Is strength training cardio?

Here's a comparison of what a year of serious strength training, and a year of serious run training can achieve. Same year, by the way.

Over the past year, I have progressed to deadlifting 2x body weight (330lb, yesterday), running a 22m 5k, and a 52m 10k. So if you could run a 22m 5k with strength training only, I'd agree with you. I'd also say that it would be a fair comparison to ask a non-strength trained runner if they could dead 2xbw. But you didn't do it in 22m. You did it in 33m.

That's an 11m pace, which barely qualifies as a casual jog. If you put up that pace in an Army physical fitness test, you'd fail. Any slower and you'd be walking. That's the running equivalent of 1xbw deadlift - utterly unimpressive, and leaving people saying "it's great that he's trying!". Kudos to you for getting out there and doing it, and lifting has obviously given you a cardio base, but it's the same base that you build in 9 weeks of couch to 5k. So you've really proved approximately nothing.

Yes, lifting will give you a cardio base better than the average couch potato. And if that's all you want, then great, skip the cardio. But if you want a heart that's as strong as the body you keep it in, some form of cardio training is necessary.

Barbells for strength, cardio for endurance. Comparing the two is like comparing fish to bicycles.

Just out of curiosity, what was your 5K and 10K times at the start of the year? And what was your deadlift?

N=1, so take it with a grain of sugar.

I was curious to see what kind of cardiovascular shape I was in after 1.5 years of doing just strength training. So I jumped right in and did a 5k last Wednesday in 33:40. Did another one Saturday in 31:10. Another one Tuesday in 33:20. Decided to try a 10k today and did that in 68:35. Not great times, but I ran the whole distance and had more left in the tank. I am pleased with that.

Here's where I'm going to draw a conclusion: Heavy strength training is an effective form of cardiovascular fitness.

Here's where I torque the cardio only crowd: I bet a dime on a donut that someone who has only done cardio training cannot deadlift 2x their body weight in a week starting from a dead stop. I am going to contend that strength training alone is better overall for fitness than cardio alone.

Here's where I might get back on track: Both are fun. I hate to say it, but that 10k was a real rush. I can't wait to try a 1/2 and then a full marathon. Very cool, indeed.

Eat all the foods. Do all the exercise.

Enjoy the ride,

Tom

Some times strength training can have a cardio element to it if you keep up a pace that gets your heart rate up consistently.

I think your logic is flawed though. Deadlifting 2x your bodyweight seems like a much greater feat than running a 33 minute 5k.

possibly, but that depends on a few factors, like age, sex, weight. It's taken me about 5 months to work up to ~2x BW deadlift, but running a 5k in that time is impossible for me and would probably take me a long time to get to that