Runners who lift: what does your workout schedule look like?

sjp_511

This is what has been working for me. Granted, I've only been back in training for a race (Half Marathon) for 2 weeks. So, this is what has worked for me for two weeks.

I just started getting into lifting, so I don’t want to stop or slow down at this time. I do two workouts per day on weekdays.

Sunday – Long Run (11K)
Monday – AM: Recovery Run(5-6KM) PM: Body Pump
Tuesday – AM: 20 min cardio + Legs PM: 40 Minutes on Stairmaster
Wednesday – AM: 20 min cardio + Biceps/Triceps/Shoulders PM: Run (6-8KM)
Thursday – AM: Run (6-8KM) PM: Body Pump + Body Combat
Friday – AM: 20 min cardio +Back/Chest/Abs PM: Cardio (Optional)
Saturday – Body Attack

The run distances will continue to change as I progress through my training, my current training plan is 4 days per week.

Interested to hear any recommendations or thoughts surrounding my plan if you have any 

My recommendations/advice are that this is too much! You are getting in 12 workouts/week with no rest days. You say you have only been at this for 2 weeks. What were you doing before? If this level of exercise is new to you, I wouldn't be surprised if you burn out or get injured.

sjp_511

Thanks everyone that has responded. Some of you log a lot of exercise time. I am impressed!

kaylatee0

This is what has been working for me. Granted, I've only been back in training for a race (Half Marathon) for 2 weeks. So, this is what has worked for me for two weeks.

I just started getting into lifting, so I don’t want to stop or slow down at this time. I do two workouts per day on weekdays.

Sunday – Long Run (11K)
Monday – AM: Recovery Run(5-6KM) PM: Body Pump
Tuesday – AM: 20 min cardio + Legs PM: 40 Minutes on Stairmaster
Wednesday – AM: 20 min cardio + Biceps/Triceps/Shoulders PM: Run (6-8KM)
Thursday – AM: Run (6-8KM) PM: Body Pump + Body Combat
Friday – AM: 20 min cardio +Back/Chest/Abs PM: Cardio (Optional)
Saturday – Body Attack

The run distances will continue to change as I progress through my training, my current training plan is 4 days per week.

Interested to hear any recommendations or thoughts surrounding my plan if you have any 

My recommendations/advice are that this is too much! You are getting in 12 workouts/week with no rest days. You say you have only been at this for 2 weeks. What were you doing before? If this level of exercise is new to you, I wouldn't be surprised if you burn out or get injured.

The only part of this that is new is the AM strength training, before the AM strength training it was just more cardio (usually an hour). So really not a huge difference, but agree I need to scale back.. just trying to strike the right balance.

GiddyupTim

I am over 50 years. That might, or might not, be different from being younger.
But, I cannot lift three times a week and run well. When I say run well, I mean run faster than a 10-minute mile and do runs of 6-8 miles or more.
I get the impression that most of the people answering here are people who lift, and throw a little running in (treadmill, 2-3 mile runs . . . certainly not half marathon training.)
I can do some push-ups after an 8-mile run, but i certainly cannot then go into the gym and lift heavy. It is just not happening!
If I lift heavy one day (squats, to as close to failure as I can get without falling over and hurting myself), I am not going to be able to run very well the next day. I'll be slow.
I would recommend trying to lift two times a week, and seeing how that goes. I think you can make progress with twice a week and your running will suffer less.

sjp_511

I am over 50 years. That might, or might not, be different from being younger.
But, I cannot lift three times a week and run well. When I say run well, I mean run faster than a 10-minute mile and do runs of 6-8 miles or more.
I get the impression that most of the people answering here are people who lift, and throw a little running in (treadmill, 2-3 mile runs . . . certainly not half marathon training.)
I can do some push-ups after an 8-mile run, but i certainly cannot then go into the gym and lift heavy. It is just not happening!
If I lift heavy one day (squats, to as close to failure as I can get without falling over and hurting myself), I am not going to be able to run very well the next day. I'll be slow.
I would recommend trying to lift two times a week, and seeing how that goes. I think you can make progress with twice a week and your running will suffer less.

Thank you for this response. I do like my plan of lifting twice a week and I think it helps me keep my focus on running, which is what I want. I am tempted to add a 3rd lifting day to my routine because I enjoy it so much but I need to keep my focus on running. Maybe I'm having a hard time focusing on running because the weather has been so crappy. But I am less than 6 weeks from my next half so I gotta get those miles in.

MrsSchimmy

This is just the sort of thread I have been searching for! I started with spin 5 days a week, then found running and have ran (and won) a handful of races. I also found my heavy weights. I hate treadmill running so winters are so hard! I'm itching to race again.

