I can see cardio, over time, becoming the dominant modality for me as it’s benefits are profound and less invasive to family life.
I’m slowly but surely accepting the fact that the muscle building game requires so much effort for so little return, particularly if you’re natural.
Having great conditioning is second to none. If I could ever get into great running shape then it would be prevalent in every aspect of my life. I use running as the example because it can be done to train all energy systems.
Lifting, on the other hand, creates the physique I desire. Being strong is always useful. There are scenarios where both aspects of fitness could be the difference between life and death. Having strength to do something quickly might eliminate the need for endurance. But if you fail to succeed quickly then your conditioning (or lack thereof) could cost you.
As usual, balance is the key. Unfortunately, two weeks away from the weights doesn’t hurt your strength or physique much. Two weeks away from conditioning and it’s back to square one.
Haha right?! I actually love some forms of cardio, especially those that get me into the wilderness, like hiking and mountain biking. Swimming is great too but currently unavailable to me.
Running, on the other hand… Lol. I’d like running a lot more if it hurt a lot less. I’m willing to deal with the pain for the sake of at least being able to jog a couple miles.
Are there any forms of cardio you enjoy?
Agreed. Family can be incorporated into cardio too - stroller walks/jogs, family bike rides, hikes when kids are older, even things like ice skating or cross-country skiing. And busting out a HIIT session only takes 10-ish minutes at home.
That’s a big part of why I focus more on performance, however I’m quantifying it at the time. Muscle building takes a long time, requires constant maintenance, and for me goes away very quickly.
Conversely, I’ve found some rep ranges for some lifts that seem to give longer-lasting strength. My overall focus has largely turned away from physique and to health and functionality. And with the coronavirus stuff, if we’re facing food shortage, long-term unemployment and so forth, I don’t want my goals and expectations focused on what amounts to my appearance.
I like squash (a better version of what the US calls racquetball), but haven’t played in years - that always destroys me cardio wise. I like surfing and kayaking and whilst they can both be hard work and exhausting I wouldn’t call it conditioning. I was a competitive swimmer in my younger years, but swam a bit last year (fitness test requirement) turns out weighing around 50-75lbs more (guessing at teenage weight) screws up your dynamics a bit, I enjoy the water though, and that’s good conditioning if you push it.
In terms of what I’d define as conditioning I would say that I dislike most of it - improving at it helps but I’d say that I don’t like being out of breath, don’t like sweating, don’t like stitches and don’t like monotonous work.
Couldn’t put it better myself mate.
What have we done???
Dunno if he read my log he should be trying to run with sandbags as well though so hopefully this will balance out!
If he’s reading mine he knows you get to run without your dignity
I concur. When I think of someone who’s bin great shape, my default presumption is the person first has excellent cardiovascular endurance, specifically in running, and second is strong and somewhat muscular all over.
That’s a great point about running being able to train all the energy systems. In fact, I’d never thought of that.
Absolutely, hence training both. Fred Hatfield was big on training cardio endurance and pointed out the synergy between a strong cardiovascular system and the capacity to strengthen the musculoskeletal muscles.
One’s job and life situation probably dictates whether cardio or strength should receive more trqinig no time or both equally.
Most interesting! I don’t necessarily lose that much cardio ability in two weeks (depending on the activity) but I lose bench press strength very quickly.
My experience could be different due to never really achieving a high level of cardiovascular fitness…at least not recently. I guess I did better years ago. After my second training academy, I could run a sub 8 minute mile without much running training but that’s gone now.
College basketball got me into phenomenal shape, but I felt like death after a week off. I’d get back to normal in a week or two, but that level of conditioning is too high to maintain without doing something similar. For me, the game was repeat 25m sprints with something similar to what occurs on a football line of scrimmage for “rest”.
8/8/20, Saturday, Squats
Squats
15 x 10
65 x 4
85 x 4
115 x 4
135 x 4
155 x 4
175 x 4
190 x 4
205 x 4
155 x 3 sets x 5
Deficit RDLs
175 x 10, 8, 8
1-leg DB calf raises / standing lunges
25 x 3 x 12 / bw x 3 x 10
Or simply having different physical capacities. I lose some abilities right quick while others, like my traps, don’t seem to lose strength. You’re able to build you clean and dead very steadily, so perhaps that’s your strong suit - hip and posterior chain power. Given you played college basketball, that’s a not-implausible deduction.
Sounds brutal and unsustainable for someone with other responsibilities than a college athlete. How does your body respond to LISS? Like you mentioned in you log, road running beats you up. Me too. Trails really are night and day from roads, but since you don’t have any, what about unglamorous walking, a road ruck (30-pound backpack) once a week, and/or the elliptical to supplement an occasional run?
The song of my fitness people!
Which is your log? I’ll check it out.
My leg was crushed by a boulder back in the day and I have a Frankenleg (stealing and modifying the catchy term from @TrainforPain) so running is the single hardest activity for me to do. However, now that you mention it, I was into rucking a few years ago. While wearing low-cut Oboz brand hikers, I was slow-jogging (12-minute miles) with a 30-pound pack, so you may be onto something after all!
Thanks, mate!
(I like picking up new words so will probably hang onto that one)
Very interesting! I’ve never played squash but loved playing racquetball before Frankenleg. Is squash played on an open court? It’s hard to imagine racquetball brig a stiff cardio workout, but the court is very small.
Water sports for the win! I’ve never surfed, but I’ve canoed, kayaked, white-eater rafted, and even row-boated. To me, water activities are the epitome and pinnacle of summer.
That’s freakin’ cool. At uni? I swam on a local swim team for a couple of my teenage years but was never competitive.
I can imagine 50+ pounds being an added element to a swim! Haha. I started swimmig for exercise my first year of college/uni after a mishap with a Smith machine, 225 pounds, and my lower back.
Definitely feeling the post-leg-day systemic drawdown @Frank_C observed. I’ll cardio or walk it off this evening.
Even happier today about yesterday’s squat session. I have no hip or lower back pain, so it appears the current routine of HIIT, pull/push/legs is working. I’ve gotta point out for my own edification that even a measly 30 bodyweight standing lunges are powerful medicine against hip pain.
It has to make noise!
I hope so. I’m barely forcing myself to do 3x10 on RFESS with bodyweight. The only reason I’m doing it is for hip health. I hope it works.
In regards to my recent interest in conditioning, I’m not going after heart health. I’m pursuing a bit of performance so walking and the elliptical won’t cut it.