Do you think weightlifting helps distance runners?

Question

I am debating whether i should lift weights to strengthen my shoulders and quads but it seems like weightlifting should only be for sprinting becasue it tightens your muscles. Any specific lifts if yes?

Answer 1

Let me begin by saying that I hate weight lifting. On any given day, I would rather run 10 miles in the pouring rain, sleet, or snow than to go to the gym for 30 minutes, and I doubt that I am alone.

That said, there's no getting around the fact that going to the gym helps every runner because it adds flexibility and strength to their muscles. For me, however, the main reason why I decide to go to the gym about twice a week is to prevent injuries that would prevent me from running at all.

Overuse injuries are extremely common in runners. What happens is that a certain muscle group becomes shortened, tight, and weak as the result of overtraining or a biomechanical problem. This often goes unnoticed by runners for a considerable period of time until "suddenly" an overuse injury occurs. The absolute worst is when an injury happens during a competition that required you to prepared for many months..

The key is to keep the weights light and keep the repetitions high. This will keep you from getting bulky so that the muscles you gain does not slow you down during your runs.

You should try many different types of exercises, especially the ones in your legs that do not get exercised much during your running. That way, your muscles are well balanced. One that I would recommend is leg curls for your hamstrings, which often do not get enough exercise from long distance running. As a result, the quads become too strong, often resulting in a muscle imbalance that leads to knee injury.

Good luck on your training, and have *cough* fun at the gym..

Answer 2

There are a lot of different theories on this, but I think lifting has helped me greatly, specifically the upper body exercises, like the ones that work the chest, biceps and triceps. As most competitive runners know, your legs take you through the first part of the race, but your arms and upper body can help you through the last half of the race. Weight training is also an aid if you are trying to lose weight as muscle burns calories more efficiently than fat. My 2 cents worth.

Answer 3

Adding weights to your training will help no matter what your distance, but you adjust your regimen to match your distance. HOw far is "distance"?

Well, anything a mile or less you should go for fewer reps and more weight (don't forget flexibility). If by long distance you mean 3k, 5k, then more reps, less weight.

Just look at the competitors in any track meet on tv. All the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 guys all look like body builders.

Answer 4

Weightlifting is an aerobic exercise so it has some benefit to runners. Just go for reps rather than weight. You want to strengthen and elongate muscle tissue, not bulk up.

Answer 5

Not good u gain muscle and that will slow you down in the long run