Tonight’s post wasn’t planned.
In fact, until 6:10pm I thought tonight’s blog would be my recap of the Publix Savannah Women’s Half Marathon.
But, unfortunately, a personal trainer at our office gym inspired a very different post.
Like many runners, I find it hard to balance running with strength work. I start each training period with good intentions but rarely make strength training a priority for more than a week or two before falling off the band wagon.
I have read many posts about the benefits of strength training for runners. I’ve followed and supported friends and fellow bloggers as they became stronger through CrossFit and strength training. This strength has helped many of them run faster and with fewer injuries than before.
Jess is doing her best to ensure that strength training becomes a habit and therefore typically has it on my schedule at least once or twice a week. After a long day of sitting at my desk, lifting weights while enjoying a great new playlist sounded like the perfect way to relax before heading home. Heck, I even found a new workout for the occasion – PopSugar’s Arm Plan.
Within minutes of starting, one of the trainers tapped me on the shoulder, letting me know that I was not using proper form for the bent-over reverse fly. I was looking at myself in the mirror, trying to ensure I was keeping my back straight, but he taught me that this tweaks my neck which can lead to injuries.
Instead of walking away, he decided it was time to chat. He asked me my name and what my purpose was in the gym. I laughed and told him that I’m a half marathon runner who knows I need to be more diligent about lifting. My goal this month is to lift twice a week.
The words that came out of his mouth next left me pissed, upset and plain baffled.
You shouldn’t be lifting heavy weights. It’s going to bulk you up and add even more weight to your body.
He proceeded this question with a quick glance over of my body and quickly assessed that my weight must be around 155 pounds. I laughed, in amazement that he could guess so easily.
You shouldn’t be running distance at your weight. It’s too hard on your body.
So let met get this straight. First you tell me that lifting 15 pound dumb bells is going to bulk me up and then you tell me that I’m carrying too much weight to run half marathons?
After venting to both the world of Twitter and Bo, I took thirty minutes to finish my workout with more energy and vigor than I thought possible.
Next, I collected myself and calmly let him know that he was inaccurate as my body has crossed many finish lines at the weight of 155 and higher. In addition, his comments were out of line and just plain wrong. Then, I vented in the best way possible – I screamed in the bathroom and let out the emotion I was really feeling.
Excuse me?
So, the moral of this story is two fold.
1) According to the EXPERTS at Runner’s World and a multitude of other personal trainers, athletic trainers and professionals lifting weights is beneficial cross-training for runners.
How Strength Training Benefits Runners
Why Runners Need to Strength Train
3 Reasons Strength Training Will Benefit Your Run
2) Never let an ignorant person, regardless of what their title may be, intimidate you or feed you lies. If you question their advice, do your own research and ALWAYS get a second opinion.
While I am not skinny, nor do I have the build of many distance runners, I am a runner who enjoys running half marathons. I am strong. I am healthy. I will not let someone like this guy make me feel otherwise.
Your turn: How would you have handled the situation? Has your running benefited from strength training?
