Having recieved several running books from Santa, I'm starting to work my way through them with great interest. At the moment I'm reading about strength/weight/resistance training and its benefits in improving running technique and efficiency, also helping a great deal to prevent injuries. The book also iterates how a vast number of runners simply don't regularly supplement their running with weight training...

This got me thinking, who does weight training to supplement their running training? If you don't, is there a reason why not?

Up until now I've not bothered simply thinking that running excercises my leg muscles which should suffice, any weight training would probably just fatigue my leg muscles and hinder my running. But on reading this book it's made me see it in a different light and i'll certainly be looking for more sources on information on weight training to supplement running (i'll never change my training just by reading one source of info... i'll research it thoroughly first)

My resolution to myself this year is to get in my garage on the days I don`t run and use my weights bench and sit up bench to see if it does improve my running.

I don`t really know how it helps,but I seem to remember reading about core strenght helping stability and stamina.

It's supposed to help with core fitness and balancing your muscles, so that the ones you use don't get disproportionately active and throw things out of balance, and you don't suffer too much when having to use the ones you don't often use.

I "keep meaning to" work on weights and general fitness, will get around to it one day... Although mainly cos it's annoying me to have comparatively great leg strength and virtually no arm strength

Sounds just like me Katten!

Same here

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“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

Hi everyone, first post on this forum!

I have weight trained for the past six years or so as my primary form of exercise, and supplemented here and there with light running as a form of cardio, along with cycling.
Not so long ago my weight was 16'4, and I was starting to notice that my knees and ankles were giving a lot of pain whilst running. I realised that this kind of weight wasn't good for me, even though I had very little fat.

Lately running is gradualy taking over as my first form of exercise, supplemented with LIGHT weight training once or twice per week.

The benefits have been amazing! I am now down to 15 stone, and feel much healthier.

I would certainly advise anyone who is serious about fitness to use weights, but it is how you use them that is important!
For example, if training for size alone you normally train each bodypart once per week ( say legs/mon chest/tues arms/wed shoulders/thurs back/fri) , but when training you lift heavy weight but with low repititions.

Strength training, which I think is suitable for most users of this forum (and which I now do once or twice per week) involves lifting lighter weights,but with lots of repetitions, say 3*20. Normally I do 1 exercise for each bodypart per workout. Don't worry, you won't bulk up at all doing this form of workout, especially with the amount of cardio that serious running entails! Just eat sensibly, and try to take on protein and carbs after a workout!
I promise that you will see gains in your running if you work at your strength, but be patient, gains may take a few weeks!

One more thing. When you hear of people talking about core strength, this refers to all the muscles round the lower part of your torso (abs, lower back, and deeper muscles in this area).

I hope this helps a little, but if anyone has any more questions I would be pleased to answer them!

Thanks for the informative first post jonny! Welcome to the forum

I know a reasonable amount about strength training already but I'm really glad to finally hear about someone who's had real experience of complimenting their running with weight training and achieved good results!

I'm just waiting for my gym membership info to come through the post and I'll be hitting the gym every other night

Good luck with the gym, Richard! - please do let me know how you get on.

For the benefit of other members, I cannot stress how beneficial strength training can be to compliment your running. However, I do say compliment, as we all know that for all round, basic fitness there is nothing better than running!

One more thing. Since switching over to mainly running, I personally find that it is much better to work at my core strength as soon as I arrive home after a run. I find doing crunches, etc so much easier whilst the blood is still pumping fast!

Hey Richard,

I would highly, highly, highly recommend complementing your runs with a proper strength training regimen.

I'm not talking about going to the gym and hopping on the machines that have no positive transfer to running but instead performing functional exercises that will prevent injuries and make you more powerful.

For instance, here are 3 great exercises for all runners...

1. lunge walks with lateral twist
2. planking with knee drive
3. small lunge with arm drives

Let me know if you need help with these.

yuri

I use the gym rather than run in the winter.

From October to Christmas I do ten minutes on the treadmill then heavy strength training: Heavy weights low repetitions, squats are the best for upper leg strengthening but I incorporate core strength and upper body workouts.

From January to the end of March I increase the treadmill time to 20 minutes and use a different workout to increase stamina and endurance with lighter weights and increased repetitions, including power lifts (snatch lifts are my favourite).

I'm 5'10", 52 years old and still weigh about the same eleven and a half stone as when I was eighteen.