Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition

Life is so misleading. When it comes to exercise, we always hear more is good. No one has told us the repercussions from leading an extensive running life. I am starting to believe that balance is key in becoming ultimately healthy.

Out of curiosity... I have been thinking about using the body's weight for exercise (thinking yoga and pilates). Will your body peak in performance and how long does it take your body to accomplish this using these types of exercises? I figure that you are higher levels in yoga and pilates which can increase intensity, so the possibilities aren't quite so constricted. But what of people who consistently do crunches or push-ups? I would like to hear your take (blog or comment) on using body weight during exercise and the benefits and any misconceptions.

Training for a half-marathon would provide little muscle loss. I trained (and completed) the full marathon, and the muscle I lost was minimal compared to the fat I lost. I quit weight training probably when I got into the 15 mile range. Before that, I would usually weight train first, and then run. Except on the long days (twice a week), I would just run. So, I guess I followed your recommendation - prioritize running and use weight training to maintain as the marathon grew closer.

This time, I am packing as much muscle on to my frame as I can. I've gained 25 pounds, so when I start training, I will have much more muscle mass when the marathon is over. Of course, I am only doing the half this time. The full sure does take a toll on your body.

Nathaniel

Have you gained weight like this before and gone into your marathon training with this approach? I am interested if you have or if you do how you respond and perform in regard to running. I have never run or trained for a marathon before but I do sprint work. In the past I bulked up much heavier than I do now. As I began to diet down for competition I noticed a huge difference sprinting week to week as the pounds came off. Granted sprinting and marathoning are not the same but do you find the extra weight you carry effects your running to a degree? (time, endurance, stamina, stress on joints, etc).

I have not gained weight like this before - I'm trying a new approach to training. However, what I did find that as my weight decreased leading up to the marathon, it seemed my knees became to frail. On the other hand, my endurance was 10 times greater than it is now. My sprint speed is the same; I just can't run for hours like I could before.

I saw that you are a bodybuilder - what advice can you give in increasing muscle mass throughout training for a marathon? I will attempt at circuit training, but I am afraid this will only maintain, not give me increases like isolation. Of course, at a certain point, when my mileage increases, I understand that my muscles won't build up due to the consistent break down of muscle and fat due to running; but until then, what type of training should I employ to see consistent gains? Lately, my body has been responding well to a three split - quads/hams/calves, tris/bis/calves, chest/back/shoulders.

As your marathon training increases in amount and duration it will be very hard to simultaneously gain muscle. What I would suggest is increasing protein in your diet and supplementing BCAA's and Glutamine with weight training and running sessions. Your split looks ok, but I don't like the chest/back/shoulders all together. If you must do a 3 day split like this just alternate the order of each muscle group with every workout.

I just had my Post-Marathon BODPOD test and I lost 3 lbs of muscle, gained 3 lbs of fat and of course an increase BF%. I lifted up until the 20 mile week, then I was just doing arms.

I ran 3 halves last spring, while keeping with my lifting routine and I was actually able to shed BF and gain a few lbs of muscle.

This may have me rethinking my fitness goals and only sticking to halves or less