running and weights

emilyannrose97

I am just starting a training plan for a half marathon and on the plan it only has 2 days for strength. I am trying to gain muscle and enjoy doing weights more than twi days a week. Is it really going to hurt my runnig training if I do more strength?

barryplumber

Nope I run and do weights 4 on 1 off. I run 7 to 8 miles a day some days like today 12 miles in two runs a 8.5 and a 3.5

gdyment

Are you hoping to finish the half-marathon or are you going for a time goal? That makes the difference.

emilyannrose97

Just to finish it without walking. Itll be nt first one. Im also cutting calories right now if that would make a difference

SonyaCele

i believe that muscles build differently for strength versus endurance and if you want to excel in one particular sport you need to train specifically for that sport. I train for strength and was told not to do steady state cardio such as long distance running. I imagine it would be the same that someone training for a marathon wouldn't want to do too much strength training, but i don't know for sure. Thats why there are programs to follow , if your program has only 2 strength days its probably for a reason.

RUN_LIFT_EAT

I would hit the weights hard 4 days per week and run 4-5 days per week when training for my races (half to full). Some days were 2-a-day workouts. Since I considered myself a "runner" first, I tried to always shape my workouts so my run didn't suffer too much from the previous day's gym workout. There were a lot of runs on tired legs, but after years of triathlon training, I could manage it.

Like the other poster said, I'd focus on running (building your base first), and adding weights into the week in such a way that it doesn't interfere too much with the running program.

WakkoW

I do both. I really like the half marathon distance because it's challenging, but doable on a regular basis. I know I will never be great at either, even if I did specialize. I do both because I enjoy both.

It is difficult to figure out how to fit it all in. Twice a week I like with a group and I aim for twice a week lifting on my own. I run six days a week. I generally don't have days where I don't do anything. I've been doing this for a long time though. I'm 44 and started lifting in my 20s.

time2cutnow

Lifting has improved my running immensely.

BrianSharpe

Running and lifting go hand in hand. Strength training addresses muscular imbalances and helps immensely with injury resistance.

Typically runners will tend to lift lighter weights with higher reps rather than following a bodybuilder's routine. My only concern would be with the possibility of overtraining in the later stages of your training plan.

RUN_LIFT_EAT

BrianSharpe wrote: »

Running and lifting go hand in hand. Strength training addresses muscular imbalances and helps immensely with injury resistance.

Typically runners will tend to lift lighter weights with higher reps rather than following a bodybuilder's routine. My only concern would be with the possibility of overtraining in the later stages of your training plan.

^^^THIS! I see a lot of runners going high reps and low weights on the machines. As a kid, I was running 10Ks before high school, and into high school I was in a weight lifting program for power lifting. I was also running cross country. Ever since, when I hit the gym, it's heavy weights and low reps. I'm far from an expert, but I enjoy not being built "like a runner". Give it a try. If it's not for you, make the necessary adjustments.

emilyannrose97

Thankyou! Im thinking low weights high reps for legs to get more muscle endurance there, but doing heavier weighs lower reps for upper body as I wwant to be more muscular and the soreness from that shouldn't affect my runs

mkakids

emilyannrose97 wrote: »

Thankyou! Im thinking low weights high reps for legs to get more muscle endurance there, but doing heavier weighs lower reps for upper body as I wwant to be more muscular and the soreness from that shouldn't affect my runs

This is what i do while training for halfs... when not actively training, i go heavy for full body.