Marathon Training vs Weights

JonnyStead · 02-12-2007, 06:38 AM

Hey Guys - I'm asking this for a friend because of some advice he has received from a PT here in the UK and it would be useful to have the advice of the PTs on here and the other experienced lifters.

My friend is training for a marathon - he is a slim guy and new to lifting. He's been told that he should still lift weights - but to keep them light and at high reps because that will give his muscles the 'ground work' they will need when he returns to weight lifting after the marathon.

Should he say stuff the lifting until after the marathon or is the advice he's been given correct? With all the running he's got to do - I didnt personally think trying to lift weights on the side seemed like a good idea... IMO

His long term target is to bulk up.

Ta guys - appreciated.

Hammerlynn · 02-12-2007, 07:42 AM

I did not do alot of heavy weight training when I was training for a full or half marathon. I worked lifting days into my cross training days. I would STRONGLY encourage him to not lift heavy especially with legs! My legs were often "tired" and that made matters worse but to completely stop weight training does not make sense to me. I'm not a trainer but was coached by elite runners (sub 3 marathoners.)

JonnyStead · 02-12-2007, 09:51 AM

Thanks Hammer - just to be clear he hasnt started weights yet - he's a noob and he's wondering if now (whilst training for a marathon) is the right time to do weights at all...

Witchblade · 02-12-2007, 02:50 PM

How often does he train for his marathon?

AKIRA · 02-12-2007, 03:09 PM

Doesnt seem like bad advice. How long does he have until the marathon?

JonnyStead · 02-13-2007, 03:05 AM

Marathon is in april - and I think he does 2 long runs a week - something like that - do you think lifting light weights is really a 'good grounding' for weight training after the marathon or just a waste of energy?

**P-funk** · 02-13-2007, 05:42 AM

I think lifting is fine, even with some intensity (since most runners have weak posterior chain), but he is way to close to the marathon to be doing something like that. He is about 10 weeks away. He needs to grit it out and be strong for his long runs because they are going to start getting real long! He should have thought about serious strength training back in sept. Now he needs to keep it simple and stick with what has been working for him.

JonnyStead · 02-13-2007, 08:57 AM

Thanks P-Funk I knew I could rely on you for some good info. You da man. By the way I saw your blog entry on the 'qualified' PTs in the US - damn that was scary! Must make you annoyed! - thanks again.

**P-funk** · 02-13-2007, 10:09 PM

no problem.

thanks for checking out the blog!

02-12-2007, 06:38 AM	#1
JonnyStead Good old English grit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England Posts: 387 Photos: 4	Marathon Training vs Weights Hey Guys - I'm asking this for a friend because of some advice he has received from a PT here in the UK and it would be useful to have the advice of the PTs on here and the other experienced lifters. My friend is training for a marathon - he is a slim guy and new to lifting. He's been told that he should still lift weights - but to keep them light and at high reps because that will give his muscles the 'ground work' they will need when he returns to weight lifting after the marathon. Should he say stuff the lifting until after the marathon or is the advice he's been given correct? With all the running he's got to do - I didnt personally think trying to lift weights on the side seemed like a good idea... IMO His long term target is to bulk up. Ta guys - appreciated.
	I'm 34 - when am I officially an old fart?

02-12-2007, 07:42 AM	#2
Hammerlynn Former Fat Girl Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,376	I did not do alot of heavy weight training when I was training for a full or half marathon. I worked lifting days into my cross training days. I would STRONGLY encourage him to not lift heavy especially with legs! My legs were often "tired" and that made matters worse but to completely stop weight training does not make sense to me. I'm not a trainer but was coached by elite runners (sub 3 marathoners.)
	Completed: Indianapolis Mini Marathon 2004 and 2005 Valparaiso Mini Marathon 2006 Chicago Marathon 2004 and 2006 www.myspace.com/fitness_runner

02-12-2007, 09:51 AM	#3
JonnyStead Good old English grit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England Posts: 387 Photos: 4	Thanks Hammer - just to be clear he hasnt started weights yet - he's a noob and he's wondering if now (whilst training for a marathon) is the right time to do weights at all...
	I'm 34 - when am I officially an old fart?

02-12-2007, 03:09 PM	#5
AKIRA I am Rollo Tomassee.. Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Outside the box Posts: 7,783 Photos: 3	Doesnt seem like bad advice. How long does he have until the marathon?
	6' 209lbs (8/16) Bench 360 (11/29) Weighted Pullups 80lbs 3x3 (3/19) Squat 370 Deadlift after herniation 385lbs 3x3 (3/17) NASM certified 2/06 Journal

02-13-2007, 03:05 AM	#6
JonnyStead Good old English grit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England Posts: 387 Photos: 4	Marathon is in april - and I think he does 2 long runs a week - something like that - do you think lifting light weights is really a 'good grounding' for weight training after the marathon or just a waste of energy?
	I'm 34 - when am I officially an old fart?

02-12-2007, 02:50 PM	#4
Witchblade Succinct Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Holland Posts: 4,365 Photos: 2	How often does he train for his marathon?

02-13-2007, 05:42 AM	#7
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,439	I think lifting is fine, even with some intensity (since most runners have weak posterior chain), but he is way to close to the marathon to be doing something like that. He is about 10 weeks away. He needs to grit it out and be strong for his long runs because they are going to start getting real long! He should have thought about serious strength training back in sept. Now he needs to keep it simple and stick with what has been working for him.
	http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind! http://ivonneberkowitz.blogspot.com/....check out Ivonne's new blog! Optimum Sports Performance "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

02-13-2007, 08:57 AM	#8
JonnyStead Good old English grit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England Posts: 387 Photos: 4	Thanks P-Funk I knew I could rely on you for some good info. You da man. By the way I saw your blog entry on the 'qualified' PTs in the US - damn that was scary! Must make you annoyed! - thanks again.
	I'm 34 - when am I officially an old fart?

02-13-2007, 10:09 PM	#9
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,439	no problem. thanks for checking out the blog!
	http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind! http://ivonneberkowitz.blogspot.com/....check out Ivonne's new blog! Optimum Sports Performance "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

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