Hi everyone--I'm going to be doing the Boston Marathon in 2010. I won't officially have to start training til next January, but I want to focus much more on running til then so I'll hopefully be able to handle the training and marathon. I'm about halfway through the 6-month rotation of STS, but I'm feeling like I can't commit to the 3x/week with that and get in enough runs (I'm in the process of starting a new job, too, so work is pretty stressful right now and the hours are longer than usual). Anyway, for those of you who have run marathons, what sort of weight training do you incorporate into your running? I'm figuring I'll be able to get one or two weight workouts per week in at most, so I'm figuring I'll need to make them full-body workouts. Should I stick with endurance workouts like Muscle Endurance & Muscle Max? Or maybe do Supersets & Push Pull? I'd love to make it one upper body & one lower body workout per week, but I'm afraid if I have a week where I miss one of the workouts, I'll be all off balance. Probably thinking too much about this, but I really want to train well for the marathon without losing all of my strength. Then after hopefully successfully completing the marathon, I'll turn my focus back to strength training and be able to give STS my all. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
training for marathon--weight training?
- Thread starter ccthebear
- Start date
morningstar
Cathlete
I have no advice, but am impressed by anyone that will run any marathon, let alone the Boston Marathon! I personally much prefer splits to full body, but for full body, I much prefer Muscle Max and Muscle Endurance to Push/Pull or SuperSets.
By any chance are you CBear84 from the Figure Athlete forums as well?
By any chance are you CBear84 from the Figure Athlete forums as well?
pepnchar
Cathlete
I stick with endurance type workouts during my running months -- Muscle Endurance, Muscle Max are good ones if you're sticking with Cathe... I tend to get in a few Jari Love's Ripped workouts in there as well. Circuits are also good if you need a day off from running and you want to get your cardio and strength work in. I'll pop in Drill Max or Boot Camp on some days...
Good luck in Boston! I want to qualify for that one someday!
Good luck in Boston! I want to qualify for that one someday!
Thanks to both of you for your responses. Morningstar, that's not me from the other forum. And don't be too impressed, Pepnchar; I did NOT qualify! I'm going to be running for Team in Training. It'll be my first marathon, so I'm pretty nervous. Your marathon time is impressive! I'll be happy if I break 5 hours, but really I'll just be hoping to finish.
I was leaning toward rotating MM and ME rather than SS and PP; looks like you guys agree. I think that's what I'll do (and throw in some circuit workouts if I start to get bored). I'm actually going to miss STS; I've really been loving it. But I feel like I need to focus on running right now, and STS is something that has to be your main focus if you're going to be successful at it. I look forward to getting back to it next year.
Thanks again to both of you!
I was leaning toward rotating MM and ME rather than SS and PP; looks like you guys agree. I think that's what I'll do (and throw in some circuit workouts if I start to get bored). I'm actually going to miss STS; I've really been loving it. But I feel like I need to focus on running right now, and STS is something that has to be your main focus if you're going to be successful at it. I look forward to getting back to it next year.
Thanks again to both of you!
toughYrun
Cathlete
If you are doing weights now then I would stick with it but not lift heavy for lower body. Second to last marathon I ran (in which I qualified for Boston) I used the Gym Style workouts and worked the lower body twice a week. I did not go over 25 lbs for the squats, and kept the other exercises on the light side as well. For the upper body I did go heavy, though.
I had foot surgery a year ago and have just begun long distance running again (longest distance is up to 10 miles so far). I'm doing an STS rotation right now but only for upper body. I'm sticking with Meso Cycle 1 for lower body throughout my buildup.
I had foot surgery a year ago and have just begun long distance running again (longest distance is up to 10 miles so far). I'm doing an STS rotation right now but only for upper body. I'm sticking with Meso Cycle 1 for lower body throughout my buildup.
jennifermaria
Cathlete
Woot! I'm even more impressed because you'll be running with TNT--what a good, good thing you are doing for the world . (yes, I'm a little biased, since I'm a TNT mentor ).
I usually do full body workouts during my TNT season, but I just got STS and I'll be doing that in conjunction with my training--we'll see how that goes LOL. I'm just going to make sure that I don't do the leg workout the day before or after my long run (which is on Saturdays). Other than that, we're encouraged to cross-train on the non-running days, so I'll be doing STS in the morning, and then some sort of cardio cross-training (non-impact) in the evening. Probably swimming and spinning, although spinning may be re-aggravating an old hip flexor injury of mine, so I may switch to elliptical instead.
Good luck!
. (yes, I'm a little biased, since I'm a TNT mentor ).I usually do full body workouts during my TNT season, but I just got STS and I'll be doing that in conjunction with my training--we'll see how that goes LOL. I'm just going to make sure that I don't do the leg workout the day before or after my long run (which is on Saturdays). Other than that, we're encouraged to cross-train on the non-running days, so I'll be doing STS in the morning, and then some sort of cardio cross-training (non-impact) in the evening. Probably swimming and spinning, although spinning may be re-aggravating an old hip flexor injury of mine, so I may switch to elliptical instead.
Good luck!
jennifermaria
Cathlete
Charlene: WOW on your finish time! I am unworthy . I broke 6 hours on my second marathon and I was so happy LOL (first marathon finish was 6:23; second was 5:48). If I can shave off another 30 min or so in my third one, I will be a happy woman .
. I broke 6 hours on my second marathon and I was so happy LOL (first marathon finish was 6:23; second was 5:48). If I can shave off another 30 min or so in my third one, I will be a happy woman .
Mckmain
Cathlete
ccthebear, I have done a few different weight lifting variations while marathon training. When I was younger (38-45) I did heavy lifting and it actually helped my running IMO. I layed off marathons for about 4 years due to injuries and my last one (my 13th) was tough. I think it was just due to being injured and not getting in the distance for a few years. I am 50 now and I have done an STS 3 month rotation after my last marathon and plan on the Undulating STS rotation while training for my next marathon. I think what others have said about endurance workouts like MM and ME would be a great idea while training for your 1st marathon. Congrats on doing Boston and I hope you have an awesome experience...