run first before squats?

SoSwank
SoSwank Posts: 12 Member
edited October 3 in Fitness and Exercise
MFP's what do you recommend? I have running and squats in my workout for today. Which do you recommend to do first?

UPDATE: I have about 50 minutes to work out during my lunch break. What I usually do is 10-20 mins of jogging. Then lift. I just started lifting again after a couple month break. So i haven't been lifting anything to heavy. I just want to enjoy my first few weeks in the gym, but still get a decent workout in.

Replies

  • Angel87a
    Angel87a Posts: 113
    When I run.. I incorporate things.. like warm up mile and then each corner of the track.. i'll do like 10 squats or 10 calve raises or push ups or sit ups & then run to the next point.. def a good burn
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Squats, as it will be hard to do as much weight and keep proper form after running. This is more for safety reasons. That being said if you don't do weighted squats and your primary goal is improving on running then I would run first.
  • SoSwank
    SoSwank Posts: 12 Member
    Good idea Angel87a. Only difference is at my gym we just have treadmills. But I like warming up with a mile jog, then moving to weights.
  • RAFValentina
    RAFValentina Posts: 1,231 Member
    All good points... doing run when muscles fatigued from weighted squats means better CV and fat burn too from depleted glycogen! :)
  • PBJunkie
    PBJunkie Posts: 652
    Squats, as it will be hard to do as much weight and keep proper form after running. This is more for safety reasons. That being said if you don't do weighted squats and your primary goal is improving on running then I would run first.

    This and only this^
  • TMcBooty
    TMcBooty Posts: 780 Member
    Jillian says it's best to alternate between both.. if you can. :)
  • HOSED49
    HOSED49 Posts: 642 Member
    theres a crossfit routine that goes like this...run 2 minutes, jump off and do 20 pushups and 20 bodyweight squats until you get a 5k in...
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    If it's light and for 10 minutes you should be fine before squatting. I know that if I squat hard and heavy, there ain't much running going on after that workout! I usually have to wait till later in the day to run.
  • alyssamiller77
    alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
    Just my own approach based on nothing but my own preference, but I typically do my cardio (running) before any weight training (Squats). I like to have my muscles warmed up before I do any lifting. Plus having my muscles already fatigued helps me to focus more on form and technique while lifting. Additionally, I've found it far easier to keep a good steady "burn" going if I've done cardio first where if I jump into lifting right away, the burn is far more intense quicker causing me to have to stop sooner in each set.

    ** Oh and for the record (and this I know for fact), your form and technique is just as important when you run as it is when you lift. Poor form during either activity can and will cause injury.
  • GFreg
    GFreg Posts: 404
    Squats, as it will be hard to do as much weight and keep proper form after running. This is more for safety reasons. That being said if you don't do weighted squats and your primary goal is improving on running then I would run first.

    This and only this^

    I agree with this. If you are doing weighted squats then you will definitely want to have as much energy as possible. When I do weighted squats I usually can barely walk right after my sets.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Strength training first, then cardio. Then again, I always do them on separate days, and I do 10 minutes of light cardio as a warm up before strength training, but for intense or extended cardio, do strength training first, or on different days.
  • bdur76
    bdur76 Posts: 155 Member
    Depends on how heavy your going to lift and if your new to lifting. I did squats for the first time last week, and my quads were so sore I couldn't run until yesterday! I tried to use the treadmill right after lifting, and my legs were dead, and I almost fell off the machine! Hopefully week 2 of legs gets a little better and then continues to improve from there! :smile:
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