Fast & Strong?

ShibaEars

When I started working out just over 2 years ago, my workouts consisted mostly of running and circuit training with light weights. I had gotten my 1 mile run down to under 8 minutes, which was a goal I was excited about reaching. Having always been the "chubby, slow kid" in school gym classes, getting faster was a big confidence booster.

In January of this year my focus changed to heavy lifting and I love it, but ever since my cardio has been slipping and I actually get a little anxious about it, like I'm losing all the hard work I had put in.

This might seem like a dumb question, but is it possible for a person to be fast AND strong? Or does the focus have to be more one-sided?

bigblondewolf

Bump, because I'm also curious if you can develop both speed and strength simultaneously.

splashtree2

When I started working out just over 2 years ago, my workouts consisted mostly of running and circuit training with light weights. I had gotten my 1 mile run down to under 8 minutes, which was a goal I was excited about reaching. Having always been the "chubby, slow kid" in school gym classes, getting faster was a big confidence booster.

In January of this year my focus changed to heavy lifting and I love it, but ever since my cardio has been slipping and I actually get a little anxious about it, like I'm losing all the hard work I had put in.

This might seem like a dumb question, but is it possible for a person to be fast AND strong? Or does the focus have to be more one-sided?

yes, you can be fast and strong, make squats you got to power up legs and use some kind of interval training, make sprints on 100 , there are tons of exercises you can do to power up all on the web!

tcamp02

Yes, I would just make sure that you are doing a combination of cardio and strength training. Also, your strength training can help your speed as some of the other posts said by strengthening your legs. I do think cutting out cardio will make your speed suffer though because your endurance will be reduced.

IGbnat24

Sure it is! Although you're definition of fast and strong probably differs from mine and everyone else's. Start incorporating heavy lifts into your circuits. I run a 21min 5k (which I think is fast but is not near what so many others can do) and my favorite circuit is 5 rounds of dumbbell bench press (bodyweight), pull ups (unassisted), and box jumps. I think I'm pretty dang strong and it definitely helps my running.

litsy3

I would like to think you can, but I suspect you probably have to specialise a bit. How fast vs. how strong do you want to be?

dbmata

Rugby players... are they fast or strong?

litsy3

Rugby players... are they fast or strong?

I'm going to go with 'strong': http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/game-sore-says-Bath-Rugby-s-David-Flatman-Bath/story-20742793-detail/story.html

ShibaEars

Sure it is! Although you're definition of fast and strong probably differs from mine and everyone else's. Start incorporating heavy lifts into your circuits. I run a 21min 5k (which I think is fast but is not near what so many others can do) and my favorite circuit is 5 rounds of dumbbell bench press (bodyweight), pull ups (unassisted), and box jumps. I think I'm pretty dang strong and it definitely helps my running.

21 min 5k sounds fast to me! And yes, I would consider you strong as well :flowerforyou:

Thanks everyone! I will have to work on incorporating more intervals into my workouts. I'd hate to have to start at 0 again in regards to my cardio.

And as for the rugby question, I know nothing about rugby, but I'm assuming you mean they are both???

3laine75

What about adding some explosive lifts/exercises like box jumps, cleans etc.? I'm not a runner but I think that might help.

MagnumBurrito

I'm 32 and faster than I was two years before I got serious about lifting. I am talking about sprinting not long distance though.