Run or lift?

KellyUVA
KellyUVA Posts: 255 Member
edited November 22 in Fitness and Exercise
I would like to get your feedback. I'm the type of person who needs a challenge as opposed to just exercising. I'm debating between training for a half marathon or completing a lifting program. Thoughts?

Replies

  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    Totally depends what you want to achieve and what you enjoy. I'm sure both would be challenging enough to give you a sense of satisfaction - but if you don't run now going in for a half marathon straight off seems a massive and potentially unwise leap, whereas you could find a great lifting program for a total beginner that would be much more achievable in comparison.


    I'm currently training for a half myself, so I'm sure you could guess what my personal vote would be for.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    I would say both...
  • WickedPineapple
    WickedPineapple Posts: 698 Member
    I'm the same way (needing a challenge/goal). I did half marathon training, ran the half, then started a lifting program after. :)
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Goals drive training plans.

    So pick a goal- and then you can chose. Neither is good or bad. they both serve a purpose- and if you do't have one- do a mix of both.

    I'm training for a half- but I'm still lifting on a program. So it's possible to do both- you just need to understand the weakness and strengths of each one.
  • KellyUVA
    KellyUVA Posts: 255 Member
    I would love to do both! Would anyone be willing to share their strength training program? Ideally, I would want to lift 2-3 days per week.
  • jmac4263
    jmac4263 Posts: 245 Member
    Stong lifts 5x5 is a 3 day a week. I started ICF 5x5 and really enjoy it so far, I am not training for a marathon but I do cardio on my non lift days. Good luck, I love the lifting aspect of working out.
  • pmm3437
    pmm3437 Posts: 529 Member
    Needing a challenge is all about competition, either against others, or against personal history. In this sense, it doesn't matter what you pick, as long as there is a way to quantify results.

    If your goal is more than that, then pick the appropriate exercise(s) that will help you attain those additional goals.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    KellyUVA wrote: »
    I would like to get your feedback. I'm the type of person who needs a challenge as opposed to just exercising. I'm debating between training for a half marathon or completing a lifting program. Thoughts?

    Both.
  • KellyUVA
    KellyUVA Posts: 255 Member
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    KellyUVA wrote: »
    I would like to get your feedback. I'm the type of person who needs a challenge as opposed to just exercising. I'm debating between training for a half marathon or completing a lifting program. Thoughts?

    Both.

    What would you recommend as a good lifting program that would compliment a running program?

  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    edited August 2015
    Yes.

    Have you considered Obstacle Course Racing? Like Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, etc.? Great fun and draws from all specialized training.
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    KellyUVA wrote: »
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    KellyUVA wrote: »
    I would like to get your feedback. I'm the type of person who needs a challenge as opposed to just exercising. I'm debating between training for a half marathon or completing a lifting program. Thoughts?

    Both.

    What would you recommend as a good lifting program that would compliment a running program?

    I see a lot of lifters and runners on the forums run programs like NROLFW, Strong Curves, ICF 5x5, Starting Strength and Stronglifts 5x5 with their running...

    My only worry is that when the weights get heavier, the DOMS on the rest day might be a bit hard. I'm not sure really.
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    KellyUVA wrote: »
    I would like to get your feedback. I'm the type of person who needs a challenge as opposed to just exercising. I'm debating between training for a half marathon or completing a lifting program. Thoughts?

    Tough call in that scenario because the ultimate goal is to just improve/challenge yourself at the exercise. If you had a sport you were trying to improve in you might do HIIT, duration cardio, and lift for function and ROM. If you were looking to improve your overall physique, you might lift heavy and throw in occasional cardio for health.

    Honestly, it is really easy once you choose which you would enjoy more.
    If you choose the 13.1, you run more to train.
    If you choose the lifting you lift more.

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited August 2015
    KellyUVA wrote: »
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    KellyUVA wrote: »
    I would like to get your feedback. I'm the type of person who needs a challenge as opposed to just exercising. I'm debating between training for a half marathon or completing a lifting program. Thoughts?

    Both.

    What would you recommend as a good lifting program that would compliment a running program?

    Starting Strength, StrongLifts...anything that gets you doing big, compound lifts a couple of times a week.

    Just make sure to fuel and rest properly, and build up slow.

    :drinker:
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    KellyUVA wrote: »
    I would love to do both! Would anyone be willing to share their strength training program? Ideally, I would want to lift 2-3 days per week.

    I do a modified version of SL 5X5, but I only do 2 days a week versus the 3 days a week in the base program. Time and recovery became an issue as the mileage got up there (running 5 days a week at 30+ MPW plus one day a week of biking for cross training).
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    Do both if you can. As a runner, I have noticed significant improvements in my running since I incorporated lifting.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    if you aren't lifting currently- I'd build a base first quiet honestly before you tackle trying to do both extensively.

    I'm maintaining my lifting- rather than starting from scratch. Maintaining what I have is much easier than trying to build AND do a running program.

    But for me- right now- I'm doing a fairly basic push pull split- this is hwo it was laid out to me- I'm shooting for around 75% and I aim for 6 but it's been 4-5- 85% is quiet heavy for 6 reps.
    Day 1
    Bench - Warm up, 3 x 4-6 @ 80-85% 1 RPM
    Squat - Warm up, 3 x 4-6 @ 80-85% 1 RPM
    Leg Press- 2 x 4-6 @ 80-85% 1 RPM
    Romanian DL- 3 x 4-6 @ 80-85% 1 RPM

    Day 2
    DL- Warm up, 3 x 4-6 @ 80-85% 1 RPM
    BP- Warm up, 3 x 4-6 @ 80-85% 1 RPM
    BB Row- 3 x 4-6 @ 80-85% 1 RPM
    OHP- Warm up, 3 x 4-6 @ 80-85% 1 RPM
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    yesimpson wrote: »
    but if you don't run now going in for a half marathon straight off seems a massive and potentially unwise leap
    I'll second this. If you are new to running, target a 5k first. Going too far too soon increases the risk for injury. A 5k OCR would be a good target that will incorporate both running and strength to train for.
  • _benjammin
    _benjammin Posts: 1,224 Member
    You can read about Hybrid Athlete training here:
    http://www.completehumanperformance.com/articles.html
    http://www.jtsstrength.com/articles/2015/04/01/the-hybrid-athlete/
    http://store.jtsstrength.com/products/the-hybrid-athlete
  • JoshLibby
    JoshLibby Posts: 214 Member
    Sprints and weights, I don't recommend long distance running to anyone unless they are doing a long distance race.
  • KellyUVA
    KellyUVA Posts: 255 Member
    Thanks everyone!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    My wife loves to run and lift...she's training for a 1/2 marathon right now and she still lifts...maybe not the same way she does when she's not training, but she still lifts. Doing resistance training is only going to benefit your running.

    I cycle...when I'm training for an event, I still lift...I don't lift heavy and I might only lift a couple days per week, but I'm still doing resistance training.

    There's no reason not to do both, but your lifting should also be geared towards what you're truly training for at the moment. Also, I and many train in seasons...I'm all about the bike and participating in endurance events during the spring and summer...as the weather cools, I still spend time on the bike, but I tend to spend a lot more time in the weight room as winter is my "off season"
  • dinsfamily
    dinsfamily Posts: 84 Member
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    Do both if you can. As a runner, I have noticed significant improvements in my running since I incorporated lifting.

    Same thing here. The impact of lifting on my running was very obvious last training season when I took a break from weights due to a move. Long runs were much more difficult even though my running volume was the same.
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