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Fast & Strong?

ShibaEars
ShibaEars Posts: 3,928 Member
edited February 27 in Fitness and Exercise
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?

Replies

  • bigblondewolf
    bigblondewolf Posts: 268 Member
    Bump, because I'm also curious if you can develop both speed and strength simultaneously.
  • splashtree2
    splashtree2 Posts: 277
    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
    tcamp02 Posts: 61 Member
    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
    IGbnat24 Posts: 520 Member
    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
    litsy3 Posts: 783 Member
    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
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Rugby players... are they fast or strong?
  • litsy3
    litsy3 Posts: 783 Member
    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
    ShibaEars Posts: 3,928 Member
    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
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    What about adding some explosive lifts/exercises like box jumps, cleans etc.? I'm not a runner but I think that might help.
  • MagnumBurrito
    MagnumBurrito Posts: 1,070 Member
    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.
This discussion has been closed.

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