While strength training has gained popularity and respect in the running community, many gaps still exist that prevent runners from picking up the weights or leave us wondering how to incorporate this element into our training.
If you’ve been resisting strength training for any reason or are curious about its benefits, you’ll be picking up the weights after reading this article that debunks common myths about strength training for runners.
Myth 1: Lifting weights will put on too much muscle
While you don’t have to deadlift 300 pounds to have success on the trails, we benefit from having muscles to power our legs up and down mountains, over rocks or other obstacles, and around sharp turns. The truth is, it’s tough to put on much muscle mass as runners when we’re spending 10 percent or less of our time on strength and the large majority on running. Any extra muscle gained from lifting, particularly in the off-season will likely benefit you as you transition into that next half marathon, 50k, or 100-mile race.
Professional trail and ultrarunners prove this point, such as Sally McRae, Jeff Browning, Hannah…
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