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Old 06-12-2007, 03:04 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Strength training for endurance athletes?

Anyone know of any articles about designing resistance training programs for endurance athletes? A friend of mine recently became enlightened to the benefits of strength training for endurance athletes after I sent her Eric Cressey's article about 5 resistance training myths in the running world.

http://www.performbetter.com/catalog...fiveresistance

Now of course she is asking if I could give her some ideas for how to go about it. I'd like to educate myself alittle more on the topic beforehand though so I can give good suggestions. So if anyone has links to good articles/advice i'd appreciate it. Thanks!
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Old 06-13-2007, 04:53 PM   #2 (permalink)
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It might help to mention what kind of endurance sport? There are different lifts recommended to avoid different kinds of problems that stem from the various types..ie...running or swimming or biking etc.

I've added some shoulder stuff to my routines because of all the swimming I'm doing. When I was running like crazy, I needed hip dominant exercises.

So it probably depends.
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Old 06-14-2007, 08:19 AM   #3 (permalink)
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In response to asking her what her training schedule/injury history was like:


"Well... I normally run 7 days a week. By the middle of July I'll probably be doing about 70 miles per week, more than likely peaking at around 75-80 by mid-August. Training runs are mostly just distance runs in the summer, with an occasional shorter, faster, tempo run. I won't be racing until the end of Aug/beginning of September. I haven't had any real debilitating injuries (knock on wood). I pronate, however, so I have chronic tendinitis in my tibialis anterior muscles. I also had some problems with a hamstring insertion point on the medial side of my knee that restricted full extension in my knee this past track season which was exacerbated by my incredibly inflexible hamstrings."
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Old 06-14-2007, 09:33 AM   #4 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AceDeuce
In response to asking her what her training schedule/injury history was like:


"Well... I normally run 7 days a week. By the middle of July I'll probably be doing about 70 miles per week, more than likely peaking at around 75-80 by mid-August. Training runs are mostly just distance runs in the summer, with an occasional shorter, faster, tempo run. I won't be racing until the end of Aug/beginning of September. I haven't had any real debilitating injuries (knock on wood). I pronate, however, so I have chronic tendinitis in my tibialis anterior muscles. I also had some problems with a hamstring insertion point on the medial side of my knee that restricted full extension in my knee this past track season which was exacerbated by my incredibly inflexible hamstrings."
Wow. Good info there. Hopefully one of our local experts will chime in with some advice here. I know Bill Hartman or Eric Cressey would probably know exactly what kind of routines to recommend based on these activity levels and past injuries.

That much running..has got to be balanced with some resistance training. But I'm afraid to offer up any advice. (I'm no PT)

Come on guys and gals, chime in here and help out Ace...
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Old 06-14-2007, 03:23 PM   #5 (permalink)
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PM Eric Cressey. He's very helpful and will maybe expound on his article if you ask him nicely. He certainly was helpful to us endurance bikers down in the Bicycling subforum when we asked questions about his articles for cyclists.
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Old 06-15-2007, 01:35 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AceDeuce
In response to asking her what her training schedule/injury history was like:


"Well... I normally run 7 days a week. By the middle of July I'll probably be doing about 70 miles per week, more than likely peaking at around 75-80 by mid-August. Training runs are mostly just distance runs in the summer, with an occasional shorter, faster, tempo run. I won't be racing until the end of Aug/beginning of September. I haven't had any real debilitating injuries (knock on wood). I pronate, however, so I have chronic tendinitis in my tibialis anterior muscles. I also had some problems with a hamstring insertion point on the medial side of my knee that restricted full extension in my knee this past track season which was exacerbated by my incredibly inflexible hamstrings."
I'm hardly one that considers running the no-no for women that many here do, but that is way too much. IMO, she should drop a few days of those heavy runs and do some other training instead (sprints, swimming, some crossfit-style stuff, etc). And obviously do some lifting too.
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Old 06-15-2007, 03:45 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Assuming she is a distance runner, I would say to stay general with the weights, probably a full body workout twice a week. I would keep an eye on weight volume and how it effects running and make sure that if she does run on a weight day make sure to give some time in between if possible. To be honest some thing like the workouts from Core Performance might be perfect for her in fact she may want to pick up the book because it'll give some recovery and stretching ideas as well.
Also I know a lot less about running than lifting, but I do think that 7 days a week may lead to overtraining.
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Old 06-15-2007, 04:30 PM   #8 (permalink)
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What type of race is your friend training for -- marathon, half-marathon, 10k, or something else? The reason I ask is that 70+ miles per week seems like excessive volume for anything other than marathon training.

