Comments on: 5 Myths About Distance Running

By: Aled

Aled — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:16:15 +0000

Im thinking of running a half marathon in October, will this affect other sports i play such as rugby.

Will i lose upper body strength , (or not be able to gain upper body muscle), or lose print speed?

Preferably i’d like to continue playing rugby which starts back in September until the half marathon in October. Is this wise (other than injuries).

Thanks

By: MIke

MIke — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 22:26:04 +0000

Interesting how so many of you fall back on “kicking someones ass” as if being good at the sport of fighting was any different than running or weightlifting. Also every one of you that justifies a point based on their stats is a DB.

Serious athletes train seriously. I think that was the point of this article and I think that should go without saying. The myths about running are based on the stereotype which is the weekend warior that doesnt know what they are doing. For those people…..those myths are pretty true.

Deadlifting is bad for your back. Ever hear that one? Its not true if you know how to deadlift. It IS true if you deadlift wrong, which a lot of people do.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:43:32 +0000

Someone who is looking for a general degree of fitness will probably be able to become fairly proficient at both strength and endurance (i.e., a pretty good weightlifter and a pretty good runner).

Realistically, though, if you want to achieve any degree of excellence in either one, you’ll have to choose. I haven’t met a decent marathoner who could squat 500 lbs. I also haven’t much anyone who can squat 500 lbs. who has a great marathon time. I’m sure they’re out there, but they are rare.

In the end, though, you get good at what you train for. Training for running won’t let you lift big weights, and vice versa

By: Jarrett H.

Jarrett H. — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:24:20 +0000

I’m a distance runner. I run on my high school cross country and track team, and I’d like to consider myself fairly decent in sprints as well as distance. I run a 12.43s 100m, 56s 400m, 4:52, 1600m, 17:02 5k, and a 1:04:35 10mi (untrained). Though my muscles are not exceptionally big, they are completely toned and cut, and I have never encountered a serious injury in the 8 years I’ve been running, I can do 89 crunches in a minute, and hold plank for 2.5 minutes, so i would like to consider myself physically fit and appealing. As to running being a waste of time, I could say the same for weight lifting because its not something i enjoy,but still have a respect for. Also if running didn’t take skill than that’s saying that anyone who can run a full mile could run it in 4:00, but most can’t because they lack any of the following: Skill, discipline, training, or mental capacity, which long distance running is probably one the most mentally challenging sports.

By: gary

gary — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:36:21 +0000

People who contribute an article can (unless they just cut and paste) spend a LOT of time writing it so its a bit disrespectful the responses of a minority of the commentators to mindlessly trash them just because they don’t like running or whatever.

Particularly those who say running isn’t a sport. Funny, but I seem to think that the main event in the olympics that consistently sells out is the 100m sprint – not the weightlfting events. About 20million in the uk watched Bolt et al race, and an estimated 2billion around the world – thats a third of the world population.

Lastly, it stands to reason someone dedicated to winning a race will do what it takes to win, that means training to run 10k if running a 10k not to bench 300lbs. So of course they won’t be bulked up, why carry weight in excess of what they need for the job they are doing.

Excellent site, just found it while looking for erm forgotten now….

By: haileg

haileg — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:27:00 +0000

“Running” is not a sport, but Track, Cross Country, road racing and marathoning all are. Running is just like taking BP, going to the driving range, shooting jumpers, or hitting the speed bag. Its when you compete that it becomes a sport.

Track & Field is called “Athletics” in the Olympics…just sayin’.

By: Emachine

Emachine — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:12:37 +0000

@JD,

For years I had a “runners body”, I ran tons, but guess what else I did, boxed. Guess which guys I loved seeing walk into my gym….meatheads….easy pickings. Do not be so foolish as to announce that one man is inferior in a fight due to the sport or hobby they enjoy.

By: RW

RW — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:14:40 +0000

With respect to Mr. Fitzgerald (nice marathon PR!) and JD, the “USA Track and Field Certified Coach” title doesn’t mean much. The USATF certifies coaches after one weekend of classes (no field experience) and an online, open book test. No experience or prior knowledge needed. Perhaps these guys went on to the level 2 schools, which take a week or two and do have some field experience?

By: Keegan

Keegan — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:24:36 +0000

Running is the epitome of the human sport, man is the only creature that can run for hours at a time and there is evidence that tribes would spend hours chasing down elk in the wild, literally running these fast sprinting animals to death.
As for running making you weak, that is true…as long as you’re only practicing running. To be truly healthy or fast you need to implement strength into your workouts, such as core exercises.
For clarification I am a distance runner at one of the top Division II schools in the nation.

By: Chris A

Chris A — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 06:47:52 +0000

Running has never and will never be a true sport. Is it good for weight loss, maybe but if you’re trying to loose weight, try an elliptical machine or a bike. It is a low impact workout and is a lot better on the joints. If all you do is run and train for marathons, you will be small and weak. I saw a bunch of these runners fail on the Combat Fitness Test when it was implimented. To be healthy, you need to mix cardio and weight training along with eating right.
Source: Was a US Marine for eight years.