balancing running and lifting?

MoreBean13

So, I happen to be an ultramarathoner and a CrossFitter, with a weightlifting emphasis w/ my trainer since obviously I don't need the extra cardio.

I will agree that there is a tradeoff. I'd be better at either of those things separately if I'd give the other one up. But I can participate in both sports without any big problems, and I love the results I'm getting in terms of how I look and feel.

For me the running is far more important to me than the lifting, so I only CF twice a week, sometimes a third mini session at home of some pullups or pushups or kettlebell. I run 5-6 days per week. And as you'd expect, I'm a better runner than I am a CrossFitter. I am making strength progress though. A month ago I couldn't do pullups, and yesterday I did sets of 3; I've added 15 pounds to by back squat, 7 pounds to my strict press, and 20 pounds to my deadlift since 6 months ago.

Given my schedule, obviously I do run the day after weight training my legs, in fact I usually also run later that same day. My runs are slower shorter and more painful than they would be w/o the weight session. However I am convinced that the combination made my legs more fatigue-resistant and helped me power through a trail 50K last spring - I didn't have near the miles that I'd had in the past to prepare for that distance, yet my time was not that much slower than usual and I felt fantastic the entire time, barely sore the next day.

You're my new hero. :flowerforyou:

ixap

You're my new hero. :flowerforyou:

aww, well thanks
to be clear, the caveat is that I'm not super great at either activity - I'm usually one of the last to finish the CF workout and one of the last runners in my trail ultras! but all this just to say, yes it is possible to do both, just not do both at the highest level.

final10

Thank you OP and everyone who answered because this is something I wanted to ask. I trying to figure out when to lift and still continue to run 3x week and swim and bike.