Does having big and strong muscles help in your stamina for running?

Question

Does having big and strong muscles help in your stamina for running?

Answer 1

Actually, the best runners are toothpicks.

Answer 2

no, it makes you heavier and slower, ussually. You build your stamina by running, practicing, staying fit and that works your lungs so you dont get winded so easily.

Answer 3

it helps, but you need cardio conditioning! like running! or swimming!

Answer 4

Upper body strength is more important than people realize. I weighed 147 when I was at my best for college cross country, but 156 when I ran my best mile. The difference was in my upper body strength and spending more time building strength through speed work (and lifting).

Of course, one mile and five miles are completely different races. Still, think of how long you have to hold your arms up in the course of any race — all that's done with muscles.

No, you don't want a weight-lifter's body-building form, but don't down play upper body strength.

Also, remember that distance runners have a preponderance of slow twitch-muscle cells and sprinters have a more fast-twitch muscle cells (flight-fight response). These account for endurance over explosive (but short-lived) ability to move through space and time. That's why the turkey leg is dark meat and the breast is white meat (dark meat — slow twitch). Sprinters usually look more powerful than distance people. Those big arms are for fight/flight response.

The best way to become a great distance runner is to carefully choose your parents. Sprinters and distance runners are differently gifted. It's a DNA thing.

That said, there are many things which account for stamina. Mental stamina can't be forgotten. But a person whose weak arms are tired is going to get a brain message to slow down.

Answer 5

no,  the two things have nothing to do with eachother at all.  Actually, some of the skinniest people are the fastest runners. just google marathon winners

Answer 6

no, only way to help stamina for running is to do cardio conditioning.

Answer 7

not neccesarily many distance runners are skinny and dont have as much body mass, you need muscles but in diferent place in your core such as abs back and thighs your chest and arms dont need to be big that might s***w up your form and add a lot of wieght wich will make you slower

Answer 8

No. They  just weigh you down more. If you have really big muscles at like 28, it will turn to fat if you don't do a lot of sport.