'Endurance' vs. 'Heavy' Lifting

ladyace2078

Those of you that lift, I could use some advice/resources. I have been lifting heavy since last April, but I am taking a mini-break to do Butt Bible again, which is more 'endurance' lifting. I've noticed that doing 12-15 reps is really hard for me at lower weight, even though I am fairly strong from my heavy lifting (I can do 35 lb dumbbell shoulder presses for 3 sets at 6 reps/set, but doing 3 sets of 15 reps/set with 20 lb dumbbells is almost not doable for me.)

I will be doing a Survivior Mud Run and a Warrior Dash this summer and although strength is important, I'm thinking endurance will also be critical.

So my question is - should I switch from heavy lifting to endurance lifting? Should I mix and do both? Anyone who has trained for similar events think endurance lifting is important?

I plan to start running again (I do short distances and mix it up with intervals) in March after Butt Bible so I will get some endurance training from that. Otherwise I was going to start NROLFW again in March.

Greenrun99

If the Mud run is like the other ones of such names, you are gonna need more strength (outside of the running).. but strength probably more than endurance.. Strength is going to give you those quick shots of strength for pull ups, rope swings, climbing.. endurance you will need for like monkey bars and running..

If you want to build endurance and do heavy lifting you can try doing burn set type workouts (pyramid type workouts and varieties).. What this basically means is you lift heavy the first set, 10 reps.. then you put that weight down and grab the next set lower and do that 10 times, and do 4 or 5 sets of that.. when you get to light you should be pretty much spent.
Another variation of that is do 1 set heavy, then immediately do another at a lighter weight (so you did 80, you would drop to 40) and do the same number.. Rest 45 seconds, and lift heavy again and repeat..

Obviously being at a gym is the best for this because of all the weight choices but you can make a mess really quickly with free weights.. You can try this and see if you like it.. but it will be hard and you will be sore.

ladyace2078

Thanks for the advice! I've never done one of the mud runs or similar events so I don't really know what to expect, but I would like to taylor my training a little more to prepare. I love heavy lifting and how strong I am, so I wasn't sure about giving it up. Sounds like pyramids could be a good option.

And I train at the local rec center which has full equipment. I generally use dumbbells or barbells for lifting. Since I am almost always the only woman in the free weights area, the men often make it easy for me and give me space/equipment as needed. It's nice.

bltrexler

This was the training program I followed for my run. I felt I was almost to prepared, which is a good thing. I had so much fun!

http://www.ruggedmaniac.com/tl_files/documents/The_Rugged_Regimen.pdf

ladyace2078

Thanks for the advice! I've never done one of the mud runs or similar events so I don't really know what to expect, but I would like to taylor my training a little more to prepare. I love heavy lifting and how strong I am, so I wasn't sure about giving it up. Sounds like pyramids could be a good option.

And I train at the local rec center which has full equipment. I generally use dumbbells or barbells for lifting. Since I am almost always the only woman in the free weights area, the men often make it easy for me and give me space/equipment as needed. It's nice.

*tailor not taylor