do a lot of  "serious running", as per your plan, even if you try to kep up a serious lifting schedule as well. In my experience (and in the experience of friends), once you are doing over 60 – 70 miles a week, it’s hard enough to just maintain weight. You will likely lose a little. You also may be too fatigued to work out with the same quality you did before, furthering the problem. Of course we are all different, and you may very well be able to keep a high level of muscle mass while running big volume. All this is just my conjecture and opinion based on myself and friends, and so it may not apply to you. Either way, good luck with the new goals! — David (in Hamilton, Ont) "Courage is fear holding on a minute longer"                                         Gen. George Patton http://www.angelfire.com/nc/swstudio/racing.html –

Response: