Do long distance runners need weight lifting?

Question

I've been pondering this question lately...half of the material I have read said do it, and the other half didn't. I get mixed results. I can see how it would help, such as making you stronger, less prone to injury, etc. etc. On the other hand, I see it as not helping that much, because you could just get the same benefits from just maybe doing a hill work out for legs, and then just some pull ups and push ups for upper body (and 1 or 2 other exercises as well). I mean, I look at the best runners in the world who are all Africans, they rarely look buff at all. They are skinny as h**l and they completely own countries like America who incorporate weight lifting often. Another example: my friend weight lifts every other day. Before he really started lifting weights, he started out 2 falls ago running a 5:49 mile and got himself to a 5:06 mile by mid may of 2007. Now he's down to a 4:55 mile; only 11 seconds faster.

Answer 1

Only need weight lifting for legs. And, try not to build bulk, but endurance.

Answer 2

It's not going to substitute for running, but it can help in ways. It will help improve your overall speed, and help you on hills. If you're going to do it though you should do high reps, like 20, 5 reps or something like that won't make you faster at all.

I lift weights when I can't run because of shin splints and ride a stationary bike as well. But doing sprints, calve raises, lunges, hill workouts, push ups, and ab exercises can really cover anything you'd need.

It's really your call, but I don't think it would hurt unless you really bulked up a lot. That won't happen unless you work out really hard nearly every day and eat a **** load though. I lift about 3 days a week and I'm pretty cut and all but I havn't gained more than 10 pounds since 8th grade(11th grade now) because I run and keep the fat off.

Answer 3

Weight training can help some...but don't use heavy weights

unless you want to bulk up. This would only slow you down.

Try working on your cardiovascular system...such as riding a

stationary bike for 30 to 60 minutes along with your running.

Answer 4

"The Kenyans are using relatively less energy, but it's not because their legs are skinny. It's really the other way around: Their legs are slender BECAUSE they have such excellent running economy. They're so efficient that they don't need big muscles. The Kenyans are winning everything from 10Ks to marathons with those 'slender' legs. Yet, according to the power-running paradigm (no pain, no gain), it takes strong leg muscles to run fast. Something isn't adding up here. I'd say what's winning races is their technique...being their lean and foot strike. The Kenyans have a beautiful forward lean when they run, which does two things: It allows gravity to assist in pulling their body forward, and it allows them to land on their midfoot instead of their heels, thus avoiding the braking motion of the heel strike, which is common in most other runners."

Answer 5

I'm not sure about long distance runners, i know some do, and some don't. But sprinters must do weight lifting, and realy helps them, but distance runners i'd say hills and things would be better, because your not trying to build strength, but endurance. So i'd say hills and resistance training are the best. Get a water running belt, and do water running. The belt floats and keeps you upright, while you run under the water which creates resistance. This has helped many people i know, a few of them are going to the state track meet.

Answer 6

yes u do so u culd run better  and faster and have enough stamina

Answer 7

No......maybe just do some leg strengthening exercises but that it.

Answer 8

well, only a little. out track and cross country coach take us to the weight room to do core exercizes. we do lift with our arms but she wil only let us do 5 minutes max, because you do not want big arms. but did you ever notice how kenyans run super fast? they some from nothing, and they do no weight lifting at all. but it is recommended to have strong leg mussels being a runner. but did you also notice how the kenyans have almost no injuries whatsoever? thats because most kenyans can not afford shoes. so they run barefoot. that strenghtens the mussles in your foot and let those mussels in your feet work (by being in a shoe with arch support, heel support, special insoles, padded socks ect.) is not letting those mussels work. so it really helps shins also. at the beginning of track this year my coach said to go into the trainers room and do this thing called the ice bucket (its just a bucket full of ice you have to keep your legs in for 15 minutes to help your shins ankles ect.) but what also the trainer recommended was to go out on the track and jog a 200 bare foot on the track. then gradually increase your distance barefoot. and after you get those mussles stronger, he said to do a whole entire warm up barefoot in the grass. (my warm up is an 800 jogged) but it did help prevent from injuries, because i also run distance. and being a distance runner have to be careful about getting injuries. but he also said weight lifting can help but dont over do it. he also said lots of protien! he said to get a wey protien mix to help keep your mussels from dissolving (because distance rnners burn up everything in their systems and when nothing is left, they burn their mussel) but weight lifting is good, but just dont over do it.