The NSCA Strength and Conditioning Journal had a pretty comprehensive article on strength training for endurance athletes in the February issue. Available here, but you have to pay for it. I'll address strength training in a minute, but first I'll make some general programming recommendations.

Your friend should consider periodizing here training to a greater extent. Long Slow Distance (LSD) six or seven days a week is far from an ideal training protocol. Instead of just accumulating volume as competition time approaches, she should consider reducing the LSD to once or twice a week, increasing tempo runs to a couple of times a week, and including intervals once a week. This should be an overall decrease in volume, but the LSD days would get longer as she approached her competition time; that way she still builds her endurance for the long runs, but she's not constantly beating herself down with greater and greater mileage.

She should absolutely include some rest days, or at least some non-running days for strength training or active recovery. Otherwise those little, nagging injuries are likely to get worse.

As for strength training, I'll try to summarize the NSCA article.

1) Training for maximal strength and power improves running times, because it improves running economy; in other words, you can run faster at a given level of exertion.
2) Each of the following types of exercises will improve running economy: basic strength exercises (compound, multi-joint, free weight exercises, like squats, deadlifts, lunges, presses, rows); power exercises (Olympic lift variations, jump squats); and plyometric training. Include isolation exercises for injury prevention (dorsiflexion, calf raises).
3) You can't do everything at once, especially on top of your endurance training. This is where periodization comes in. During your "base-building" phase, when the emphasis is on accumulating mileage with LSD, you should focus on basic strength exercises 2-3 sessions per week, with 2-3 sets of 10 for each exercise. As you increase intensity in your running leading into the competition period, decrease volume and increase intensity in your weight training as well -- sets of 5-8 reps for strength exercises, incorporate power exercises for sets of 3-5, and possibly implement some plyometrics.
4) Ideally you would do your lifting on non-running days. If that's not possible, the article recommends performing a morning endurance session, and allowing at least 8 hours recovery before a PM strength session. If that's not possible, I suggest you lift first, then run; running first (without 8 hours recovery) definitely interferes with strength training, but it's unclear how much lifting first interferes with endurance training.
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Old 06-19-2007, 11:57 AM   #9 (permalink)
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I talked to her today and she said she is primarily doing 5k type distances which really surprised me. I asked her if she thought 70+ miles per week was excessive and she said it was pretty normal amongst the runners she knows. She also thought that she would just add in weightlifting on top of that endurance training. I mentioned that that seemed excessive to me and that she may be better served substituting a day or two for strength training or even a day off. I don't think she fully understands what were talking about with "strength training". She seems to think it will be very light weight stuff. I'll admit I know nearly nothing about endurance training so I am hesitant to even give her a basic "program" for strength training. Also, she doesnt really have anyone to guide her on proper form and I don't know if I can take the time to do that more than once or twice, so that also limits the exercises somewhat (lunge/push/pull etc. No squats/deads) I think she's pretty much in the mindset of accumulating distance and that more is better and she can just throw weight lifting in on top of everything else. I would appreciate any guidance because I don't want to try to drastically change what has so far worked pretty well for her. I just found out that she has been an all-american so I'm kinda thinking "if it aint broke dont fix it". However, i'd appreciate some insight to give her some food for thought if nothing else. Thanks!

Last edited by AceDeuce : 06-19-2007 at 12:09 PM.
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