[quote]CMdad wrote:
I agree that I think the fear of the catabolic effects of running is largely overblown and taken out of context. Maybe it’s that people look at the physiques of Olympic level marathoners and conclude that if they run they will shrivel up and look like them too. If you were running and training in the style and to level of these athletes, then yes it would be very hard to build any significant muscle mass. However, for the average meathead, going for a 20-30 min run a few times a week isn’t going to significantly inhibit muscle growth.
I think that it’s a situation of not seeing the forest for the trees. After reading these and other forums, as well as talking to other lifters, I’ve concluded that a lot of people get really bogged down in the minutiae of strength training when they’d be much better served by simply concentrating on the basics. I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve overheard at gyms between people discussing the exact number of grams of BCAA’s that should be ingested periworkout and the proper amount of internal/external rotation of the shoulder at various points in the ROM of a DB shoulder press to better hit the anterior delts, when, invariably, these people’s physiques and lifts are absolute shit.
If you are a mid to high-level COMPETITIVE powerlifter or bodybuilder then by all means you probably should consider these things. Otherwise, I think 99% of the general public should just find a basic program, a basic diet, forget about the supps and just shut-up and actually DO THE PROGRAM for 6 months to a year.[/quote]
That post should be read before anyone anywhere ever asks a question regarding training, health, or fitness in any form.
I spend most of my day at work saying exactly that.
On a somewhat related note, has anyone ever watched a marathon in person. I was at Disney World this year while the marathon was being run and, man, what an eye-openning experience! I could not believe the number of noticeably overweight and (dare I say it) almost obese runners were running it! I always thought that marathoners were little twigs with little body fat or appreciable muscle mass but many of these runners were really pushing the scales and not in a good way. The other thing that I wasn’t too impressed with is the fact that many seemed to be running 100ft then walking 500 yards and then repeating. I guess it’s the running world’s version of saying you squat 500lbs but then only go 1/4 way down. I always thought that when people say they “ran” a marathon it meant that they had actually run it. Not too impressive at all.
I read this article a while back and found it interesting if nothing else. I dont particularly like running more than anything else, but there is a certain simplicity in going for a jog.
[quote]CMdad wrote:
On a somewhat related note, has anyone ever watched a marathon in person. I was at Disney World this year while the marathon was being run and, man, what an eye-openning experience! I could not believe the number of noticeably overweight and (dare I say it) almost obese runners were running it! I always thought that marathoners were little twigs with little body fat or appreciable muscle mass but many of these runners were really pushing the scales and not in a good way. The other thing that I wasn’t too impressed with is the fact that many seemed to be running 100ft then walking 500 yards and then repeating. I guess it’s the running world’s version of saying you squat 500lbs but then only go 1/4 way down. I always thought that when people say they “ran” a marathon it meant that they had actually run it. Not too impressive at all.[/quote]
Some people do things for fun or for the sake of it, and I think that’s fine.
[quote]CMdad wrote:
On a somewhat related note, has anyone ever watched a marathon in person. I was at Disney World this year while the marathon was being run and, man, what an eye-openning experience! I could not believe the number of noticeably overweight and (dare I say it) almost obese runners were running it! I always thought that marathoners were little twigs with little body fat or appreciable muscle mass but many of these runners were really pushing the scales and not in a good way. The other thing that I wasn’t too impressed with is the fact that many seemed to be running 100ft then walking 500 yards and then repeating. I guess it’s the running world’s version of saying you squat 500lbs but then only go 1/4 way down. I always thought that when people say they “ran” a marathon it meant that they had actually run it. Not too impressive at all.[/quote]
Yeah, it’s the equivalent of squatting the bar vs squatting 500 Raw. “Finishing a marathon” versus finishing in 2 hours which is ungodly INSANE if you do the math. The top guys are literally running like 14mph non stop for 2 hours, nuts.
I can certainly appreciate that level of performance, but it’s just not for me.
People try to do to much to soon and then the injuries start showing up. If the running is periodized as well as the lifting no harm is usually done.
Now there is a big difference from jogging and running we usually concur that running is sub 8:30 minute miles while jogging is anything over that and we plan their runs with that in mind.
If I had my preference most “Weight trainers” ( main focus of exercise) would use a rower for their Cardio&Conditioning. Very low inpact but can induce massive pumps in the legs as well as skyrocket your heart rate or raise your V02 max when programmed correctly.
I hate the “fear” of losing muscle. I don’t think its real (for the most part). Athletes all over the world (not the genetic professional freaks) in highschool, colleges/unis, and gyms run to stay in shape, while lifting weights, and do/look just fine. It could even be argued that running would improve your cardiovascular condition, allowing you to lift more/longer to help gain muscle.
Yes, prowlers/HIIT, have their space. But they are a completely different monster, and to have the skill to do both CANNOT be a bad thing. Endurance atheletes the world over…choose long distance running or “road work” as its referred to, as their main conditioning tool.
If you are a big guy, and haven’t ran in years, don’t start running 30 mins right away. Work up to it.
I also think there’s a big difference between treadmill and running outside. I think treadmill encourages bad form in order to adapt to the speed of the belt (slow or fast) as opposed to the proper strides you would take running outside. I noticed this myself, and also remember reading something similar here on an article, where they were sayin somethin along the lines of runnin on at least a 1% incline to encourage proper technique.
[quote]FISCHER613 wrote:
If I had my preference most “Weight trainers” ( main focus of exercise) would use a rower for their Cardio&Conditioning. Very low inpact but can induce massive pumps in the legs as well as skyrocket your heart rate or raise your V02 max when programmed correctly.[/quote]
I have access to a rower in our corporate gym. Once upon a time read an article series dedicated to using rowers for rugby conditioning, but otherwise know nothing about how to use one.
[quote]some_dude wrote:
Running is harder on the joints. In response the body makes them stronger. Same deal as with weightlifting. You stress the body and the body adapts to the stress. Most runners develop heavier and stronger skeletons than cyclists due to the impact absorbed by the body. [/quote]
Agreed. What strikes me as ironic is fear or running because of it being hard on joints but at the same time chasing 300+ pound benches and 500+ pound squats and deadlfts.
Four or five days per week of weight training, especially with multijoint exercises and Olympic lifts with relatively heavy weight poses some risk too.
[/quote]
Risk reward. For poeple trying to get big and srong, the reward for chasing the squat and deadlift numbers is worth the risk of joint issues. Running does not offer the same reward for that individual for the extra wear on the joints.
[quote]SickSex6 wrote:
People find things they like doing and roll with them. Theres no other reason. If you dont like distance running why torture yourself with it? Naturally im a sprinter so thats where my mind goes when it comes to conditioning…either that or strongman type stuff
If left only with the option of running id do no cardio at all except for barbell complexes.
I dont understand why this is a topic. Those gurus know no one likes running so they present other methods that people will actually be excited by…[/quote]
I’m with you on this. However i know plenty of people would rather jog on a treadmill while watching tv and texting their friends and shit, than do complexes, sprints or farmers walks