Currently, I follow a 12 week training program on Bodybuilding.com. It's intense and I am pretty sure that every muscle in my body is sore right now. I chose this one and have stuck with it through to week 6 (still going strong!) because there is cardio starting from day 1 Therefore, my routine changes weekly.
I roughly train 2-3 days in a row then do solely cardio for 1 day. I will fit 1 rest day in a week on one of the cardio days. However, I am interested in seeing what other people are doing since I know at the end of this program I will be training more for my races and less about lifting.
But giving up my weights is hard... especially when I see this booty I've grown!

delicious_cocktail

I'm a lifter who runs. Lift / run alternating Monday through Saturday mornings with Saturday being my long run. Thus after my long run it's rest sunday, lift monday, training run tuesday, then atlernate.

Otterluv

Monday: lift
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: long run
Thursday: rest
Friday: lift
Saturday: 7 mile tempo run
Sunday: 7 mile easy run

I have to work around my school schedule, and Tuesday/Thursdays are looooooong school days. It helps to sandwich my long run in between rest days. Sometimes I move things around on F/S/S, it depends on the weather and what hurts at the moment. All of my running are trail runs and my lifting is mostly compound lifts with a bunch of accessories tossed in.

TX_Mike

Currently training for a marathon where:
Sat: Long runs
Mon: Short recovery run
Wed: Med-Long distance
Thurs: Short recovery run

Edit: Forgot to add that some Sundays are my drunken runs with the local hash house.

and here is what my weight schedule looks like:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/ElliottTN/view/modified-strength-routine-while-in-marathon-training-mode-603888

Your strength workout is very similar to mine. How long will you keep this routine before changing it up?

ElliottTN

Currently training for a marathon where:
Sat: Long runs
Mon: Short recovery run
Wed: Med-Long distance
Thurs: Short recovery run

Edit: Forgot to add that some Sundays are my drunken runs with the local hash house.

and here is what my weight schedule looks like:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/ElliottTN/view/modified-strength-routine-while-in-marathon-training-mode-603888

Your strength workout is very similar to mine. How long will you keep this routine before changing it up?

I'm not big on change so I'll keep it up until it no longer is giving me benefits. All the accessory/auxiliary lifts can be changed from week to week without getting stale so that has been good. I also force myself to do a deload week about every 8 weeks with any routine. I'm not sure how long I can hold the power leg day in there now that the mileage is ramped up on Saturdays. I've had to skip it more than once because they just didn't feel up to task.

TX_Mike

Currently training for a marathon where:
Sat: Long runs
Mon: Short recovery run
Wed: Med-Long distance
Thurs: Short recovery run

Edit: Forgot to add that some Sundays are my drunken runs with the local hash house.

and here is what my weight schedule looks like:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/ElliottTN/view/modified-strength-routine-while-in-marathon-training-mode-603888

Your strength workout is very similar to mine. How long will you keep this routine before changing it up?

I'm not big on change so I'll keep it up until it no longer is giving me benefits. All the accessory/auxiliary lifts can be changed from week to week without getting stale so that has been good. I also force myself to do a deload week about every 8 weeks with any routine. I'm not sure how long I can hold the power leg day in there now that the mileage is ramped up on Saturdays. I've had to skip it more than once because they just didn't feel up to task.

That's why I like to tackle leg work early in the week, two days after my longer runs, so they have time to recover. Although, I'm not sure how productive this is since I still have chicken legs. My legs just won't get big. Ha!

I set up my new routine with the idea of changing it up every 4 weeks. Just to mix it up and not get bored with it. I might steal your workout for a few weeks.

Bounce2

I run and lift. My schedule currently looks like this.
M- Full body lift + Ashtanga/strong Vinyasa
T- 8 - 10 km easy road run
W - 10 km trail (hills) run
T- 8 or 14 km (alternate cut back weeks) road run + full body lift maybe Vinyasa if I can fit it in
F- Rest or swim or cycle
S- Alternate fast 5 km (road or trail) plus either spin or extra weight session OR 15 km road or trail run (hills)
S- Long run (trail or road dependent on time availability)

Training for a trail marathon that has a reputation for blowing the unprepared out of the water...

penfold282

Bump

_Calypso_

My current workout schedule is:

Mon - run 5 miles
Tuesday - Brazilian Butt Lift & Abs
Wednesday - Treadmill intervals (2-3 miles) & Bis/Tris
Thursdsay - Braziilan Butt Lift & Abs
Friday - Road run 5 miles
Saturday or Sunday - Stadium Circuits (1000 stadiums, arms, legs, core, sprints)
Saturday or Sunday - Rest

After I finish BBL my wo's will change again.

AusEliza

Lot of great info here. My goal for this year is to complete the half marathon, so I'm slowely building up to that an will incorporate some of these exercises into my routine.

cortezpj

Bump...some great ideas/suggestions here.